Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20211217

A31
sports Diabierna 17 December 2021

Jaguars fire Urban Meyer after 13 games, countless missteps

(AP) — Urban Meyer nev- off the field, where he tried
er fit in the NFL. to handle a professional team
like he was on a college cam-
His mottos. His methods. pus. He splashed slogans
Even his moods seemed to and catchphrases around the
go against what’s considered facility, instilled gimmicks
normal behavior in a league in practice and repeated his
filled with professionals and misguided belief that coaches
grown men. He rubbed just coach for players and players
about everyone the wrong play for coaches. He brought
way: assistants, players and in motivational speakers and
eventually his bosses. kept blaming assistants for
the team’s mounting losses
Meyer’s tumultuous tenure instead of the guys actually
ended after just 13 games — on the field.
and two victories — when
the Jacksonville Jaguars fired One of Meyer’s most damn-
him early Thursday because ing decisions came follow-
of an accumulation of mis- ing a Thursday night game
steps. at Cincinnati in late Septem-
ber. He chose to stay behind
Owner Shad Khan made the with family instead of flying
move hours after former Jag- home with his team and then
uars player Josh Lambo told got caught on video the fol-
a Florida newspaper Meyer lowing night behaving inap-
kicked him during practice in propriately with a woman at
August. It was the latest black a bar in Columbus, Ohio.
eye — adding to an already Khan publicly reprimanded
lengthy list of embarrass- Meyer then, saying he need-
ments — for the three-time ed to regain the owner’s trust
national championship-win- and respect.
ning college coach who failed through the team denying ceivers by saying they weren’t — Meyer signed 2007 Heis-
miserably to make the transi- Bailing on his players showed the incident happened the winning enough one-on-one man Trophy-winning quar-
tion to the NFL. just how out of touch Mey- way Lambo described it. matchups or getting enough terback Tim Tebow to play
er was with NFL norms. separation. tight end, an experiment that
“After deliberation over many And it was just one of many “Josh’s characterization of ended with Tebow looking
weeks and a thorough analy- head-scratching choices for me and this incident is com- “I would just say this: There lost in the preseason opener
sis of the entirety of Urban’s the 57-year-old coach who pletely inaccurate, and there was something that was against Cleveland.
tenure with our team, I am found success at every col- are eyewitnesses to refute his brought to my attention that
bitterly disappointed to arrive lege stop: Bowling Green account,” Meyer said. I didn’t like too well,” Jones — Meyer held a fake QB
at the conclusion that an im- (2001-02), Utah (2003-04), said Wednesday, his first pub- competition between Trevor
mediate change is imperative Florida (2005-10) and Ohio Lambo said he reported the lic comments since the report Lawrence, a generational
for everyone,” Khan said in a State (2012-18). kick to his agent, who con- was published Saturday. “I prospect, and Gardner Min-
statement. “I informed Ur- tacted the Jaguars’ legal coun- approached him about it and shew in training camp. Mey-
ban of the change this eve- Meyer simply never made sel the following day. we talked and we handled it er and general manager Trent
ning. As I stated in October, the proper adjustments to the like grown men. And that’s Baalke traded Minshew to
regaining our trust and re- pro level. “Jaguars legal counsel indeed all I have to say about that.” Philadelphia, where he’s a
spect was essential. Regretta- acknowledged and respond- backup to Jalen Hurts.
bly, it did not happen.” Lambo’s claim seemingly ed immediately to the query Jones denied threatening to
proved too much for Khan, made by Josh Lambo’s agent leave practice over the argu- — The NFL Players Associa-
Meyer joins former Atlanta who two days earlier said Friday, August 27, 2021,” the ment. tion launched an investiga-
Falcons coach Bobby Petri- he didn’t want to make an Jaguars said in a statement. tion after Meyer said vaccina-
no as college coaches whose impulsive decision on the “Counsel offered to speak “I mean, shoot, when you tion status factored into the
NFL careers flamed out in coach’s future. with Josh, or to assist Josh lose, you’re always going to team’s roster decisions.
stunningly swift fashion. in speaking with coaching or be the center of attention in
Petrino resigned in Decem- “What’s different about this any other football personnel, a negative way,” Jones said. — He repeatedly mishandled
ber 2007 to take over at Ar- thing is you have losses and if he was comfortable with “That just is what it is. That’s running back James Robin-
kansas. He was 3-10 at the you have drama,” Khan said her sharing the information. all I have to say.” son, allowing the team’s most
time. then. Any suggestion otherwise is consistent offensive player to
blatantly false.” Other issues for Meyer: get benched twice following
Meyer went 2-11 in his par- The Jags had way more dra- fumbles and botched trying
tial season, and the Jaguars ma than victories. Lambo was released after he — He hired strength coach to explain why Robinson got
really started to unravel on missed his first three field- Chris Doyle in February pulled and how long he re-
the offensive side of the ball Lambo provided the latest goal attempts to start the sea- despite accusations of racist mained on the sideline.
following the team’s bye when he told the Tampa Bay son. behavior and then had to let
week. They averaged a mea- Times that Meyer kicked him him go a day later because of All the drama became too
sly 9.1 points in Meyer’s final while he was stretching at the Lambo’s allegation came on a pending lawsuit. much for Lawrence.
seven games, which ended start of a practice. Lambo, the the heels of an NFL Network
with a five-game skid. team’s place-kicker to open report which said Meyer cre- — Jacksonville was fined “I do think that has to change
the season, said he told Mey- ated tension with multiple $200,000 and Meyer docked and that’s something that we
Offensive coordinator Dar- er “don’t you ever (expletive) run-ins with players as well as $100,000 on July 1, a punish- need to work on for sure,”
rell Bevell will serve as Jack- kick me again” and said the assistants he allegedly called ment that stemmed from an Lawrence said Wednesday.
sonville’s interim head coach coach responded, “I’m the “losers.” Citing unidentified early June practice in which “You can’t always be in the
for the final four games, head ball coach, I’ll kick you sources, the report detailed the league deemed receivers headlines. You just got to go
beginning Sunday against whenever the (expletive) I a heated exchange between and defensive backs had too play football, and that’s where
Houston (2-11). want.” Meyer and veteran receiver much contact during 11-on- we’re trying to get, and I have
Marvin Jones that stemmed 11 drills. no doubt we’ll get there.”
Meyer’s biggest issues came Meyer released a statement from Meyer criticizing re-