Saleh still can’t believe ‘bizarre’ final drive of Jets’ loss
Robert Saleh once again stopped short of criticizing the officials over the final defensive drive Sunday night, but he clearly still is miffed over multiple refereeing decisions late in the Jets’ 23-20 loss to the Chiefs.
Sauce Gardner was called for a questionable holding penalty that negated an interception by Michael Carter II in the closing minutes, and Jermaine Johnson appeared to be held during a Patrick Mahomes scramble that helped Kansas City run out the clock.
Saleh declined comment on the Gardner play after the game, and he added on a Zoom call one day later that he’s “just going to leave that one alone until I get a chance to get clarification.” He also was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the closing seconds.
“It was kind of a bizarre last drive, a series of unfortunate events,” Saleh said. “A 7 ½-minute drive that was aided by non-calls, calls, it was just bizarre.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of a drive like that to end a football game, especially a game like that on national television. Unfortunate. I’m still trying to understand what we could have done better. We’re still trying to figure out how we can coach things better. I’ll get clarification and we’ll go from there.”
➤ Johnson also declined to rip the refs when asked about the call that didn’t go his way, and the 2022 first-round draft pick was more critical of himself after the game.
“You always gotta be a thumb-pointer, and ask yourself what you can do better. I can’t put myself in a position to be held.” Johnson said. “I can’t go back in time. Just be better. I felt like my guys were out there playing with 10 [players], and I gotta live with that. Just gotta be better.”
Added Saleh: “Jermaine, he’s a competitor, he’s always trying to figure out how he can be his best. I’m not surprised that he spoke that way.”
➤ NBC analyst Rodney Harrison apparently reached out to the Jets or Zach Wilson to apologize for calling the quarterback “garbage” during Sunday’s postgame show. Wilson played a strong overall game until committing a costly fumble in the fourth quarter.
“I heard about [the comments] and from my understanding, Rodney this morning handled everything the right way,” Saleh said. “[Harrison] is a good man. And whatever he’s getting for that, it’s water under the bridge. I think he’s handled it exactly the way he’s supposed to.”