The sports world erupted this week when ESPN's Stephen A. Smith took a cheap shot at Lane Johnson's retirement, mocking the Eagles' tackle for citing mental health as his reason for stepping away. The backlash was swift and deserved, but the latest voice to pile on, Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, is drawing fire for a very different reason: his own recent behavior.
On Wednesday, Gardner-Johnson took to X (formerly Twitter) to lecture Smith, writing: "Mental health is serious, trust me this game takes a toll! Be there for us instead of mock us!" A noble sentiment, no doubt. But just days earlier, the same player was on the other side of the coin, pouring scorn on a fellow professional.
During Sunday's game against the Patriots, wide receiver Efton Chism III made a spectacular game-winning catch that sealed a loss for the Bills. Gardner-Johnson didn't take it well. In his postgame comments, he belittled Chism, calling him an "elevated guy" and a "practice squad player," adding, "probably won't hear from him again." He even doubled down: "You do it again, and he probably won't make it again."
The hypocrisy didn't go unnoticed. Fans on social media were quick to point out the contradiction. One wrote, "I agree. But you literally just the other day mocked Efton Chism III and accused him of being on the practice squad. You cannot openly mock someone else and then play the victim when it happens to you." Another added, "Dog you made fun of a fellow player in the league and said they wouldn't hear his name again. Maybe look in the mirror."
Even the mental health angle was turned back on Gardner-Johnson. As one fan put it, "Efton Chism has mental health as well. Down playing an UDFA who worked his butt off to make the 53 man roster 2 years in a row made a game winning play on your team and you discredited it and dismissed it. You're a hypocrite and a clown."
It's a fair point. Chism's journey to the NFL wasn't handed to him—he earned his spot through grit and determination, overcoming the odds as an undrafted free agent. That kind of story deserves respect, not ridicule. Gardner-Johnson's dismissal of Chism's achievement wasn't just sour grapes; it was an attack on a player's hard work and, by extension, his mental toughness.
Smith's mockery of Lane Johnson was indefensible. Mental health struggles are real and should never be trivialized. But Gardner-Johnson's moral high ground is shaky at best. If he truly believes that players should support each other rather than mock one another, he might want to start with himself.
This isn't the first time Gardner-Johnson has found himself in hot water for his words. His recent jabs at the Patriots have already stirred controversy, and now this latest episode adds to a growing list of questionable comments. It's a reminder that in the age of social media, every word is scrutinized, and the line between competitive banter and outright disrespect is often blurred.
Perhaps the lesson here is simple: before you call out someone else's insensitivity, take a long, hard look in the mirror. As the saying goes, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. C.J. Gardner-Johnson might want to remember that the next time he's tempted to tweet.
