Jets still playing for Robert Saleh after shock firing: Sauce Gardner

· New York Post

Sauce Gardner deleted the X app off his phone this week because he was tired of the negativity on it.

So he had no idea that the Jets had fired Robert Saleh until he got a text message from his agent.

Gardner then turned to Google and found a story about Saleh’s firing.

“I was shocked,” Gardner said. “The reality is, we’re 2-3. Everything is still in front of us. I was really shocked. Coach Saleh and I were extremely close since the day the Jets first drafted me. To be honest, he changed my life.

“Where I come from, all the stuff that I’ve been through in growing up in Detroit and for him to be able to take a chance on me … that’s why for his birthday I text him and every year I say, ‘I appreciate you for taking a chance on me.’ ”

Sauce Gardner is pictured during the Jets’ practice on Oct. 10. Bill Kostroun for the NY Post
Robert Saleh, pictured earlier this season, was fired by the Jets on Tuesday. Bill Kostroun for the NY Post

Gardner said the Jets are still playing for Saleh.

“We doing it for him still. That’s just what it is,” Gardner said. “We’re still doing it for him because we know everything he did was out of the kindness of his heart to make the team better.”

Gardner said the criticism of Saleh was unfair.

Follow the latest on the New York Jets firing head coach Robert Saleh:

“People can say it’s his fault but, realistically, we are grown men who get paid millions of dollars,” Gardner said. “We should be able to be held accountable. We should be able to correct ourselves and the mistakes that we make. It definitely threw me off. He’s a great guy, a great coach. He always helped me find ways to get better. Not just me, all the guys around, coaches as well. He was a true leader, a guy that we all followed. I still can’t believe it.”

Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said he has been talking to some of his coaching mentors since taking the role Tuesday.

He mentioned Washington’s Dan Quinn, Atlanta’s Raheem Morris and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur as coaches he has spoken to this week for advice.

“I’m very fortunate to have a lot of current head coaches that have a deep understanding of what this position looks like, feels like, and what’s necessary to be successful in it,” Ulbrich said.

QB Aaron Rodgers (ankle) was limited in practice Thursday, but Ulbrich said there is no worry that he might miss Monday’s game.

OT Morgan Moses (knee) was limited but Ulbrich said he is on track to play after missing the last two games. LB C.J. Mosley (toe) was limited.

Mosley has missed the last three games.

CB Michael Carter (back) did not practice.

Carter injured his hamstring before Sunday’s loss to the Vikings and now has a back issue.

TE Tyler Conklin (hip) was limited and OT Tyron Smith (rest) did not practice.