New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Packers WR Allen Lazard takes offense to Sauce Gardner’s postgame celebration

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/17/22

As New York Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was celebrating his team’s 27-10 road win over the Green Bay Packers, the rookie cornerback’s postgame antics seemed to upset Packers receiver Allen Lazard.

Gardner paraded around Lambeau Field donning a cheesehead and bantering with Green Bay’s fans. And although Gardner admitted his gesture was in good-natured fun, his twisting the knife didn’t sit right with Lazard, who finished with four receptions on nine targets for 76 yards and a touchdown.

The 26-year-old wideout ran up behind Gardner as they made their way to the tunnel and slapped the cheesehead off Gardner’s head as he made his way to the Packers’ locker room.

#Jets CB Sauce Gardner wearing a cheesehead as he leaves the field, until a #Packers player (looked like Allen Lazard) knocked it off his head.

Big win for the Baby Jets at Lambeau Field. pic.twitter.com/YX1QXMbzKZ
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 16, 2022

"It's just a little competitive spirit," Lazard told reporters in the locker room, via ESPN’s Rich Cimini. "Nothing too harmful in that aspect or anything. I'm sure he probably would've done the same thing if I was wearing a Jets hat or helmet walking off their field, so that's just the competitiveness in me. No disrespect to him."

Gardner, who had three tackles, two pass breakups, and a pick-six called back, stated that his zinger was more of a tip of the cap to the Jets fans who made the trip to Green Bay rather than a jab at the Packers’ faithful.

“Running off that field with that cheese on my head…that was a crazy feeling right there. I’m never going to forget that. …It’s a tribute to the Jets fans. They put it on my head — the Jets fans — so I just had to take it and run with it.”

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