Washington coach Ron Rivera said Del Rio’s apology was “well received” and added that his coordinator had met with several players to discuss his comments. “Jack spoke to the team this morning during the team meeting and was very open and remorseful and apologized and was open to questions,” Rivera said. He said, “Guys, if you have any questions, come see me and discuss.” It was good. I am for reconciliation. “ Rivera also said he fined Del Rio $ 100,000 last week because his comments had distracted the team. Del Rio deleted his Twitter account on Saturday, something Rivera said he did not ask to do.
1 Relevant “It’s not that he exercised his right to freedom of speech,” Rivera said. “This is what influenced this football team. I strongly believe in the First Amendment. “It’s a very serious question and issue, but at the end of the day, it affected us. That’s why I did what I did.” Del Rio used this “powder” as he defended an answer he gave on Twitter two days earlier. In response to the Brookings Institution’s Norm Eisen, which launched a report before the Jan. 6 hearing, Del Rio wrote on Twitter: “I would love to know ‘the whole story’ about why the summer of looting, fires and destruction of personal property is never discussed but that is it ??? ». Del Rio’s tweets and subsequent explanations did not help a franchise that remained in the titles for the past two years on non-football issues. The organization went off-season trying to rebuild its brand, officially changing its name to Commanders, amid a congressional inquiry into owner Dan Snyder. Congress invited him to testify at a hearing on June 22. The NFL continues to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against Snyder, and attorneys general in Virginia and Washington, DC, are investigating allegations of financial misconduct. Rivera said he returned and re-read the First Amendment and had a copy in his office. He compared it when he was in Carolina and Eric Reed was on his knees during the national anthem, protesting police brutality. “Eric and I talked about it because I asked him to help me understand,” Rivera said. “He did it. He showed me what it’s all about. In Jack’s case, the same thing. But what we need to understand, with rights and freedoms, comes with a huge responsibility.” Rivera said he met with Del Rio on Friday when he told him he would be fined. They met again on Tuesday morning. Rivera told Del Rio that he had not been informed that another strike would trigger his dismissal. “This was not announced other than Jack and I had a conversation that will remain between us,” Rivera said. Del Rio also apologized in a statement on Wednesday, saying: “The reference to this situation as dust was irresponsible and negligent and I regret it. I insist on my comments condemning the violence in communities across the country. my support as an American citizen for a peaceful protest in our country. “
