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In a post-practice meeting with reporters, Washington Commander Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio downplayed the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol building, calling it “dust” in compared to the racial justice protests that followed the death of George Floyd in 2020..
“I can watch pictures on TV [of the Floyd protests] – People’s livelihoods are being destroyed. Businesses are burning. No problem, “he said. “And then we have a dust in the Capitol, nothing has been burned, and we will make an important agreement. I think they are a kind of two standards, and if we apply the same standard and be reasonable with each other, we will discuss “.
Del Rio’s comments answered questions related to a social media post he posted earlier in the week. The 59-year-old veteran football coach has openly appeared on Twitter in each of his three seasons as coach of Commanders, often on conservative political issues.
The latest tweet came on Monday night in response to a report from the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, which after 11 months and more than 1,000 interviews will begin at hearings on Thursday. Del Rio wrote: “We would like to understand ‘the whole story’ about why the summer of riots, looting, arson and destruction of personal property is never talked about, but that’s it ??? # Common sense.”
Del Rio’s comments seem to disagree with recent NFL racial justice messages and go against the way the league and its own team responded to Floyd’s death. In June 2020, Rivera said he would support players who knelt during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice and police brutality, and in August the head coach canceled a practice for hold a whole-team discussion about racial justice after the Jacob shooting. Blake.
Commander-in-Chief Jason Wright has led the team’s recent efforts to promote racial justice and staff diversity. This has become a topic in the search for a new stadium team, when Maryland officials pointed out the social change the team could make by maintaining its place in Black Prince George’s County Majority. A spokesman for the team did not respond to a request for an interview with Wright on Wednesday.
Virginia lawmakers are currently considering legislation designed to entice commanders to move to Virginia, and a state senator indicated that Del Rio’s comments could resonate in Richmond. “I just sealed the deal to cast my vote as NO,” State Sen. Jeremy S. McPike (D-Prince William) tweeted Wednesday. “I think what’s burning today is the stadium.” McPike had previously expressed reservations about the stadium’s proposed legislation and expressed concerns about transportation around a possible Woodbridge location.
His comments have angered some fans and commentators, with former cornerback DeAngelo Hall tweeting a clown emoji to veteran coach, and Brian Mitchell asking Commanders head coach Ron Rivera to address the situation.
“How to do [you] Do you expect someone from this team to be easy when you have a guy like this in the position of defensive coordinator? Mitchell said Wednesday on his 106.7 radio show The Fan.
“Jack Del Rio is an ignorant, ignorant man,” former Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin wrote on Twitter. “And that’s as loving and respectful as I can say.”
Del Rio said he didn’t care that his tweets offended players, in part because he didn’t think “the race had anything to do with” the insurgency, or that his use of Twitter could affect the team.
“Whatever I say or write, I would like to say it or write it in front of everyone I work with, players and coaches,” Del Rio said. “I express myself as an American; we have that ability. I love this country and I believe what I believe, and I have said what I mean. From time to time, people are offended by it. “
Rivera declined to discuss Del Rio’s tweets with reporters Wednesday and did not say whether he had spoken to them with his defense coordinator. Rivera said he is “not necessarily” concerned that Del Rio’s comments will affect the locker room, which is predominantly black and includes many players who supported Floyd’s protests with words and posts on social media two years ago. If it becomes a problem, Rivera said, it will be dealt with.
“As I deal with it, I will not share it with you because it will be a private matter,” he added.
Del Rio said that if any of his players were offended by his comments, a discussion would be welcome.
“I would talk to anyone about it,” he said. “No problem. Anytime. But they are not [offended]. I’m just expressing myself, and I think we all as Americans have a right to express ourselves, especially if you’re respectful. I’m being respectful. I just asked a simple question. Really. Let’s go straight to it. What did I ask? A simple question. Why don’t we look at these things [around the 2020 protests]? ”
In an interview with NBC Sports Washington, one of the most vocal leaders in the defense, Jonathan Allen, said that while he knows Del Rio’s tweets, they haven’t caused much discussion in the locker room.
“At the end of the day, you can have a difference of opinion and still respect each other,” Allen said. “It simply came to our notice then. This is ours of the team About. So, I come up with ideas, and to see them flush it out, it’s really fun. That’s what I want from my defensive coordinator. “
Veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller said he hadn’t seen Del Rio’s tweet and, after reading it, said he had no reaction.
“If I have a reaction or feeling towards something, I will express it with him,” he said.
Since the summer of 2020, Fuller said, players have been holding discussions about the race in the locker room.
“It’s definitely something the guys still have,” Fuller said. “It may not be as broad as it was when it all happened. But it’s something you still see, conversations that guys still hold. Like everything in the locker room. I love NFL locker rooms because everyone is very comfortable. We all know each other, we feel comfortable, everyone is open to listening and listening to everyone. “