NFL checking Jets' Sauce Gardner-Patriots' Mac Jones incident

August 2024 · 3 minute read

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The NFL is looking into Sauce Gardner’s claim that Patriots quarterback Mac Jones took a below-the-belt shot at the Jets cornerback on Sunday, according to Pro Football Talk.

The alleged incident took place in the fourth quarter after Jones was tackled by Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley while attempting a quarterback sneak.

After the play, Jones stood up and got into the face of Gardner.

“That’s probably the first time that ever happened to me,” Gardner said after the game. “He got tackled, and he reached his hand up to get me to help him up, and I just moved his hand out of the way.

“But then he got up and he just came up to me [saying], like, ‘Good job.’ But while he’s saying that, he hit me in my private parts.”

Sauce Gardner knocked Patriots quarterback Mac Jones down when things got chippy during the fourth quarter. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones faces another allegation of being a dirty player following Sunday’s 15-10 win vs. the Jets. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Gardner added he “definitely wasn’t expecting that. First time for everything I guess. … He’s trying to prevent me from having kids in the future.”

The 23-year-old Gardner gave Jones a shove at the end of the run-in, knocking him back to the turf, but there were no further fireworks.

Sauce Gardner claimed Mac Jones went for his private parts. AP
This isn’t the first time Mac Jones has been accused of playing dirty. AP

Jones, 25, tried to downplay the encounter following the game, a 15-10 win by New England.

“Just football. I think it’s a physical game and at that point in the game, you just have to fight to get the one yard,” the third-year quarterback said. “I was just trying to get the first down. … A lot of guys on both teams are in there and it definitely can get pretty physical in there.”

This isn’t the first time the Patriots’ quarterback has been accused of playing dirty.

Mac Jones grabbed Brian Burns by the ankle and twisted him down following the Panthers defensive end’s strip-sack in 2021. Bill Voth/X

In 2021, Jones grabbed Brian Burns by the ankle and twisted him down following the Panthers defensive end’s strip-sack.

In Week 7 of the 2022 season, Jones kicked his leg out and up, appearing to aim for Bears safety Jaquan Brisker’s midsection.

Mac Jones slid into Bears safety Jaquan Brisker in 2022. Christian D'Andrea/X
Mac Jones appeared to dive at the legs of Bengals cornerback Eli Apple after throwing an interception in 2022. Michael Hurley/X

In Week 16, Jones appeared to dive at the legs of Bengals cornerback Eli Apple after throwing an interception.

Jones, who wasn’t flagged for a penalty Sunday vs. the Jets, could face a fine this week from the NFL.

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