New York Jets believe that frustrated Mecole Hardman leaked game plans

The New York Jets believe that wide receiver Mecole Hardman divulged game plans to opponents during the 2023 regular season.

After spending four NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Mecole Hardman signed with the New York Jets last off-season.

With the Jets, Hardman struggled to find playing time. He only recorded one catch on the year before eventually requesting a trade away from the franchise.

Hardman’s former team answered the bell, and it paid immediate dividends. The speedy wideout hauled in a walk-off touchdown at Super Bowl LVIII, earning a third ring in only his fifth year.

However, after Hardman made some disparaging remarks toward the Jets, players are accusing him of breaking a cardinal rule.

Jets players claim Hardman leaked intel to opponents

According to multiple players, including Sauce Gardner and Kenny Yeboah, Hardman allegedly leaked offensive game plans to their opponents while still with the Jets.

As a now-deleted X post from Gardner implied, the apparent frustration from being kept on the sideline led to Hardman leaking confidential information to the Eagles and Chiefs.

The Jets will also ask the league to investigate tampering claims stemming from Hardman’s alleged “come get me” statement to the Chiefs while rostered by New York.

Jets insider confirms the franchise is investigating Hardman

Jets reporter Connor Hughes shed light on the situation by citing sources inside the organization.

“We already know [Hardman] said that he was openly campaigning to Brett Veach and Patrick Mahomes to come get him. Well, it’s a little bit more than that.

“As Sauce Gardner and Kenny Yeboah alluded to on Wednesday, there is validated belief within the Jets organization that Hardman was leaking game plans to the opposition.

“Are the Jets going to pursue actions on this alleged leak? We will see. But the one thing they will do, as Joe Douglas said on Wednesday, is look into filing tampering charges.

“If Hardman did, in fact, reach out to the Chiefs, that is tampering. There can be discipline from the league in terms of draft compensation given to the Jets.

“With the game-plan leaking, it might be a little bit harder for the Jets to specifically prove that.”

Potential ramifications from the alleged leaks could fall on the Chiefs. As Hughes states, if the NFL finds Hardman guilty of tampering, it will levy a fine and likely strip draft picks from Kansas City.

If the “game-plan leak” claims are substantiated, there’s a chance that Hardman will receive a lengthy suspension. At the same time, the Chiefs would be subject to even more penalties.