Kansas Metropolis Chiefs extensive receiver Mecole Hardman is making ready to face the San Francisco 49ers in Tremendous Bowl LVIII this Sunday after he flopped with the New York Jets this previous fall.
“It was a curler coaster,” Hardman mentioned throughout his Tremendous Bowl media availability about his Jets tenure, per Brian Costello of the New York Put up. “Issues undoubtedly didn’t go like I wished it to go. I suppose I simply wasn’t on the identical web page with everyone. There’s no unhealthy blood over there. I’m completely satisfied for everyone over there. I’m nonetheless cool with a few of these guys. I want them the perfect. I feel issues occurred prefer it was purported to.”
Hardman was one among a handful of gamers who joined the Jets final offseason as soon as it turned clear that quarterback Aaron Rodgers would drive his means from the Inexperienced Bay Packers to Gang Inexperienced. Rodgers then went down with a torn Achilles 4 offensive snaps into the regular-season opener, and Hardman rapidly turned a forgotten figure as a part of a unit that featured him for a complete of 28 offensive snaps throughout 5 video games earlier than he was traded to Kansas Metropolis.
Hardman initially performed for the Chiefs from 2019 by way of the 2022 season.
“I don’t know if he didn’t know the best way to use me, in a way, or simply felt like he didn’t have to,” Hardman mentioned about his relationship with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. “I don’t know what their considering was when it got here to me and having me on the sector or not. There have been performs the place I may have gone into the sport. Was it known as? Not likely. I feel Hackett is a superb man. When it got here to me, I don’t know what the thought course of was.”
Regardless of all the things that occurred with the Jets, Hardman known as New York’s Breece Corridor “undoubtedly a top-five operating again within the league.” Hardman additionally provided excessive reward for younger Jets receiver Garrett Wilson.
“He’s essentially the most athletic, freakish receiver I’ve ever been round — how he can twerk his physique, simply cease and his catching skill,” Hardman added about Wilson. “They’ve top-of-the-line defenses within the league. I feel with Aaron [Rodgers] coming again, and hopefully they get some items within the offseason, I feel they are often actually good.”
Hardman logged only one offensive snap in Kansas Metropolis’s AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 28 and could also be a non-factor versus the 49ers. Nonetheless, the 25-year-old may hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy on a Tremendous Bowl Sunday for the third time since February 2020.
