Injuries will not deter Jets vs. Saints, according to Justin Hardee
As if he were role-playing Joe Namath before Super Bowl III, New York Jets special teams ace Justin Hardee guaranteed victory before Sunday’s contest against his former team, the New Orleans Saints.
Hardee commented on an Instagram post by user “nyjetsfansonly” that featured a tweet summing up the Jets’ chronic injury woes, replying, “And we still gone win.”
Hardee, the Jets’ special teams captain, quickly became a leader in the locker room after being signed as a free agent.
In March, Hardee put pen to paper on a three-year, $6.75 million deal. Though slightly expensive for a special teamer, general manager Joe Douglas did what he had to in order to pry him from New Orleans.
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Hardee spent the first four seasons of his career in New Orleans. As a Saint, Hardee established himself as one of the league’s best special teamers.
After being cut by Houston as an undrafted free agent in 2017, New Orleans added him to the practice squad before the start of the regular season.
While on the practice squad, Hardee transitioned from wide receiver to cornerback. By Week 9, he had already won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Safe to say, it didn’t take very long for him to become a fan favorite in the Big Easy. For the next three seasons, Hardee would help anchor the special teams unit of some great Saints teams.
Going into the 2021 offseason, the Saints were cap-tied. Millions of dollars above the allocated ceiling, Hardee was, unfortunately, a cap casualty.
New York was one of the teams that showed the most interest, and Hardee took notice.
“The Jets were one of the ones that really reached out to me and really wanted me,” said Hardee at his introductory press conference back in March. “I wanted to go somewhere I was wanted, not where I was just tolerated.”
Though this prediction of victory is likely not a shot at the Saints, it’s clear Hardee thinks that there is some unfinished business he has to take care of on Sunday.
And even with all of the injuries, Hardee fully expects the Jets to win.
