Former Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl hero Mecole Hardman, who caught the overtime pass at the goal line to beat the San Francisco 49ers for a second consecutive championship, once again entered this offseason looking for a new team.
Just last year, he joined the New York Jets only to be traded back to the Chiefs, and now his new tenure with the Green Bay Packers has seen its fair share of struggles.
After a brutal start to his tenure with the organization, Hardman learned his lesson by correcting a big mistake he made during the preseason opener.
Mecole Hardman learned his lesson. Lets this punt hit at the 5-yard line and go into the end zone harmlessly
https://twitter.com/zachkruse2/status/1956792828706635884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Former Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman Learns from Preseason Mistake, But It May Be Too Late
As pointed out by Packers insider Zach Kruse, Hardman let a punt at the 5-yard line go into the end zone harmlessly instead of trying to catch it on Saturday. That’s a big change from what he did last week, trying to field one and getting tackled inside the five before muffing another one.
Those mistakes not only cost Green Bay 10 points and led to an embarrassing loss, but they were all too familiar to Chiefs fans as well. Hardman routinely made poor decisions on punt returns, trying to make a high-risk play when it wasn’t necessary. This may be the first sign he’s actually learning, but it may also be too late.
Former Georgia Bulldog Mecole Hardman with a muff on a punt.
Former Florida Gator Ja’Markis Weston with the recovery. pic.twitter.com/ICwz6eKV4V
https://twitter.com/AllKindsWeather/status/1954355255443087764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Packers are deep, but not top-heavy, at receiver. Hardman currently projects as the seventh or eighth guy on the depth chart, so it isn’t impossible to think that he may return to the Chiefs should injuries arise and he gets cut. He’s not the only former Kansas City player trying to earn a roster spot, though he may be the most accomplished. With three rings and a walk-off Lombardi TD under his belt, Hardman is a made man.
One could argue he’s gone downhill since his rookie campaign, however. By all accounts, Hardman is a beloved locker room guy and great team leader, he just mades enough bone-headed mistakes on the field to make you question those things.
General manager Brett Veach obviously felt comfortable enough letting Hardman go. Based on these early returns and the Chiefs’ fierce wideout competition, it seems like the right decision. Hardman has one preseason game left to prove he can be a reliable punt returner, but if he doesn’t, he’ll once again be trying to find a new organization despite being a 27-year-old impactful player on championship teams.
