INDIANAPOLIS – Alec Pierce was quick to set the record straight.
Despite what you’ve seen and heard, he never requested going one-on-one against Sauce Gardner while they were friends/ultra-competitive teammates at the University of Cincinnati.
“I’m not completely sure where that quote came from,’’ Pierce said Wednesday afternoon. “I don’t know if I ever really requested to go exclusively against him because our whole secondary was filled with really talented players.’’
It just worked out that way.
The Bearcats’ aggressive cornerback routinely lined up opposite their forceful wideout.
Sauce Gardner versus Alec Pierce.
“It just so happened the position I played and the position he played kind of matched up against each other,’’ Pierce said. “He played boundary corner and I played boundary receiver, so most of my looks were pretty much going to be against him.’’
Even a normal walkthrough always reached higher levels.
“Super competitive,’’ Pierce said with a smile. “We would do walkthroughs at night and that walkthrough would turn quickly into pretty much going about 90 percent.
“He’s trying to press you, you’re trying to get off the press. Just a super competitive guy.’’
Three years of hand-to-hand combat at Cincinnati contributed to Gardner being selected by the New York Jets with the 4th overall pick in the 2022 draft and Pierce being taken in round 2 – No. 53 overall – by the Colts.
One of the boldest moves in the Indy era reunited Team Sauce – more on that later – Tuesday.
General manager Chris Ballard sent his 2026 and 2027 first-round draft picks, along with wideout AD Mitchell, to the Jets for Gardner as the NFL’s trade deadline loomed.
Ballard had been working on the deal for roughly three weeks, and coach Shane Steichen’s anticipation increased as the details were finalized.
“Pure excitement,’’ he said. “Anytime you can get an elite player in this league to help your team win, it elevates everybody.’’
The blockbuster trade was finalized on Tuesday, which is the players’ normal day off.
The reverberations resembled a slow earthquake creeping across Colts’ country.
Defensive tackle Grover Stewart might have been one of the last to know.
“I had people calling me,’’ he said. “They were like, ‘Y’all got Sauce?’ I was like, ‘Sauce? I don’t know.’
“Then I see it and was like, ‘Yeah, we got him.’ I was just fired up.’’
The massive trade, Stewart added, was evidence of the commitment of Ballard and owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon.
The Colts take an NFL-best 7-2 record to Berlin for Sunday’s meeting with the Atlanta Falcons. They’re sitting atop the AFC South.
“It just showed they’re willing to win,’’ Stewart said. “They showed they’re all about the team.
“I thought we had a championship team before (the trade), and it got even better.’’
Nickel back Kenny Moore II works as a part-time teacher at Cardinal Ritter High School on Tuesdays. The trade went down before he reached the school, and the reaction awaiting him was intense.
“The school was pretty hyped to hear about Sauce,’’ Moore said. “It’s cool to have that effect and change of positive energy for an individual as well as the Colts.’’
Prior to that, player-to-player interaction was constant.
“I think everybody’s phone was blowing up,’’ Moore said. “Not just from peer-to-peer, colleague-to-colleague, but my family was like, ‘Oh, my gosh! You guys gettin’ Sauce?’’’
Yes, Sauce Gardner. Two-time first-team All-Pro. Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022. The highest-paid cornerback in NFL history after the four-year, $120.4 million extension given to him by the Jets gave in the offseason.
The move instantly gives coordinator Lou Anarumo one of the premier corner groups in the NFL: Gardner, Charvarius Ward, Moore, Jaylon Jones and Mekhi Blackmon. Gardner and Ward have been named All-Pro and selected to multiple Pro Bowls. Moore was a Pro Bowler in 2021.
“It’s cool,’’ Moore said. “It’s cool to elevate the team, elevate the room.
“It’s good to get a chance to learn from a proven guy in the league who’s seen a lot of snaps.’’
He believes investing so heavily in the 25-year-old Gardner is a sign from management to “turn it up a notch.
“Keep the same expectations going out there to win.’’
Gardner is in the league’s concussion protocol, but was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. He’s had an extra week to recover from the head trauma sustained Oct. 19 against Carolina. The Jets were at Cincinnati Oct. 26 and had a bye last weekend.
The Colts are optimistic Gardner will be cleared by an independent neurologist and start Sunday against the Falcons.
Ward, meanwhile, has been on injured reserve since suffering a concussion in pregame warmups for the Oct. 15 game with Las Vegas. He’s required to miss one more game, and was working with trainers on the side during Wednesday’s practice.
Team Sauce
Pierce and Gardner have remained close since their college days.
“It was tough with him in New York and me out here on different schedules,’’ Pierce said. “It’s hard to see each other. Maybe you go back to Cincy and if you’re lucky, he’s there at the same time.’’
In March, the Cincy guys got together for the NFLPA Golf Classic in Mayakoba, Mexico. It was Pierce, Gardner, Josh Whyle and Desmond Ridder.
“Our team name was Team Sauce,’’ Pierce said.
Gardner was the captain and Team Sauce won the event.
“Still don’t know how we won it,’’ Pierce said.
He added that Gardner is embracing a fresh start with the Colts. In three-plus seasons in New York, Gardner saw the Jets post a 20-39 record. This season, they’re 1-7.
“I know he’s up to the challenge,’’ Pierce said. “For him, it’ll be nice to be on a team with a winning record.
“This is just like in college. We’re back playing important games and you’ve got a chance to do big things.’’
Number, please
Gardner has retained the No. 1 jersey he wore with the Jets and at Cincinnati.
Thank you, Josh Downs.
“I know that number means a lot to him,’’ he said. “Friendly transaction.’’
Downs is now wearing jersey 2. That’s the same as his younger brother, Caleb, who’s a standout safety at No. 1-ranked Ohio State.
Downs said the No. 1 jersey was assigned to him as a rookie.
“You can’t go wrong with 1, 2, 3, all the single digits are fine,’’ he said. “I’m cool with it.’’
Mitchell moved
The arrival of Gardner meant the departure of Mitchell. The 2024 second-round pick who’s dealt with inconsistency and a few critical mistakes gets a fresh start.
“We talked to him before the trade happened, right before it happened,’’ Steichen said. “Obviously, I’ve got a lot of respect for AD. I think AD is a very talented player.
“This is part of the business. I hope he goes and has great success in New York.’’
Pierce was able to meet with Mitchell before he exited the Colts’ complex.
“It’s tough, man,’’ he said. “It’s a tough business. I’m excited for him to hopefully get a lot of opportunity in New York.
“He’s a special player, special talent, and I know he can do so much in this league.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.