Generally, when a team decides not to even throw in a particular cornerback’s direction, it’s a massive sign of respect indicating that the team isn’t even willing to try to complete a pass against that player and risk an incompletion or an interception. That’s what the Detroit Lions did to New York Jets rookie sensation Sauce Gardner on Sunday.
But after the game, Sauce Gardner wasn’t particularly happy with the Lions’ game plan.
“I wasn’t targeted yesterday, not once,” Gardner said, according to Pro Football Talk. “I don’t know what their mentality is or mindset is when they go up against us, but yesterday, I wasn’t targeted. I take that kind of personally because I actually wanted to make a bigger and a better impact on the game, especially going against my hometown team. . . . I didn’t get targeted so I didn’t get that opportunity.”
Even though Gardner acknowledges that it was a big sign of respect, he still wishes they would have thrown in his direction to allow him to make a game-changing play.
“Definitely it is a huge sign of respect, but if I catch the ball and I get a pick-six I could put points on the board, or catch an interception and flip the field, something to get us some points,” Gardner said.
As Gardner continues to dominate the league, this is probably something he’s going to have to get used to.