'Career-Ender!' Stephen A. Smith Says Hardman Should Sue Jets
Former New York Jets receiver Mecole Hardman was not shy about his upcoming free agency and how Gang Green isn’t a part of those plans. But it would be ambitious to assume the Jets want him back.
After spending the first half of the season in New York, Hardman managed just a single catch and fell from a potential role player to a game-day inactive. Falling out of favor eventually landed him back with the Kansas City Chiefs, where his career began.
Such a quick downfall may be reason enough for the Jets not to consider a reunion in this offseason’s free-agent cycle. Hardman, however, hasn’t done much to prove he’s worth reconsidering. The press that comes with making a championship-winning touchdown catch has only hurt Hardman’s relationship with New York.
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Hardman wasn’t glowing in his endorsement of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett – justified given the offense’s performance – but went on to imply that he tampered with the Chiefs to trade for him. Since then, additional suspicion from Jets players has become public about Hardman leaking game plans to the Philadelphia Eagles before their Week 6 contest (which New York won 20-14).
That, of course, would be cheating, and that development has caught the attention of Jets general manager Joe Douglas and presumably the league itself.
However, at this point, these are just accusations levied by players who may be defending their team from the embarrassment of this season’s failures. On “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith spoke about how Hardman should react to these claims, which may be more serious than any player involved had intended.
“Let me tell you something right now. If you are Mecole Hardman, if the Jets, if there is a hole in their argument. First of all, you’ve got to speak on that immediately,” Smith said. “That’s grounds for a lawsuit if they are false, because that’s a career-ender, y’all. That’s a career-ender. What locker room can he possibly go into if somebody believes it’s true? If evidence came out that this is remotely true, what locker room could he go in?”
If the league found Hardman guilty of leaking a game plan, Smith is right in hypothesizing that it would probably end his career. Growing frustrated with one’s role in the offense is a normal phenomenon. Putting the integrity of the game at risk is a whole other issue.
The sacred trust between teammates cannot be overlooked, and a reputational scar of that magnitude could be irreparable. In turn, Smith feels that Hardman needs to act immediately.
“Nah, he’s got to speak up today,” Smith said. “And if the Jets are wrong, he’s got to consider legal action, seriously. Because it doesn’t get a greater indictment … Does it get any worse than this as an indictment?”
A Hardman lawsuit may be a possibility, but if the Jets can prove he cheated, he is in a world of trouble. Other owners probably aren’t thrilled about singing players suing their former team, either.
For Hardman’s free agency and future in the league, he should probably act fast. These accusations could be difficult to prove, and a swift denial could be his best chance to get in front of mounting suspicion.
