Keith was live on the air immediately following the Jets’ season-opening loss to the 49ers, and his main Gang Green concern was Sauce Gardner, who was sidelined for several plays during the second quarter, confusing fans and reporters as the team’s top corner was off the field with the game still very much there for the taking.
Robert Saleh told reporters after the game that his star corner was “just trying to get his breath back,” while Gardner himself said he had to “get my wind back.” But Gardner was on the sideline for an extended period, to the point where reporters asked Jets PR if Gardner was hurt (they said he was not). If it was a matter of getting his wind back, Keith says that is unacceptable for an athlete who should be in peak shape and ready for game action.
“Are you kidding? A conditioning thing? That falls on him, but that falls on the coaching and the training camp,” Keith said. “Those guys don’t have to run after practice? These guys aren’t working hard enough to simulate a game? Because they don’t play in the preseason.
“He only weighs about a buck 70. Come on, Sauce. You’re my guy, but you can’t be sucking wind on the sideline when your team needs you…come on, that can’t be life. That can’t be real.”
Gardner was impactful when on the field, but he missed nine snaps that proved costly for the Jets, and Keith says the 24-year-old can’t have conditioning taking him out of games.
“There’s no reason they would take out their best corner, and one of their better players,” Keith said. “You can’t be a multi-million dollar man and not be able to stay in the game because you’re gassed. What?”