In the wake of the Colts' blockbuster trade for Sauce Gardner two weeks ago, defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson looked down at his phone and saw a text message that read:

"You finally get to work with Sauce."

Prior to being hired to the Colts' coaching staff this year, Henderson spent the last five seasons as the New York Giants' defensive backs coach. In 2022, when the Giants had the fifth and seventh overall picks, Henderson was tasked with taking a deep dive into the top cornerbacks in that year's draft class. One of them, of course, was Gardner, who had just wrapped up an All-American final collegiate season at Cincinnati.

Henderson spent plenty of time with Gardner in the pre-draft process, visiting with him and getting to know who he was as a player and person. And Gardner lef

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