Allen Lazard could boo Sean Payton for his sharp criticisms of Nathaniel Hackett.
But he might prefer to moo.
During the course of Lazard’s passionate defense of Hackett after practice Monday, the new Jets receiver revealed one unusual method that the new offensive coordinator uses as part of “a style of teaching [that] makes things so easy to remember.”
The two previously were together in those same player-coach roles for three years with the Packers.
“He gets a room of grown men to make animal noises,” Lazard laughed.
Huh? Please explain.
“It may not make too much sense,” Lazard continued, “but it’s pertaining to the play. Whether it’s a name. Whether it’s a whale, a kangaroo, a pony, a shark. You’d have to sit in the room to hear [the sounds], but he’s the only person who can get grown men to do something like that. I’ve never experienced something like that in my career — different organizations and different coaches I’ve had.”
Payton, who replaced the fired Hackett as Broncos head coach, said in a USA Today report that his predecessor’s work over less than one full season “might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is especially close to Hackett, fired back at Payton to “keep my coaches’ names out of his mouth.”
Monday was Lazard’s turn to jump to Hackett’s defense.
“I think Hackett is the best coach — really, teacher — I’ve ever had in my life,” Lazard said. “His personality, his style of teaching, his vulnerability just to be himself, I think, is very powerful. It speaks in high regard to him being comfortable with himself. When you see that as a player — a coach carry himself that way — it allows you to do the same thing. I think that helps, especially young guys, just to be comfortable coming to the NFL.”
Lazard signed a four-year, $44 million contract — the biggest for a receiver in free agency this offseason — to leave the Packers for the Jets.
It was before Rodgers was traded.
“I knew going into free agency that I was going to target whatever team [Hackett] was a part of,” Lazard said. “If he was somewhere else, I would’ve been intrigued, but couldn’t be more happy to have him as a coach.”
Payton said he regrets sharing his thoughts on Hackett but didn’t walk any of it back, choosing to turn the page when asked to reply to Rodgers’ retaliation.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh declined to say whether Payton called to apologize.
“I think what Aaron said spoke for everyone here,” Lazard said. “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We’ve got bigger things to worry about than other people worrying about our offensive coordinator.”
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