Special teams captain Justin Hardee took the blame after the Jets allowed an 84-yard punt return for a game-sealing touchdown in their 10-3 loss to the Patriots last Sunday. Hardee’s mea culpa was despite the fact he was triple-teamed on the play and ended up getting blocked from behind on what looked like an obvious penalty.
“I respect that, and I appreciate that, and he dominated that game,” special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said. “He had three tackles and a forced fumble, and that’s why you have a leader like that. That’s me being 100 percent honest. He was getting triple-teamed damn near every play and for him to say that, I really appreciate a guy like that. I think that him saying that just shows you what kind of man he is. I thought he did a really good job in that game.”
The special teams unit has spent the last week analyzing what went wrong on Marcus Jones’ return with 5 seconds left in the game.
“I feel like it was a reality check,” Hardee said Friday. “But I don’t think too much changed. I feel like we played a good game on Sunday until that last play. Of course, when it’s time to make a play, that’s the time. Of course, that’s when I feel like everything is getting blown out of proportion a little. But we have to make that play. I feel like it’s been addressed and I feel like we’re on the right path.”
Hardee has rewatched the play and has seen himself appear to get blocked in the back by Mack Wilson as he tried to chase Jones down.
“At the end of the day, refs usually say like if it’s part of the back or anything including the back it’s a flag,” Hardee said. “I don’t see what they didn’t see. It’s their call.
“I feel like it shouldn’t have gotten to that. We should have gotten him down. That wasn’t the case and it ended the way it ended. It was unfortunate and all we can do is learn from it.”
