Following the New York Jets’ loss to the New England Patriots, cornerback Sauce Gardner detailed what he believes was a dirty play by Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who has denied those claims .
New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner accused New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones of making contact with him in the groin area. In contrast, Jones vehemently denied any wrongdoing and disputed the assertion that the match was unsportsmanlike.
Gardner spoke to the media after the Patriots’ 15-10 win over the Jets on Sunday. He said Jones hit him in the groin after a quarterback sneak late in the game.
“He reached out to me to help him get back on his feet,” Gardner said of Jones in a scrimmage-style interview with Mirror US Sports Present. “I just pushed his hand away.”
“He stood up and came up to me and said, ‘Good job.’ While he was saying that, he hit my private area. I didn’t react the way I really wanted to. I certainly didn’t expect that. I guess this is the first of everything.
Gardner was later asked about the impact of the groin blow, sharing the belief that Jones’ actions were intentional. “I need to cool off. He’s trying to stop me from having kids in the future,” Gardner joked as he stepped away from the podium.
When Jones attempted to score first, he was tackled by C.J. Mosley forced the takedown, an action that occurred immediately after the buzzer sounded. After the play, the offense got to Jones’ defense, leading to a heated confrontation with the Jets defenders.
During the confrontation, Gardner was shown on video to push Jones to the ground again, all witnessed by four referees. Jones responded to Gardner’s accusations in the post-match press conference. “Um, no. I was just thinking about trying to get the first one down,” Jones said. “It’s definitely a physical game. There were a lot of guys involved. When people are there, it can become tangible.”
No flags were thrown regarding the play or what happened afterward. During the game, the Jets had several frustrating moments, including a play where quarterback Zach Wilson held the ball too long and was sacked for a safety, contributing to their loss. As a result, their record dropped to 1-2.
The team’s offense produced just 171 yards, while their once highly regarded defense helped New England gain 358 yards. The Jets’ loss gave New England its first win of the season and ended a two-game losing streak. Jones had been under scrutiny for his questionable play before the Gardner incident. Last season, after the Patriots lost to the Bengals, Jones jumped in front of Eli Apple, making a tackle with his knees.
The play was considered dirty by many NFL observers and fans. The incident occurred after a fumble, later determined to be a recovery by Germaine Pratt of the Bengals. As Pratt advanced the ball toward the Cincinnati end zone, several Patriots offensive players were nearby to assist their QB.