Sauce Gardner Shines at Joint Practice, Throws Shade at Giants
The New York Jets' star cornerback Sauce Gardner has always been known for his exceptional skills on the field and his penchant for engaging in trash talk. At a recent joint practice session with the New York Giants, Gardner provided both his usual stellar play and a memorable verbal jab after his team scored an impressive touchdown against their cross-town rivals.
During the practice, one of the standout moments was Gardner nearly intercepting a pass from Giants' starting quarterback, Daniel Jones. “I thought I was about to pick him off today,” Gardner recalled with evident enthusiasm. “I had a cloud rep. He had looked at the last minute to throw the checkdown to Wan'Dale Robinson. I thought I had him picked, but he kept it and ran.”
However, it wasn’t just his defensive acumen that had people talking. Gardner demonstrated his verbal skills when he speculated on the Giants' financial decisions. He noted that cutting Jones in the 2025 offseason could potentially save the Giants nearly $20 million in cap space, a comment that certainly added fuel to the fire of this burgeoning rivalry.
Giving credit where it’s due, Gardner had high praise for Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of LSU, had caught Gardner’s attention during the joint practice. Gardner was effusive in his praise, saying, “He nice. He's very sudden when it comes to getting in and out of his breaks. A little Ja'Marr Chase. A little Justin Jefferson. He's going to be a really good player.”
Nabers himself had a grounded reflection on the practice session, acknowledging the Jets' defensive prowess while taking some responsibility for his team’s performance. “I mean, they won on the day. Their defense came out, executed well. We beat ourselves today,” he admitted.
The competitiveness of the practice was evident, with Gardner even having a verbal showdown with Jones. The back-and-forth between the star cornerback and the starting quarterback added an extra layer of intensity to the already charged atmosphere.
Despite the Jets' defense dominating much of the practice, it provided a learning opportunity for the Giants. The practice session served as a crucible in which both teams could fine-tune their strategies and address their weaknesses before the commencement of the regular season. The Giants openly acknowledged the talents of their opponents, with a sense of resolve to improve based on this valuable experience.
The Giants’ coaching staff, while disappointed in the outcome of the practice session, understood the importance of such joint practice opportunities. Facing off against a formidable defense like that of the Jets helps expose areas that need improvement and builds resilience within the team.
For the Jets, the practice was a chance to assert their dominance and showcase their defensive might. Gardner’s performance, in particular, underscored why he is considered one of the premier cornerbacks in the league. “Uh, he's uh, he's uh, he's uh good quarterback, you feel me?” Gardner said of Jones, in a typically nonchalant yet pointed manner.
As the preseason progresses, both teams are clearly focused on honing their skills and building the cohesion necessary to succeed in the highly competitive NFL environment. While the practice may have been just a small chapter in the long season ahead, it offered valuable lessons and set the stage for what promises to be an exciting year for both the New York Jets and the New York Giants.