Jets' Sauce Gardner on how he'll improve thanks to Aaron Rodgers

The future Hall-of-Famer has also seemingly sparked a fast friendship with Gardner after the two exchanged text messages before the Jets and Green Bay Packers completed a much-anticipated trade last week. Most recently, the pair was spotted together at the New York Knicks' home playoff game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday:

Rodgers is happily embracing non-work life in "the city that never sleeps" along with Gardner, but the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year is also enjoying learning from the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player ahead of training camp. 

"He was telling me he has the secret gems he can give me," Gardner continued about Rodgers. "Hearing that made me respect him even more. I wasn’t expecting that, but now I’m looking forward to sitting down and watching film and telling him what we’re trying to do and he can tell us what they’re trying to do on offense." 

Gardner confidently declared before the Jets officially introduced Rodgers as their new player that making the playoffs should be "easy" for Gang Green with the 39-year-old in the lineup. "Sauce" isn't shying away from the expectations that come with being labeled a contender in the country's largest sports market. 

"I was just trying to share with him my experience when it comes to playing in New York and how my mentality was to embrace the New York culture – media, fans, everything that comes with New York instead of trying to be so perfect," Gardner explained about a recent dinner he had with Rodgers. "Everybody makes mistakes and goes through adversity." 

Perhaps Rodgers can and will lean upon the likes of Gardner, Wilson and other young Jets players as he continues to make the New York/New Jersey area his new home.