Jets' Sauce Gardner: Contract extension talks going well
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Sauce Gardner remains committed to helping turn around the Jets franchise, and he wanted to make sure everyone in the building knows it.
Gardner is eligible for a contract extension, and even though he hasn't received one yet, the two-time All-Pro cornerback didn’t hold out of the offseason program. He attended most workouts, including all three days of the mandatory minicamp.
“I just wanted to show my teammates, show the coaches how much I’m bought into this, man,” Gardner said after the Jets closed out minicamp Thursday. “I want to win. I want to change the organization. I want to be a part of changing the organization.”
Gardner sounds confident that the Jets will commit to him and extend his contract this summer based on the conversations that have been ongoing with his reps.
“My team and the Jets have been talking,” Gardner said. “I feel pretty good about how the talks have been going.”
Aaron Glenn has talked about wanting to keep good players in a Jets uniform and holding on to homegrown talent. Gardner and Garrett Wilson fit those descriptions.
The two were drafted in the first round in 2022, six picks apart. Wilson also sounded positive last month that his contract would be extended. Gardner and Wilson have spoken often about being teammates for a long time and making history with the Jets.
“Since Day One, we came here and said we got to push each other, because we want to help this organization,” Gardner said. “New York is a big market. If you win in New York, it’s big for your legacy individually and big for an organization.
“Fast forward, we're going into Year Four together. We always talk about competing at practice, how we got to make each other better because we’re like building blocks for this organization. We’re the homegrown talent that AG talks about.”
Gardner likes the new regime and culture that Glenn is trying to create. Glenn and new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks have challenged Gardner as a player and leader. “Influence” is Glenn’s key word there.
“Just let your influence do all the talking,” Glenn said. “Influence to me is what really leadership is about. Like, how do you influence your other teammates? How do you influence people around you no matter what? And I think he's done a really good job of that.”
Wilks called Gardner “very gifted” and said his length, speed and how he processes the game set him apart from other corners. Wilks wants to see Gardner — who some would consider is coming off a down year — become more consistent.
“He's one of the top corners in the league, but that consistency of being that dominant player each and every week, that's what we're looking for,” Wilks said. “That's been his challenge this offseason.
“I told him sometimes your greatest strength is your greatest weakness. He's a guy who sometimes at 85% is still better than everybody around him. So his thing is, and I told him, compete against yourself. That's where he has to get better.”
Gardner liked hearing that.
“I know I'm not perfect,” Gardner said, “but the fact that he's trying to get perfection out of me is what I need. I've had a lot of early success in the league. The last thing I need is the new regime to come in here and just allow me to be complacent. Not saying that’s who I am. It’s great to just have those type of guys that's going to demand a lot out of me and just push me in ways that I've never been pushed before.”
Gardner felt criticism about his play last year was overblown. He’s looking forward to being a playmaker in Glenn and Wilks’ aggressive defense now.
“I always thank them every single day because they put me in a position to make plays,” Gardner said. “Not just me finding ways to make plays and trying to do Herculean things to make plays. They actually put me and the whole defense in position to make plays. I’m ready for that. I’m ready to showcase that.”
Glenn quiet on Rodgers
Glenn danced around a question about facing ex-Jets and new Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 1.
“I’m trying to hold a smile in because I was waiting on that,” Glenn said. “We have 17 really good games that we got to play. I'm looking forward to playing every one of them.”
Extra points
The Jets signed guard Marquis Hayes and defensive end Kingsley Jonathan to the active roster. They waived guard Zack Bailey and cornerback Tre Swilling.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
