INDIANAPOLIS — The Jets aren’t happy with Mecole Hardman.
General manager Joe Douglas said Wednesday what the former Jets wide receiver said on this week’s “Pivot Podcast,” specifically that Hardman was the chiefs’ general manager before Kansas City acquired him in a midseason trade. ‘s Brett Veach and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“Like, it’s over. I’ve already talked to Veach and Pat. I’m like, ‘Hey, come get me, kid.’ What is everyone doing? what are we talking about? Hey, come get me,’” Hardman said on the podcast.
If the Chiefs and Hardman had contact without the Jets’ permission before the October trade, that could be considered tampering.
Douglas was asked at the NFL Scouting Combine whether the Jets would ask the league to investigate the matter.
“Let’s just say these are definitely comments that resonate with us,” Douglas said.
As for Hardman’s criticism of the Jets’ culture and offensive coaching staff, Douglas said rookie Xavier Gipson beat out Hardman, which led to the trade.
Several Jets players also weighed in on social media.
“I’m not going to talk about how our offensive game plan leaked against the Eagles,” cornerback Sauce Gardner wrote on X. Gardner later deleted the post.
Punter Thomas Morstead posted on X: “Be careful when obtaining information from disgruntled former employees.” “Losing to a rookie free agent who was guaranteed millions of dollars is tough to deal with.”
Robert Saleh hasn’t been to the combine since becoming the Jets’ head coach. But he is scheduled to come this weekend.
Douglas said that after a recent discussion with Saleh, the coach decided to stay for two days.
“We both thought it would be a good opportunity to meet some people and explore the landscape we had talked about,” Douglas said.
Quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs will work out here on Friday, and offensive linemen will work out on Sunday.
Douglas said the Jets have no plans to use the franchise tag on edge rusher Bryce Huff, who is set to become a free agent.
Douglas seems to think Huff will test the free agent market.
“Once we’re here, we’re going to have a lot of those conversations,” Douglas said. “This is an important week just to have different discussions with different agents. Bryce is an outstanding player. He definitely deserves this opportunity to see where he fits on the open market.”
Douglas said he has not yet made a decision on whether to pick up guard Aliyah Vera-Tucker’s fifth-year option. The team has until May to exercise its option on the 2021 first-round pick.
Douglas said Vera-Tucker is making good progress in his rehabilitation from Achilles surgery and reiterated that he plans to keep Vera-Tucker in one position this season, although he did not specify which position. There wasn’t.
