Sauce Gardner just sent a cryptic message to the Jets about his contract

Sauce Gardner just reignited speculation about his contract negotiations with the New York Jets. On Friday, the two-time All-Pro cornerback retweeted a months-old message from Deion Sanders urging defensive backs to “stand up” for themselves, added a saluting emoji to Sanders' original post.

The original tweet, posted in March, was a direct response to Gardner’s own public questioning of why cornerback salaries lag behind those of wide receivers and pass rushers. The message resurfacing now, in the middle of the NFL’s dead period, feels far from random.

It’s unclear what exactly Gardner’s salute means. Maybe it’s a nod to the stand he’s taken, with a lucrative extension now imminent. Or maybe it’s a signal that things behind the scenes haven’t gone as hoped.

Either way, it’s certainly sparked intrigue and some concern from Jets fans who are growing restless as their favorite team works out an extension with the de facto face of the franchise.

What's the latest on Sauce Gardner's extension talks?

Gardner has made his intentions clear all offseason. He wants to be a Jet for life, and he’s backed up that claim by showing up to voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp without a new deal in hand. That’s no small gesture in today’s NFL, especially for a player of Gardner’s stature.

Gardner is the first cornerback in NFL history to earn first-team All-Pro honors in each of his first two seasons. And while it's fair to suggest that 2024 was a “down year” by his standards, he still allowed the fewest catches of any qualified cornerback in the NFL.

Even at his "worst," he was still among the NFL's elite cornerbacks.

Of course, that kind of production doesn’t come cheap. Earlier this offseason, Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., selected one spot ahead of Gardner in the 2022 NFL Draft, signed a three-year, $90 million extension that averages $30 million annually.

Most around the league expect Gardner to top that number when he eventually puts pen to paper. And if we're being honest, he absolutely should.

The expectation has always been that a deal would get done this summer. Gardner became extension-eligible after the 2024 season, and while there’s been no reported progress in recent weeks, there’s also been no indication of animosity.

If anything, his attendance this spring suggests confidence that a deal will happen sooner rather than later. That said, the Jets likely want this handled before training camp opens next month.

The longer Gardner goes unsigned, the more the pressure will build. And the saluting emoji on Friday, connected to a quote tweet about cornerbacks needing to stand up for themselves, adds just enough ambiguity to stir speculation.

Does Gardner believe he’s done his part and is now awaiting a response? Is it possible he’s growing frustrated with the lack of movement? Or was this just another cryptic gem in Gardner’s never-ending stream of tweets?

Only Gardner truly knows. But when one of the league’s top young stars hits send on something cryptic while contract talks are looming, people take notice.

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