Will Del Rio Help or Hurt His Team?
by: Staff | Views: 21,998
This years NFL season seems to be a constant soap opera so what’s a little more drama thrown in? On Monday Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio dismissed middle linebacker - team captain Mike Peterson from the team meeting for insubordination.
The incident is being reported as “undisclosed” but ESPN is reporting that Del Rio called out a few players in the team meeting in regards to their actions on Sunday. When Peterson defended himself by saying that he was just trying to pump up the team and bring energy, Del Rio got upset and Peterson left the meeting. When Peterson showed up to work on Wednesday he was told to go home and on Thursday he is still absent from practice.
Fred Taylor, serving as spokesman for his teammates, said the team misses Peterson but will be ready to play in Detroit on Sunday.
“It saddens the mood,” said Taylor, the team’s most esteemed veteran, “but we all have a job to do. Pete was a spirit in the locker room. He always challenged guys. Guys felt comfortable with Pete. He kept the mood real.” (Source: Jaguars.com)
Jack Del Rio has implemented a whole host of changes this week in an effort to kickstart his team, but is dismissing a captain because of harbored personal feelings really the direction to take?
Peterson has started all 8 games this season even after the offseason contract issues that displeased Del Rio. If Peterson’s explanation of his behavior is correct, shouldn’t Del Rio be praising him? Doesn’t it always pump up a team when a big play happens and the guys celebrate? It elevates everyones adrenaline and gets them playing harder so why make a negative example out of it. It just doesn’t make sense except to say the Jack Del Rio is grasping at straws to shake up his team and decided to use Mike Peterson as an example of how serious he is.
