Owner reprimands Meyer
Jaguars’ Khan calls actions “inexcusable,” says coach must regain trust
Urban Meyer’s NFL venture always had the chance to be a complete debacle.
A longtime college coach making the jump to a league he knew little, if anything, about? A renowned motivator using inspirational tactics on professional players driven mostly by money? A guy who built programs and his reputation on stockpiling more talent than his opponents taking over a league laughingstock devoid of playmakers?
It was a long shot, at best, that the Jacksonville Jaguars would be Meyer’s latest and greatest success story. A failed experiment would be the more likely outcome. Meyer’s not there yet, but he’s headed in that direction. And no one could have seen it happening this fast or being this extreme.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan publicly reprimanded Meyer on Tuesday for the coach’s “inexcusable” behavior at an Ohio bar over the weekend. Meyer’s actions were the latest embarrassment for a franchise that’s been mostly a bottom feeder since Khan took over in 2012.
Khan released a statement condemning Meyer’s actions, which were captured on video and released on social media. One shows a young woman dancing close to Meyer’s lap as he sits on a bar stool, a clip that quickly went viral. A second, more damning video appears to show Meyer touching the woman’s behind.
“I have addressed this matter with Urban. Specifics of our conversation will be held in confidence. What I will say is his conduct last weekend was inexcusable,” Khan said. “I appreciate Urban’s remorse, which I believe is sincere. Now, he must regain our trust and respect. That will require a personal commitment from Urban to everyone who supports, represents or plays for our team. I am confident he will
deliver.”
Meyer apologized Monday to his family, team and Khan. He spoke to his players and vowed to “own it,” the motto he uses daily and has plastered all around the Jaguars facility.
“Just stupid,” Meyer said. “Should not have put myself in that kind of position.”
Meyer addressed Khan’s reprimand on his weekly radio show Tuesday, saying “the conversations have been horrible.”
“The locker room has been my entire life. That’s all I’ve ever looked at. When I was a young coach … I would always say that there’s only one thing that matters in this whole facility or organization and that’s the locker room,” Meyer said. “You know, how we build it, how we treat it, how we earn their trust. …
“The fact that I became a distraction, I’ve got to earn their trust back from that.”
Jacksonville (0-4), which has lost a franchise-record 19 consecutive games, hosts Tennessee (2-2) on Sunday. Meyer raised eyebrows by saying his team captains would play a pivotal role in getting the Jaguars back on track and ready to play following several days of distrust.
“I don’t believe that’s in my court,” he said. “The leaders on the team are going to make that decision. It depends on how much trust you have built up with them, how we structure everything this week
and focus on winning that game. I’m going to be extremely clear as I can: Our staff is working their tails off. But you know as well as I do that the ownership of this team is with the players.”
Chiefs: Kansas City added Josh Gordon to its 53-man roster and the wide receiver, who was just reinstated by the NFL last week, is expected to play in Sunday night’s AFC title game rematch against the Buffalo Bills.
Dolphins: Miami traded wide receiver and returner Jakeem Grant to the Chicago Bears. Grant is going to the Bears in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade terms had not been announced.
Falcons: Atlanta placed cornerback Isaiah Oliver and punter Cameron Nizialek on injured reserve and promoted punter Dustin Colquitt and defensive lineman Mike Pennel from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Note: Three former NFL players received prison sentences Tuesday in Lexington federal court after they helped to file nearly $4 million in bogus claims in a health care fraud scheme. John Eubanks was sentenced to a year and a half in prison, Etric Pruitt was sentenced to three months and James Butler was sentenced to two months. The three former NFL players were among the 15 who have pleaded guilty in the health care scheme. Each player also has to pay at least tens of thousands of dollars in restitution. Eubanks played for the franchise now named the Washington Football Team. Pruitt played for the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions. Butler played for the New York Giants and St. Louis Rams.