Mecole Hardman may have accidentally exposed the Kansas City Chiefs during an appearance on “The Pivot” podcast.
Hardman revealed that he was “checked out” on the New York Jets during the first half of the 2023 season. Things got so bad that he apparently reached out to Chiefs general manager Brett Veach.
“I was so checked out, like, it was over with,” Hardman said. “I had already talked to [Chiefs general manager Brett] Veach and Pat [Mahomes], like, ‘Come get me.'”
The Chiefs traded for Hardman on Oct. 18. If it’s true that he spoke to Veach before the deal went down, that would be tampering.
People are wondering if the Jets will bring this to the league’s attention. After all, it’s a bad look for the defending champions.
“Joe Douglas didn’t seem thrilled with the remarks from WR Mecole Hardman that, while on the #Jets, he contacted the #Chiefs and told them to come get him,” Jets reporter Connor Hughes said. “That’s tampering. #NYJ can, and likely will, ask league to look into that.”
“Hardman nonchalantly admitting to a tampering violation which should lead to the Chiefs forfeiting draft picks is hilarious,” John Sigler of Saints Wire wrote.
Hardman had just one reception in five games with the Jets. His role was much larger in Kansas City, with his biggest catch of the year coming in overtime of the Super Bowl.
