Despite his historic success, New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner remains humble
Sauce Gardner took the NFL by storm in his rookie season. He led the league in passes defended, made the Pro Bowl, earned the most first-team All-Pro votes of any cornerback, and won Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In spite of it all, the New York Jets‘ 22-year-old superstar is not allowing the success to go to his head. Gardner believes he still has a long way to go before he earns his keep.
On Tuesday night, Gardner criticized a tweet that implored people to choose who they would start, bench, and cut between Gardner, Richard Sherman, and Champ Bailey. He insisted that he should not be included in the graphic alongside two “goated” cornerbacks in Sherman and Bailey, citing the fact that he is only going into his second season while Sherman and Bailey proved themselves across 10-plus seasons.
“I just don’t get it,” Gardner says of the comparison.
I just don’t get it lol… I’m going on Year 2 and y’all gon’ put me in this graphic with two goated CB’s who played 10+ years. It should only be ONE answer. https://t.co/NPMSPMezvO
— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) June 28, 2023
If Gardner is going to match the resumes of Sherman and Bailey, he needs to continue stacking elite seasons for many years to come. Bailey is a 12-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro (two first-team, four second-team). Sherman is a five-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro (three first-team, two second-team).
Gardner’s rookie year was a phenomenal start to that journey, as he is already ahead of schedule in comparison to Sherman and Bailey. Neither of them was a Pro Bowler, All-Pro, or Defensive Rookie of the Year in their first season. Gardner accomplished all three.
Still, the challenge is to maintain this success over the long haul. What separates the great players from the Hall of Famers is the ability to dominate the league over a long period of time, not just a season or two.
If anyone is equipped for long-term dominance, it’s Gardner – thanks to the hungry and humble mentality that he maintains despite his dreamlike success as a rookie.
