Jets' Sauce Gardner addresses latest social media controversy

New York Jets cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner received some criticism after he took to social media to respond to those who pointed out that he went viral for a missed tackle during this past Sunday's 31-6 blowout loss at the Arizona Cardinals that dropped New York to 3-7 on the season. 

Gardner now realizes such reactions won't do anybody within the Jets any good. 

"Me being a leader of the team, of the defense, I can't be on social media with my emotions, saying certain stuff, and I know better," Gardner said while speaking with reporters on Wednesday, as Jack Bell of the Jets' website shared. "My coaches know that I know better. My teammates know that I know better, and I just got to be better." 

Gardner and other young Jets players have a history of "accidentally" liking posts about certain teammates and using social media to campaign for signings that could potentially upset others in the locker room. The fact he once again created a potential distraction this week served as yet another reminder of how quickly things came apart for a Jets team that began Sept. 29 with a record of 2-1. 

"Obviously, things are not going how we expected them to go," Gardner acknowledged. "But what I can say is I'm gonna do everything in my power to change that. I'm gonna do everything in my power, me preparing, me being the best teammate that I could be, me bringing energy, everything that I could do to turn this around."

Shortly after wide receiver Davante Adams joined the Jets from the Las Vegas Raiders in October, he addressed his new teammates regarding an alleged "lack of energy and urgency." More concerning, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said that after the loss to Arizona, his guys "were not prepared to play" at State Farm Stadium. 

"Energy is something that you have leading up to the game," Gardner explained. "When you get in that game, it's execution. You're gonna fall back to your level of training, gonna fall back to your level of practice and the plays that you make. That's what creates energy. ...So I'll be seeing certain stuff and hearing stuff, 'We got to bring the energy.' It's not about that. Ballers gonna ball. When you get on the field you're going to ball. That's what we get paid for. That's what everybody expects."

Gardner and others on the Jets' struggling defense need to do whatever possible to ensure they don't lack the proper execution during this Sunday's home game versus the 4-6 Indianapolis Colts. As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Gang Green as a four-point favorite for that contest.