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Per NFL regulations, it is prohibited for teams to communicate with players or coaches from other teams. Such actions are classified as tampering and may lead to the forfeiture of draft picks.
Close- Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
It is uncertain if the Jets will take action against the Chiefs for tampering. A spokesperson for the NFL stated in an email to ESPN that they will not discuss whether the Jets have requested the league to investigate the situation.
During the podcast, Hardman mentioned that the crucial moment was during the game against the Chiefs. He stated that he chose not to handle punts because he believed that Brant Boyer, the special teams coordinator, had not given him accurate information about the punt return role during training camp. Additionally, he felt unprepared when asked to replace Gipson on the night of the Chiefs game as he had injured his ankle a few days prior.
On Wednesday at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, general manager Joe Douglas informed reporters that the comments made had a strong impact on the team.
Hardman stated that he had never communicated with KC prior to the trade, but now they can resolve any misunderstandings. He also acknowledged that the Jets took care of the trade independently and made the appropriate decision to return him to KC.
In 2019, Hardman was chosen by the Chiefs in the second round of the draft. He remained with them until 2022 and helped the team win two Super Bowls. However, in 2023 he became a free agent and joined the Jets with a one-year deal worth .5 million. Initially, he was anticipated to play a key role as the third or fourth receiver, but he ended up having very limited on-field opportunities (only one catch in five games) and he was replaced as the punt returner by rookie Xavier Gipson.
Douglas explained, “I would like to mention that we were thrilled to acquire Mecole as a player. He was also eager to join our team. Xavier Gipson really stepped up and performed exceptionally well for us this season. Ultimately, we decided to part ways with Mecole, but during the process of bringing him on board, he was enthusiastic about being here. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out as expected, and a significant factor in that is Xavier’s performance.”
During an extensive conversation on “The Pivot” with Ryan Clark, Hardman expressed his displeasure with the culture of the Jets and elaborated on the problems he encountered with the team. He revealed that he was extremely demotivated by his minimal playing time and by the fourth week of the season, during a home game against the Chiefs, he had already mentally given up. Hardman admitted to reaching out to Chiefs’ GM Brett Veach and Pat Mahomes, stating, “I’m telling you right now, I was so checked out, like, it was over with. I had already talked to [Chiefs GM Brett] Veach and Pat [Mahomes], like, ‘Come get me.'”
The person stated that Boyer had made a comment that was threatening. The comment was, “I will remember this.” When retelling the interaction, Hardman laughed and mentioned that there was nothing the Jets could do because he was already mentally disengaged.
During a podcast interview, Mecole Hardman, a standout player in the Super Bowl, confessed that he was extremely dissatisfied with the New York Jets during the previous season. He even went as far as pleading with the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire him, causing some discomfort among Jets management.
“Thomas Morstead, a punter, warned against trusting information from unhappy ex-employees on X. He shared his perspective after being replaced by a rookie free agent despite having a guaranteed salary worth millions. He believes that a sense of entitlement can hinder opportunities and that one must continuously earn their place every year.”
Hardman explained that he was struggling to catch due to his own injury, a hyperextended pinkie. He mentioned that coach Robert Saleh attempted to persuade him to catch, but he refused, stating, “I will not do it for that man [Boyer].”
Douglas chose not to respond to Hardman’s critiques.
Hardman’s remarks from the podcast had quickly spread on social media by Tuesday night, prompting him to respond on X.Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 28, 2024, 03:19 PM ET
After two weeks, he was returned to the Chiefs in a trade. He ultimately caught the winning pass for a touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII.
Hardman expressed his dissatisfaction with his time with the Jets, citing dishonesty and mistreatment as the reasons. A representative from the Jets took offense to Hardman’s negative remarks.
