Bills fans are learning what Jets already knew about Mecole Hardman

The only time former New York Jets wide receiver and returner Mecole Hardman looks like an NFL player is when he can coast to Super Bowls as a hanger-on with the Kansas City Chiefs. Every attempt he has made at setting himself apart from Patrick Mahomes has flopped miserably.

Not only did Hardman catch just one pass for six yards before essentially quitting on the team by refusing to tough through incredibly minor ailments to run back kicks, but he has failed to even record any stats this season following another 1.5-year sojourn in Kansas City.

Hardman, who was cut by the Green Bay Packers in the preseason, has managed to latch on with the Buffalo Bills. In what may be an exceedingly brief tenure, Hardman is showing the Bills why even the lowly Jets weren't desperate to put him on the field very often.

Just when it looked like Buffalo was going to take their Week 11 duel against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hardman's inability to corral a second-half punt led to the Bucs getting the ball back and converting their drive into points. Turns out, even when Hardman goes out there, he isn't a great returner.

Bills fans found out what Jets knew about Mecole Hardman after muffed punt

While many Chiefs fans and observers from around the league were quick to write off Hardman's struggles as the product of the dysfunctional Jets in an especially dysfunctional 2023 season, the fact that good teams like Green Bay and Buffalo have failed to milk anything positive out of him is quite the indictment.

Hardman clashing with former Jets special teams coordinator Brant Boyer, who survived multiple regimes and is generally regarded as one of the best in the business, struck many as incredibly odd, and Hardman all but forced his way off the roster due to his poor attitude.

The Jets are by no means in a much better place as far as their wide receivers are concerned, as their room outside of Garrett Wilson is the worst in the league despite new additions like Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie III. However, Hardman's inability to break out was one of many reasons the 2023 Jets sank as low as they did.

At least Hardman is spending his time making sure the Jets' divisional rivals are struggling. Even in a win, Buffalo had to overcome some goofiness from Hardman.