Another ‘I’m sorry’
Meyer, players ready to move on after latest apology
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Urban Meyer is ready to
move on. So are his players and his family.
The Jacksonville Jaguars coach publicly apologized for the third consecutive day Wednesday and said he never considered resigning after his “inexcusable” behavior at an Ohio bar was caught on camera and released on social media.
Meyer added that several members of the team’s leadership council, a group of players who serve as liaisons between the coach and the locker room, have expressed their support.
“I had at least eight to 10 phone calls where they called me and they were over-the-top supportive and
said, ‘We got you, man. Move forward,’” Meyer said. “A common thing was,
‘Coach, we all did stupid
things.’ I’m really impressed with our guys.”
Team owner Shad Khan publicly reprimanded the
57-year-old Meyer on Tuesday for his actions at the bar last weekend.
Meyer said they had three or four conversations in which Khan told Meyer he
must regain everyone’s trust and respect. Meyer said “the message is loud and clear.”
Meyer’s troubles started Friday at his restaurant/bar,
the Urban Chop House in Columbus, Ohio. Meyer made the odd decision to
stay behind in his hometown state following Jacksonville’s 24-21 loss at Cincinnati on Thursday and
had dinner with his family the next night.
Meyer said he ended up joining a party next door and was later captured on
camera with a young woman. One clip showed the woman dancing close to
Meyer’s lap as he sits on a
bar stool. A second, more damning video appears to
show Meyer touching the woman’s behind.
Meyer apologized to players in respective position groups Monday and said he was sorry again during his weekly radio show Tuesday. He offered another apology
during a team meeting Wednesday, saying he let
down his family and his players.
“I know most of the team feels this way: He’s still my head coach. I still respect him, regardless of what happens,” rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. “Like
I said, we’re a team and we’re figuring it out. So, yeah, we’re all good.”
Added third-year linebacker Josh Allen: “He has owned it, just like we all do. He’s a great coach, he’s a great man and he’s gonna
bounce back and we all gonna bounce back.
“We’re going to play even harder for him, you know I’m saying? We’re ready to
play. He’s got our back, and we’re going to have his back. That’s how we going.”
The Jaguars (0-4) host Tennessee (2-2) on Sunday, trying to end a 19-game losing
streak that is tied for the second longest in NFL history.
Meyer tried to clear up any remaining loose ends Wednesday. He said he told general manager Trent Baalke about his plan to stay behind in Ohio, and several players didn’t even notice he was missing on the plane
ride back to Jacksonville. Meyer also defended his decision to apologize in small groups Monday.
“In my opinion, you don’t get much done in a team
meeting,” he said. “You get a lot done when you’re in personal space with people. I’ve always done that.”