Jets' Sauce Gardner says former teammate Mecole Hardman 'never earned his stripes'

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Two-time All-Pro defensive back Sauce Gardner said he was "caught off guard" by the recent comments from his former teammate Mecole Hardman. Hardman, who started the 2023 season on the New York Jets roster, recently sparked a war of words when he publicly criticized New York’s coaching staff and the organization overall. 

Hardman suggested that the Jets culture was steeped in dysfunction in the weeks following quarterback Aaron Rodgers' season-ending injury.

"But the offense is just like, ‘We’ll just figure it out. It’s Aaron’s show. Let Aaron do what Aaron does.’ Then when Aaron goes down, it’s like we don’t know what to do," Gardner said last month during an appearance on "The Pivot" podcast. 

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Aug 12, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)

Hardman added that he was "checked out" during his brief tenure with Gang Green, saying, "It was over with. I had already talked to (Chiefs general manager Brett Veach) and Pat (Mahomes), like, ‘Come get me.’" 

Gardner made his own appearance on "The Pivot" this week and asserted that Hardman "never earned his stripes" when he was a member of the Jets. Gardner also described Hardman as "ungrateful."

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Mecole Hardman Jr. #6 of the New York Jets warms up prior to a football game at AT&T Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.  (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

"If you really know what it takes to win," Gardner said, "you're going make