Oct 10, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer reacts on the sideline during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that head coach Urban Meyer has been involved in multiple heated incidents with the Jacksonville Jaguars, one with a player and one with his assistant coaches. Also, Pelissero reported that what Meyer had to say publicly about why running back James Robinson was benched last Sunday was not correct and that he was personally involved in that decision.

Per Pelissero, Meyer got into a heated argument with receiver Marvin Jones that led the veteran to leave the team facility. Jones reportedly had to be convinced to return to the facility and the team.

In another reported incident, Meyer “delivered a biting message that he’s a winner and his assistant coaches are losers.” Meyer also reportedly challenged “each coach individually to explain when they’ve ever won and forcing them to defend their résumés.”

Third, the report says that it was indeed Meyer who ordered Robinson to be benched following an early fumble on Sunday. Meyer had initially said that he was not involved with that decision and left it up to his assistant coaches.

All of the details in the report, true or not, continue to paint a picture of Meyer as someone in over their head in the NFL, unable to keep their emotions in check while they deal with a losing season and rebuilding effort.

On Sunday, Fox’s Jaz Glazer reported that he spoke with Meyer and that the head coach denied the incident involving Jones but did confirm that “I am hard on my coaches. I get on them.”

 

Specifically, Glazer didn’t mention the report that Meyer called his assistants “losers.” When NFL reporter Dov Kleiman assumed that Meyer was confirming he’d done so, Glazer responded by noting that Meyer did not confirm the specific language used, only that he can be hard on his coaches.

Glazer did not mention the James Robinson report or confirm whether or not Meyer was personally responsible for benching the running back.

Glazer added that Meyer “still thinks he has the full support of ownership.” That is backed up by an ESPN report from Saturday that, per sources, Jaguars owner Shad Khan remains committed to Meyer as head coach in spite of all the headaches he’s been at the center of this season.

“[Meyer] must regain our trust and respect,” Khan said back in October following Meyer’s viral video incident. “That will require a personal commitment from Urban to everyone who supports, represents, or plays for our team. I am confident he will deliver.”

A win on Sunday would go a long way towards helping Meyer’s cause but that does not seem likely.

[Jay Glazer, Dov Kleiman]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.