Kansas City Chiefs vast receiver Mecole Hardman has denied accusations that he leaked offensive sport plans to opposing groups whereas he was a member of the New York Jets final season.
Hardman, who was traded from New York to Kansas Metropolis midseason, referred to as the allegations “false” in a post on X, previously often known as Twitter, Friday.
“There have been FALSE accusations made about me and MY CHARACTER! To set the file straight, I’ve by no means and would by no means leak gameplans to a different workforce,” Hardman wrote. “I’ve by no means been an individual to provide an opponent an higher hand I at all times need to win regardless of the circumstances!!!!!”
Hardman’s submit got here after SNY’s Connor Hughes reported on Thursday that there is a “validated perception” throughout the Jets group that Hardman leaked New York’s offensive sport plans earlier than going through the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles as a consequence of a frustration over lack of utilization.
Hardman joined the Jets final offseason on a one-year deal following a four-year run in Kansas Metropolis. However Hardman logged simply 28 offensive snaps over 5 video games, catching one among three targets for six yards, as he was shortly surpassed on New York’s depth chart at each vast receiver and returner by undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson.
The Jets fell to the Chiefs 23-20 in Week 4 and defeated the Eagles 20-14 in Week 6, two of their higher showings within the 2023 season. Days after beating Philadelphia, the Jets shipped Hardman, together with a 2025 seventh-round decide, to the Chiefs in trade for a 2025 sixth-rounder.
Hardman then went on to win his third championship with Kansas Metropolis, catching the game-winning touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LVIII to defeat the San Francisco 49ers.
Throughout an interview on “The Pivot Podcast” that was launched Wednesday, Hardman opened up about his time with the Jets and was crucial of the workforce.
“You simply received a brand new (offensive) teaching workers that got here in and there isn’t any normal there,” Hardman stated, through ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “All people does what they need to do. Granted, the protection has extra of a stabilized normal with the teaching workers on that facet, so the protection has a typical. However the offense is rather like, ‘We’ll simply determine it out. It is (Aaron Rodgers’) present. Let Aaron do what Aaron does.’ Then when Aaron goes down, it is like we do not know what to do.”
Hardman additionally stated he was “so checked out, like, it was over with” main into New York’s sport towards Kansas Metropolis in Week 4. He added he had already spoken to each Chiefs GM Brett Veach and Mahomes.
“Like, ‘come get me,’” Hardman stated he informed them.
Hardman later tried to clarify those comments on X.
“By no means had talks with KC earlier than the commerce, so we are able to CLEAR THAT UP!” Hardman wrote. “The Jets dealt with my commerce on their very own and did the proper factor by sending me again to KC!”
It was not instantly sure if the Jets would pursue attainable tampering expenses with the NFL towards the Chiefs. Jets common supervisor Joe Douglas informed reporters on the mix Wednesday that Hardman’s feedback “undoubtedly resonated with us.”
Within the wake of Hardman’s feedback, a number of Jets gamers appeared to chime in with posts on X Thursday. Star cornerback Sauce Gardner appeared to indicate New York’s sport plan towards the Eagles was leaked in a since-deleted submit.
“We ain’t gon speak about how our offensive gameplan received leaked vs. the Eagles tho,” Gardner wrote.
Tight finish Kenny Yeboah was requested by a consumer on X how he felt about Hardman and replied with this since-deleted message: “He’s tripping out, he ain’t speaking about his personal work ethic and the way the Georgia eagles received our sport plan.” The Eagles have a number of defensive gamers who went to Georgia, which can be Hardman’s alma mater.
Punter Thomas Morstead, in the meantime, appeared to take a shot at Hardman in a submit about “disgruntled former workers.”
“Watch out getting data from disgruntled former workers,” Morstead wrote. “Getting beat out by a rookie free agent after being assured thousands and thousands of {dollars} is hard to take care of. Entitlement is a killer of alternative. It’s important to earn it yearly.”
The Related Press contributed to this story.
