New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons on Monday after a viral video emerged of him hitting New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner below the belt. And Jones addressed the video in an appearance on a WEEI radio show on Monday.
For those who haven’t seen the video, it looked like Jones clearly hit Gardner in the groin region during the Patriots’ win over the Jets on Sunday.
This video surfaced earlier of Sauce Gardner shoving #Patriots QB Mac Jones after the play…
If Mac Jones did indeed hit Sauce Gardner in his “private parts” then this reaction makes sense.pic.twitter.com/zY5kD1FJDO
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 24, 2023
This prompted an NFL investigation into the play that was announced on Monday. And Jones spoke on the matter during an appearance on the Jones and Mego Show on WEEI in Boston.
“Sauce (Gardner) is one of the best corners in the NFL,” said Jones. “I have a lot of respect for him. On that play, nothing was intentional. I just got up and went to the huddle and that was it. It’s football, so I was just trying to get up and go to the huddle.”
Mac Jones addresses what happened between him and Sauce Gardner. pic.twitter.com/kYSNKZ21nb
— Jones & Mego with Arcand (@JonesandMego) September 25, 2023
Jones was then flat-out asked whether there was any contact at all on the play. And Jones declined to further talk about the actual play in question.
“I already kind of answered that question. So I am good on that.”
It seems like instead of taking ownership of his role in the incident, he is trying to sweep it under the rug. And this clearly didn’t do too much to quiet his critics on social media.
The worst quarterback on the worst sports talk show!
— Billy Rossi (@BillyRossi7) September 25, 2023
Own it or don't do it, but don't be a weezle about it. Just say you nut-tapped the dude. #gopats
— XL Baker (@xxlbaker) September 25, 2023
Counterpoint: No, he doesn’t. https://t.co/QCUZb8gEKT
— Chris Parish 🦛(@cparish.bsky.social) (@TheChrisParish) September 25, 2023
Oh Jonesy https://t.co/caYzMhh0MD
— Stupid New England Sports Fan (@Matty3Darts) September 25, 2023
It’s unclear whether Jones will receive any kind of disciplinary action from the NFL for this incident. But this response clearly wasn’t the apology that many fans were hoping for.
