While the Commanders players asked about Del Rio's remarks declined comment or brushed off their significance in the locker room, multiple Virginia lawmakers expressed concern about the team's latest in a long line of offseason issues. I’m just expressing myself and I think we all as Americans have a right to express ourselves, especially if you’re being respectful. “If they are and they want to talk about it, I’d talk about it with anybody,” Del Rio said. A Twitter post Monday night prompted questions to Del Rio after an offseason workout, including whether he was concerned about how his thoughts might go over with players, the majority of whom are Black. Rivera said he feels strongly after their conversation that Del Rio “will have a greater understanding for the impact of his language and the values that our team stands for.” He said the money will be donated to the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund.ĭel Rio, 59, is going into his third season running Washington's defense on Rivera's staff and in that time has shared his conservative political views on social media numerous times. I want to make it clear that our organization will not tolerate any equivalency between those who demanded justice in the wake of George Floyd's murder and the actions of those on Jan. “Words have consequences and his words hurt a lot of people in our community. “He understands the distinction between the events of that dark day and peaceful protests, which are a hallmark of our democracy,” Rivera said in the statement, adding that Del Rio had a constitutional right to voice his opinion. 6, 2021, riot “a dust-up at the Capitol,” which he later apologized for. He said Del Rio's statements were hurtful to members of the local community and did not reflect the views of the organization.Īsked Wednesday about a social media post he made earlier in the week, Del Rio downplayed the deadly insurrection and questioned why the protests in the summer of 2020 after Floyd's death were not receiving the same scrutiny.
Capitol.Ĭoach Ron Rivera announced the fine in a statement Friday after meeting with Del Rio earlier in the day. The murder of George Floyd touched off significant reactions from NFL players, including a video featuring many of the sport’s biggest names in a call for change in the country.Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has been fined $100,000 by the team for his comments about protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and the Jan. While he’s allowed any political stance he’d like, his specific language regarding one of the worst moments in American history - and one that happened in the same city which his organization calls home - is undeniably problematic.įurthermore, Del Rio needs to keep the respect of his locker room, something which may also prove difficult.
The former head coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders, Del Rio finds himself in hot water. With this insane description, Del Rio isn’t acknowledging multiple deaths and the more than 140 police officers who sustained injuries, all while trying to equate the moment to another which is a separate issue unto itself. 6 nothing more than “dust up at the Capitol” "Businesses are being burned down, no problem… and then we have a dust-up at the Capitol, nothing burned down… and we're gonna make that a major deal." /zH39iSqHM8 Commanders DC Jack Del Rio on his recent tweet ( ) at today's media session