The NFL suspended Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for three games on Tuesday for his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-wanted-to-decimate-nfl-linebacker-ripped-for-vicious-hit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illegal hit</a> on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
During Sunday&#8217;s game between the division rivals, Al-Shaair nailed Lawrence in the helmet while the QB slid to avoid being hit. Lawrence immediately clenched both fists after the hit, a reaction medical professionals say is common when enduring a traumatic brain injury. The Jaguars leader was carted off the field and later diagnosed with a concussion.
The NFL&#8217;s vice president of football operations, Jon Runyan, said the hit was &#8220;unacceptable,&#8221; ESPN <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42754382/texans-azeez-al-shaair-suspended-3-games-trevor-lawrence-hit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
&#8220;You were involved in a play that the (NFL) considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules,&#8221; Runyan wrote to Al-Shaair on Tuesday. &#8220;Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars&#8217; quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide. &#8230; You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact.&#8221;
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It is now anticipated that Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair will be suspended for the hit that he delivered Sunday to Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence. The only question is for how long. <a href="https://t.co/P8phFecS02">pic.twitter.com/P8phFecS02</a>
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1863624402425856450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The six-year NFL veteran was also reprimanded for taking part in the brawl that occurred after his hit on Lawrence. Runyan said Al-Shaair &#8220;escalated&#8221; the fight &#8220;when [he] pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask.&#8221; After Al-Shaair was ejected from the game on Sunday, he &#8220;removed [his] helmet and reengaged with [his] opponent while walking down and across the field, which started another physical confrontation near the end zone.&#8221;
Al-Shaair apologized to Lawrence &#8220;for what ended up happening,&#8221; writing in a statement on Monday that he &#8220;genuinely didn&#8217;t see him sliding until it was too late.&#8221; Al-Shaair also slammed reporters and &#8220;racist and islamophobic (sic) fans and people&#8221; who have &#8220;called [him] every single name in the book.&#8221;
&#8220;[You] don&#8217;t know my heart nor my character which I don&#8217;t need to prove to any of you,&#8221; he added. &#8220;God knows my intentions and anyone who has ever been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart.&#8221;
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All Praise to Allah🤲🏾 <a href="https://t.co/pEbCRAg8fF">pic.twitter.com/pEbCRAg8fF</a>
&mdash; Azeez Al-shaair (@A_train2_) <a href="https://twitter.com/A_train2_/status/1863572522354020768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The three-game suspension marks the third time this season that the NFL has punished Al-Shaair for his &#8220;disregard&#8221; for the league&#8217;s rules. Last week, the linebacker was fined $11,250 for a late hit on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard. Earlier this year, Al-Shaair was fined $11,817 after he punched Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson during a scuffle on the sideline.
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&#8220;Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL,&#8221; Runyan added. &#8220;Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.&#8221;

Azeez Al-Shaair

Texans Linebacker Suspended For Brutal Hit On Jaguars Trevor Lawrence

Football

General

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Sports

suspension

U.S.

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who after the Hamas massacre of more than 1200 people in Israel in October 2023 <a href="https://tennesseestar.com/entertainment/sports/tennessee-titans-linebacker-supporting-palestine-through-the-nfls-my-cause-my-cleats-campaign/khousler/2023/12/10/">reposted</a> tweets accusing Israel of genocide, was slammed following his vicious hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was helpless as he slid to avoid being tackled on Sunday.
The savage hit, which left Lawrence, a <a href="https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/dolphins/2024/09/06/trevor-lawrence-jacksonville-jaguars-miami-dolphins-nfl/75101657007/">devout Christian</a>, in the fencing position and with a concussion, came in the second quarter of a game the Texans went on to win 23-20.
“It was a dirty hit,” Jaguars tight end Evan Engram <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42719670/texans-azeez-al-shaair-ejected-hit-jaguars-trevor-lawrence">stated</a>. “Obviously those hits are always in question. Trevor was going down and I saw it out of my peripheral [vision]. I got a pretty clear view of it, and in that moment, just [reacted on] instincts. It just didn&#8217;t feel like a clean hit, so just go stick up for my quarterback. I mean, I saw him sliding and then I saw the hit, and then just, honestly, it just took over. I just knew it was wrong. It was just a dirty play, and you stick up for your guys.”
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“Azeez Al-Shaair made a decision,” Yahoo Sports senior writer Frank Schwab <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-winners-and-losers-if-nfl-cares-about-player-safety-azeez-al-shaair-will-face-a-long-suspension-212135630.html">wrote</a>. “He wanted to decimate Trevor Lawrence, his forearm up to the head of the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback when he was well into a slide. &#8230; You won&#8217;t find a much dirtier hit than Al-Shaair put on Lawrence.”
“It&#8217;s everything you&#8217;re not supposed to do. Everything,” Fox Sports analyst Daryl Johnston said on the broadcast. “You’ll see this in slow motion. And Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you&#8217;re trying to prevent in this situation. It&#8217;s reckless. It&#8217;s disrespectful. There&#8217;s an honor that you give to your opponent on the football field. And you respect him.”
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&quot;You&#39;ll see this in slow motion and Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you&#39;re trying to prevent in this situation,&quot; Daryl Johnston. <a href="https://t.co/YJhrCVEWjS">pic.twitter.com/YJhrCVEWjS</a>
&mdash; The Comeback NFL (@TheComebackNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheComebackNFL/status/1863301037072781473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Former NFL Pro Bowler Ryan Clark tweeted, &#8220;That’s bull by Azeez Al-Shaair!! You just dive over the QB’s head when they slide. You make sure they go down but you don’t go to the players helmet like that. I 100% agree with an ejection. And 100% there’s supposed to be a fight! Jaguars did the right thing.&#8221;
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That’s bull by Azeez Al-Shaair!! You just dive over the QB’s head when they slide. You make sure they go down but you don’t go to the players helmet like that. I 100% agree with an ejection. 
And 100% there’s supposed to be a fight! Jaguars did the right thing.
&mdash; Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) <a href="https://twitter.com/Realrclark25/status/1863299283098685857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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There was other criticism as well:
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So Azeez Al-Shaair was wearing pro-Hamas cleats when he nearly took off the head of devout Christian Trevor Lawrence? They say it was just a cheap shot? 
Fox reports there was a message on one of his shoes: &quot;Surely to Allah we belong and to him we will all return.&quot; 
No doubt…
&mdash; toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) <a href="https://twitter.com/toddstarnes/status/1863362082512490585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In September, Al-Shaair was <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-lb-azeez-al-shaair-214222063.html">fined</a> roughly $11,000 for punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson, who was standing on the sidelines and not even in the game.
Sunday evening, Lawrence issued a reassuring message to his fans: “Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me. I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all.”
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Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me. I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all🙌🏼
&mdash; Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) <a href="https://twitter.com/Trevorlawrencee/status/1863411646506393843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“The Tennessee Star was unable to locate any statement of condemnation by Al-Shaair for the horrific Hamas attack on unarmed Israeli civilians on October 7 that left more than 1200 dead,” the Star reported in December 2023.

MixCollage-02-Dec-2024-04-22-AM-1014

‘He Wanted To Decimate’: NFL Linebacker Ripped For Vicious Hit

anti-Israel

A former Jacksonville Jaguars employee has been accused of stealing more than $22 million from the team by taking advantage of its virtual credit card (VCC) program from 2019 until his termination in February 2023.
According to <a href="https://theathletic.com/5118308/2023/12/06/jacksonville-jaguars-employee-theft-amit-patel/?redirected=1&amp;access_token=13904269" target="_blank" rel="noopener">court filings</a> in Florida&#8217;s U.S. District Court in Jacksonville reviewed by The Athletic, Amit Patel has been charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of illegal monetary transaction after he allegedly used the acquired funds to buy things like vehicles, a condominium, a designer watch worth over $95,000, and place bets on online gambling sites.
Patel allegedly used his position overseeing the company&#8217;s VCC program to hide the alleged transactions as &#8220;reoccurring VCC transactions, such as catering, airfare, and hotel charges, and then duplicated those transactions; he inflated the amounts of legitimate reoccurring transactions; he entered completely fictitious transactions that might sound plausible, but that never actually occurred,&#8221; according to the filings.
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Prosecutors charge a former Jacksonville Jaguars employee with stealing $22 million from the football team and spending it on a condo, cars, cryptocurrencies, gambling, a $95,000 watch and more. <a href="https://t.co/MtokcCeUJQ">https://t.co/MtokcCeUJQ</a>
— NBC News (@NBCNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1732818591819440349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
&#8220;We can confirm that in February 2023, the team terminated the employment of the individual named in the filing,&#8221; the team said in a statement. &#8220;Over the past several months we have cooperated fully with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for the Middle District of Florida during their investigation and thank them for their efforts in this case.&#8221;
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&#8220;As was made clear in the charges, this individual was a former manager of financial planning and analysis who took advantage of his trusted position to covertly and intentionally commit significant fraudulent financial activity at the team&#8217;s expense for personal benefit,&#8221; the team&#8217;s statement added. &#8220;This individual had no access to confidential football strategy, personnel or other football information. The team engaged experienced law and accounting firms to conduct a comprehensive independent review, which concluded that no other team employees were involved in or aware of his criminal activity.&#8221;
The former NFL employee may be required to forfeit property &#8220;in the amount of at least $22,221,454.40, which represents the proceeds of the offense&#8221; if convicted, the filing states according to The Athletic. In addition, he may have to forfeit assets &#8220;purchased or funded with the proceeds of the offenses and/or involved in an illegal monetary transaction.&#8221;

Former NFL Team Employee Charged For Allegedly Stealing More Than $22 Million From Team

Courts

Florida

It should’ve been the easiest $11,200 any <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/after-the-kentucky-derby-winner-was-caught-cheating-what-happens-to-all-the-gambling-winnings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NFL bettor</a> ever made, but it turned into a seven-figure nightmare.
When the Los Angeles Chargers took a commanding 27-0 lead in the first half of Saturday’s NFL wildcard playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, an unnamed gambler wagered the team would hold on to win. Since the outcome seemed pretty obvious at the time, it cost him $1.4 million for the chance to win less than a penny on the dollar. As football fans now know, the Jaguars, led by second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence, mounted one of the most unlikely comebacks in playoff history, winning 31-30 on a last-second field goal.
“[DraftKings Sportsbook] has confirmed that this bet was indeed made,” tweeted Action Network reporter Darren Rovell.
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When the Chargers went up 27-0, a bettor bet $1.4 million on them to win the game to net $11,200.
Jacksonville came back and won 31-30.<a href="https://twitter.com/DKSportsbook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DKSportsbook</a> has confirmed that this bet was indeed made. <a href="https://t.co/TvwCNyEjyr">pic.twitter.com/TvwCNyEjyr</a>
&mdash; Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/1614603901021437954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Lawrence threw four interceptions in the first half as it looked like Los Angeles would win in a rout. The former No. 1 overall pick out of Clemson seemed unable to do anything right until driving the Jaguars to a touchdown with just over a minute remaining in the first half.
But in the second half, Lawrence could do no wrong. The 6-foot, 6-inch field general threw three more touchdown passes, and Jacksonville’s defense stiffened up, allowing only a field goal. Somewhere, a gambler who thought he had lined up a sure payday must’ve grown sicker by the minute as the Jaguars seized the momentum.
As the clock ticked down, Lawrence engineered a 10-play, 61-yard drive to set up the game-winning, 36-yeard field goal by Riley Patterson. The comeback from a 27-point deficit was the biggest in Jaguars&#8217; history and the third biggest in NFL playoff history, behind only Buffalo’s 1993 32-point rally against Houston and Indianapolis’ comeback from a 28-point deficit against Kansas City in 2014.
“You couldn’t write a crazier script,” Lawrence, who finished with 28 completions in 47 attempts for 288 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions, said after the game. &#8220;We said in the locker room that’s kind of how our season’s going. We’re never out of the fight. &#8230; I’m kind of speechless, honestly, just to see what belief can do and to see when a team believes in each other what you can accomplish.”

Trevor Lawrence

How One NFL Gambler Lost $1.4M Chasing Chump Change In Jags’ Epic Comeback

How One NFL Gambler Lost $1.4M Chasing Chump Change In Jags' Epic Comeback

gambling

For anyone who follows college football, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ hire of Urban Meyer prior to the 2021-2022 NFL season was questionable. 
Even though Meyer is one of the most successful college coaches of all time, his fit at the professional level was very much up for debate. 
Very quickly, it was obvious that Meyer was in over his head, eventually fired by Jaguars owner Shad Khan after just 13 games with a record of 2-11.
“When you lose the respect, the trust and an issue of truthfulness, how can you work with someone like that?” Khan <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/jaguars/2022/05/03/urban-meyer-shad-khan-jacksonville-jaguars-coach-owner/9628510002/">told</a> USA Today. “It’s not possible.”
“It was not about wins and losses,” Khan told the outlet during last week&#8217;s NFL draft. “I think when you know someone is not truthful, how can you be around someone, OK? We had Doug Marrone here four years. We had Gus Bradley here four years. I have nothing but the utmost respect and friendship with them. That’s why they got the time, because it wasn’t a matter about respect or truth. It was a matter of wins and losses over four years. This is much bigger than that.” 
Khan fired Meyer following the final round of embarrassing news coming out of Meyer&#8217;s short stint in Jacksonville. The final straw was a report that Meyer kicked former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo at a Jaguars practice, imploring Lambo to “make your f***ing kicks!”
“I’m in a lunge position. Left leg forward, right leg back,” Lambo <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2021/12/15/former-jaguars-kicker-josh-lambo-says-he-was-kicked-by-urban-meyer-during-warmups/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_content=%40TBTimes_Sports&amp;utm_medium=social">said</a>, according to The Tampa Bay Times. “… Urban Meyer, while I’m in that stretch position, comes up to me and says, ‘Hey Dips***, make your f***ing kicks!’ And kicks me in the leg.”
Lambo characterized the kick as a “five (out of 10),” and then reportedly told Meyer, “‘Don’t you ever f***ing kick me again!” Meyer allegedly responded by saying, “I’m the head ball coach. I’ll kick you whenever the f*** I want.”
Meyer denied the allegations, saying Lambo’s story was “completely inaccurate.”
Lambo told the newspaper that Meyer approached him the next day at the team facility, telling Lambo he would be off the team if he spoke to Meyer in the same manner again. The Jaguars released the kicker on October 19 after he missed three field goals and two PATs in three games. 
Before the report by The Tampa Bay Times, reports surfaced that tensions within the locker room were boiling over, with Meyer and wide receiver Marvin Jones reportedly getting into a shouting match at practice due to Meyer’s criticism of the receiver group. Additionally, reports surfaced that Meyer blasted his coaching staff for being “losers,” challenging them to defend their resumes and prove to him when they’ve ever won. 
In October, video of Meyer surfaced at a bar with a young woman — who was not his wife — grinding against him. Meyer apologized to the team, but Khan said he would have to “regain our trust and respect.”
According to USA Today Sports, Meyer and the Jaguars have yet to reach a settlement on the rest of Meyer&#8217;s five-year contract worth between $10-$12 million per year.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

Jacksonville Jaguars v Tennessee Titans

Jacksonville Jaguars Owner Rips Urban Meyer, Says He Lost Respect

Urban Meyer

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Jacob Hollister chose pro-life organization Live Action as his charity of choice for Week 13 — a time in the NFL when players are spotlighted to showcase their charities through their cleats.
Hollister&#8217;s custom cleats say &#8220;Love Them Both&#8221; and feature an image of pregnant mother with her unborn baby.
&#8220;Hollister has bravely chosen to showcase his support for women and the lives of preborn children by displaying pro-life organization Live Action on his cleats,&#8221; Live Action <a href="https://www.liveaction.org/news/nfl-player-jacob-hollister-live-action-charity/">said</a> in a press release. &#8220;Live Action is one of the nation’s leading human rights nonprofits, with the largest and most engaged following in the global pro-life movement. It exists to shift public opinion against abortion and defend the rights of the most vulnerable.&#8221;
In a video announcing his choice charity, Hollister emphasized that both women and their unborn are of value, though the unborn do not get a &#8220;choice&#8221; when it comes to abortion.
“I don’t think a baby’s life is more valuable than the mother’s or a mother’s life more valuable than the baby’s,” he said, Live Action <a href="https://www.liveaction.org/nfl-player-jacob-hollister-chooses-live-action-for-his-charity-of-choice/">reported</a>. “Both have equal worth and demand equal protection — the only difference is the baby doesn’t have a choice. I’m thankful and happy to support Live Action who gives those babies a voice.”
The athlete also told fans that he was initially hesitant to publicly support the pro-life group out of fear some would feel &#8220;anything but love from me,&#8221; not from fear of confrontation.
“There’s a lot of different reasons why I decided to support [Live Action],” he said. “To be honest, at first, I was really hesitant to do it. Not because I’m afraid of any confrontation or any arguments around the subject, it’s really just because I fear that anybody who feels differently than I do about it would feel anything but love from me. Because the way that I was raised and the way that I try to live my life to the best of my ability is to love people first in everything that I do and love people really well.”
Live Action president and founder Lila Rose praised Hollister as an example for other men.
“The world needs more athletes like Jacob Hollister who are willing to stand up for the basic human rights of the preborn on his vital platform,” Rose said, according to the Live Action press release. “Even in the face of opposition, Jacob is using his voice to speak for the most vulnerable members of our society. More men need to follow Jacob’s lead. Strong, compassionate men stand up for women and preborn children.”
WATCH:
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BREAKING:<a href="https://twitter.com/Jaguars?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jaguars</a> tight end <a href="https://twitter.com/hollister_jacob?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hollister_jacob</a> is boldly standing for LIFE, selecting Live Action as the cause to put on his cleats
&quot;Both moms and babies have equal worth and demand equal protection. I’m thankful &amp; happy to support Live Action who gives those babies a voice&quot;
RT <a href="https://t.co/8AxUzXC1EU">pic.twitter.com/8AxUzXC1EU</a>
&mdash; Live Action (@LiveAction) <a href="https://twitter.com/LiveAction/status/1471540427278987265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Live Action, a non-profit, describes itself as the &#8220;digital leader of the global pro-life movement.&#8221;
&#8220;Live Action exists today to shift public opinion on abortion and defend the rights of the most vulnerable,&#8221; the site reads. &#8220;With over 5.6 million social media followers and 1.4 billion lifetime video views, Live Action reaches up to 100 million people per month – saving lives and transforming hearts, with 38% of surveyed followers saying Live Action’s content has changed their position on abortion. Through compelling educational media, human interest storytelling, investigative reporting and community activism, Live Action reveals the humanity of the preborn and exposes the abortion industry exploiting women and families for profit.&#8221;

Arizona Cardinals v Jacksonville Jaguars

‘Both Have Equal Worth’: NFL Player Names Pro-Life Group As Choice Charity, Cleats Promote Life

Abortion

Urban Meyer’s tenure as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars was short-lived, filled with losing, and riddled with off the field embarrassments. 
Meyer was fired Thursday —13 games into his first NFL head coaching job — with a record of 2-11. The news of Meyer’s firing followed a report from the Tampa Bay Times, in which former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo accused Meyer of kicking him during an August practice as he implored him to make his field goal attempts. 
“After deliberation over many weeks and a thorough analysis of the entirety of Urban’s tenure with our team, I am bitterly disappointed to arrive at the conclusion that an immediate change is imperative for everyone,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan <a href="https://www.jaguars.com/news/a-statement-from-shad-khan">said</a> in a statement on the team’s website. “I informed Urban of the change this evening. As I stated in October, regaining our trust and respect was essential. Regrettably, it did not happen.”
In his first interview since the firing, Meyer spoke to NFL.com, apologizing for how his time in Jacksonville ended. 
&#8220;I just apologize to Jacksonville,&#8221; Meyer <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/former-jaguars-head-coach-urban-meyer-discusses-his-firing">told</a> NFL.com. &#8220;I love Jacksonville. It&#8217;s one of the reasons I took the job. I still think Shad&#8217;s a great owner. It&#8217;s heart-breaking. I just had a dream of it becoming a destination place with a new facility he agreed to build and some day to walk into that stadium where it&#8217;s standing room only. Because I know how bad the people of Jacksonville want it. So, I&#8217;m just heartbroken that we weren&#8217;t able to do that. I still believe it&#8217;s going to be done. It&#8217;s too good of a place.&#8221;
In the week prior to Meyer being let go, reports surfaced of growing tensions within the Jaguars locker room, including a shouting match between Meyer and wide receiver Marvin Jones, and an incident in which Meyer called his assistant coaches “losers,” while challenging them to defend their resumes. Meyer denied those reports in his interview with NFL.com, along with Lambo’s allegation that Meyer kicked him at practice. 
As for what he’ll do next, Meyer said it was “still to be determined,” but did discuss how coaching has changed as the NFL and college football have evolved. 
&#8220;I think college has changed quite a bit, too,&#8221; Meyer <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/former-jaguars-head-coach-urban-meyer-discusses-his-firing">said</a>. &#8220;Just society has changed. You think how hard you pushed. &#8230; I believe there is greatness in everybody and it&#8217;s the coach&#8217;s job to find that greatness however you do that. Positive encouragement. Pushing them to be greater, making them work harder, identifying flaws and trying to fix [them]. I think everything is so fragile right now. And that includes coaching staffs. When I got into coaching, coaches weren&#8217;t making this kind of money and they didn&#8217;t have agents. Everything is so fragile where it used to be team, team, team. I remember talking about it in a staff meeting three days ago. I got into this profession because I had the greatest high school coach and it was all about team. All about the huddle.”
Meyer had nothing but positive words to share when describing first-overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence, saying he was going to be a “great NFL quarterback.”
&#8220;He&#8217;s going to be great,&#8221; Meyer <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/former-jaguars-head-coach-urban-meyer-discusses-his-firing">said</a>. &#8220;He&#8217;s 22 years old, thrust into a place that lost 15 straight games. He had some devastating injuries to his offensive skill guys — (DJ) Chark went down and (Travis) Etienne, then (Jamal) Agnew and then our TE Dan Arnold. Those are our fast guys. And we had enough (talent), I&#8217;m not blaming that, but we had to be more creative. I just think we could&#8217;ve done better. But there is zero doubt Trevor is going to be a great NFL quarterback.&#8221; 
On Saturday, ESPN reported that Meyer was fired with cause and the Jaguars do not intend to pay him for the remaining four years of his contract. 
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.
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NFL: DEC 05 Jaguars at Rams

‘I Just Apologize To Jacksonville’: Urban Meyer In First Public Comments Since Firing

Following Jacksonville’s 20-0 loss on Sunday to the Tennessee Titans, Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer denied reports that outlined growing tensions within the locker room, threatening to fire the source behind the leaks. 
Those reports included a shouting match between Meyer and wide receiver Marvin Jones, and allegations that Meyer blasted his coaching staff for being “losers,” challenging them to defend their resumes and prove to him when they’ve ever won. 
“What’s the answer [when things are going badly]? Start leaking information or some nonsense?” Meyer <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32855042/urban-meyer-denies-jacksonville-jaguars-reports-there-source-source-unemployed">said</a> after the game. “No. No, that’s nonsense. That’s garbage. I’ve been very blessed. I’ve not really dealt with that. I’ve not dealt with, ‘Well, did you hear what he said?’ What? No. Let’s improve on offense and get our quarterback in a position to be successful. That’s our focus.”
“What someone’s brother said, or someone said someone said, that will occupy very little of my time. And if there is a source, that source is unemployed. I mean, within seconds, if there’s some source that’s doing that,” he added.
Free agent kicker Josh Lambo is no longer employed by the Jaguars, and he isn’t holding back on sharing his experience with Meyer as his head coach.
The <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2021/12/15/former-jaguars-kicker-josh-lambo-says-he-was-kicked-by-urban-meyer-during-warmups/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_content=%40TBTimes_Sports&amp;utm_medium=social">Tampa Bay Times</a> reported that Lambo began the 2021 season as Jacksonville’s kicker, but had missed two field goal attempts in the Jaguars first two preseason games. While at practice, Meyer approached Lambo while the kicker was stretching, imploring him to convert his field goal attempts and then delivering a kick to Lambo’s leg.
“I’m in a lunge position. Left leg forward, right leg back,” Lambo <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2021/12/15/former-jaguars-kicker-josh-lambo-says-he-was-kicked-by-urban-meyer-during-warmups/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_content=%40TBTimes_Sports&amp;utm_medium=social">said</a>. “&#8230; Urban Meyer, while I’m in that stretch position, comes up to me and says, ‘Hey Dips&#8211;t, make your f&#8211;king kicks!’ And kicks me in the leg.”
Lambo characterized the kick as a &#8220;five (out of 10),&#8221; and then told Meyer &#8220;‘Don’t you ever f&#8211;king kick me again!&#8221; Meyer allegedly responded by saying &#8220;I’m the head ball coach, I’ll kick you whenever the f&#8211;k I want.&#8221;
As he did on Sunday, Meyer denied the allegations, saying Lambo’s story was “completely inaccurate.”
“Josh’s characterization of me and this incident is completely inaccurate, and there are eyewitnesses to refute his account,” Meyer said. “[General manager] Trent [Baalke] and I met with him on multiple occasions to encourage his performance, and this was never brought up. I was fully supportive of Josh during his time with the team and wish him nothing but the best.”
Lambo told the newspaper that Meyer approached him the next day at the team facility, telling Lambo he would be off the team if he spoke to Meyer in the same manner again. 
“The details of the conversation I do remember, I was having issues with how he was coaching me throughout spring, throughout camp that I had kept to myself and I expressed a couple of those issues with the special teams coordinator, who related them to Urban, who seemingly halfway understood,&#8221; Lambo said. &#8220;His response was, ‘OK, you don’t like me doing this, OK. If you don’t like me doing that, fine. But if you ever speak to me like that again, you’ll be out of here. You’re the first player I’ve ever let speak to me that way in my career, and if you do it again, you’re gone.’”
Lambo said that Meyer told him that if he had a problem with how the coach treated him at a practice, to “keep that to yourself and you wait until after practice and after meetings and you come find me in the office and tell me privately.” 
Lambo told the Times he reported the incident to his agent, who got in touch with the Jaguars legal counsel the day following the incident. 
“Jaguars legal counsel indeed acknowledged and responded immediately to the query made by Josh Lambo’s agent Friday, August 27, 2021,” the Jaguars said in a statement to the Times. “Counsel offered to speak with Josh, or to assist Josh in speaking with coaching or any other football personnel, if he was comfortable with her sharing the information. Any suggestion otherwise is blatantly false.”
Lambo was released by the Jaguars on October 19, missing three field goals and two PAT’s in three games. 
Meyer agreed to return to coaching this offseason — his first stint in the NFL — after trying his hand at broadcasting. Many questioned the hire at the time, considering Meyer had only coached in the college ranks in his long career. 
He found himself in hot water earlier in the season when a video surfaced of Meyer at a bar with a young woman grinding against him. Meyer apologized to the team, but Jaguars owner Shad Khan said he would have to “regain our trust and respect.”
On Monday, Khan said he won’t act “helter-skelter on emotion” when determining Meyer’s future with the organization. 
&#8220;I want to do the right thing for the team. I want to do the right thing for the city,&#8221; Khan <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32863441/make-hasty-decision-urban-meyer">said</a>. &#8220;That, to me, is way more important than just acting helter-skelter on emotion. I think we have a history of really looking at the facts and then really doing the right thing.
&#8220;Gus Bradley was here four years. Doug Marrone was here four years. It was wins and losses and this is a little bit different but, you know, I&#8217;m going to reflect on all of that and do what&#8217;s the right thing for the team and the right thing for the city.&#8221;
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

Report: Former Jaguars Kicker Alleges Head Coach Urban Meyer Kicked Him During Practice: ‘I’ll Kick You Whenever The F*** I Want’

Trevor Lawrence will be under center for Jacksonville when his Jaguars begin their season September 12 in Houston against the Texans.
The number one overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has been competing with Gardner Minshew II for the starting job during training camp and the preseason, but it was only a matter of time before Lawrence was given the keys to the car.
“We wanted him to earn it,” Meyer <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/08/25/jaguars-finally-decide-if-trevor-lawrence-will-be-week-1-starter/">told</a> reporters on Wednesday. “After (Monday) night’s performance — it was good, obviously not great. We didn’t run the ball very well, but I kind of in my mind, after the second preseason that we kind of have to get someone ready to play in three weeks.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
𝐐𝐁𝟏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DUUUVAL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DUUUVAL</a> <a href="https://t.co/uPhSGSii8P">pic.twitter.com/uPhSGSii8P</a>
&mdash; Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jaguars/status/1430557959625625609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The Clemson product had an illustrious college career, carrying the Tigers to a National Championship in his freshman season and throwing for 10,098 yards and 90 touchdowns in his three years.
Most expected first-year head coach Urban Meyer to name him the starting quarterback for week one early on in training camp, but Minshew has impressed and Meyer held off until Wednesday to make the decision.
&#8220;He’s a much different player than Trevor,&#8221; Meyer <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10010883-jaguars-urban-meyer-calls-gardner-minshew-a-warrior-amid-trevor-lawrence-battle">said</a> of Minshew on Monday. &#8220;Trevor’s a down-the-field passer, this guy’s a scramble-around, make-plays guy, but I’ll tell you what he really is, he’s a warrior. And I appreciate warriors. It’s a street fight right now.&#8221;
Minshew has appeared for the Jaguars in 23 games over the past three seasons, throwing for 5,530 yards with 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
In the Jaguars’ first two preseason games, Minshew threw for 196 yards while completing 17 of 29 throws and throwing two interceptions. Lawrence has impressed, completing 20-32 throws for 184 yards in his two preseason games, though protection has been an issue. Lawrence has been sacked three times and has been pressured on 37% of his dropbacks according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32083034/trevor-lawrence-gets-nod-jacksonville-jaguars-starting-qb-week-1">ESPN</a>.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve got a great group,&#8221; Lawrence said. &#8220;Minsh [Minshew] has been awesome, treating me really well. We&#8217;ve had a lot of conversations. He&#8217;s been a guy that I&#8217;ve been able to learn from, and C.J. and Jake [Luton], all those guys, we&#8217;re all in it together. You know, we&#8217;re all on the same team and, at the end of the day, I think that&#8217;s the most important thing. But it&#8217;s been good.”
&#8220;Moving forward, we&#8217;re not making it bigger than it is. I&#8217;m going to be the starter and just got to play well, so that doesn&#8217;t change.&#8221;
With a new head coach and a new system — and coming off a disastrous 1-15 season — starting Lawrence was the only option for Meyer. The two are tied at the hip, and with Meyer making the transition from the college game, hitching your wagon to the top pick of the draft is never a bad idea.
“The college game and NFL game, in my opinion, it’s never been closer,” Meyer <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/08/23/mmqb-urban-meyer-college-vs-nfl-jagurs-buccaneers-cowboys">said</a>. “The college player has changed. The NFL scheme has changed. You think about the two of those things, NFL scheme used to be dramatically different than college. And the college player used to be much different — the young kid. Those aren’t young kids anymore. Now, a lot of them are gonna start getting paid, the empowerment that’s gone on in college football, the mindset of a college athlete, especially when you get to the players I was fortunate to have, it’s all about the NFL, make no mistake about it. … The two worlds have probably never been closer. There are differences, but they’ve never been closer.”
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Jacksonville Jaguars v New Orleans Saints

Trevor Lawrence Named Starting Quarterback For Jaguars In Week One

On Monday, Hamilton County, Ohio, Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou announced that Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tyler Eifert will honor the memory of former St. Louis Police Capt. David Dorn, murdered in June during riots in St. Louis, Missouri, by displaying his name on his helmet. Triantafilou tweeted, “Got some very good news from former @Bengals player/current @Jaguars player @tylereifert that he will honor fallen police officer David Dorns (sic) on his helmet. Always been a fan of Tyler’s and God bless him.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Got some very good news from former <a href="https://twitter.com/Bengals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bengals</a> player/current <a href="https://twitter.com/Jaguars?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jaguars</a> player <a href="https://twitter.com/tylereifert?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tylereifert</a> that he will honor fallen police officer David Dorns on his helmet. Always been a fan of Tyler’s and God bless him!
&mdash; Alex Triantafilou (@ChairmanAlex) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChairmanAlex/status/1300504734302982153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In 2017, Eifert wrote an <a href="https://medium.com/@tylereifert/whyistand-95bbe57a2436">essay published on Medium</a> titled “Why I Stand” in which he stated:
<blockquote>I know it would probably be best to stay out of it, but when you believe in something as much as I do it gets to a point where you want both sides to be heard. I am not questioning anyone’s reasons or rights to protest, but instead the method. This entire protest about raising awareness for racial inequality has gotten lost in the media and turned into a debate about whether to sit or stand for the national anthem. I want to take this time to remind everyone why I stand.
I stand because I love my country. I stand because I want to honor the people putting their lives on the line for me on a daily basis in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. I stand because my cousin is a pilot in the United States Air Force, risking his life flying F-15s in active war zones. He takes pride in his job protecting Americans, a sacrifice that all members of every branch of the United States military willfully take.</blockquote>
Eifert stated that he intended to write former NFL star Pat Tillman’s name on his cleats. (Tillman, a safety for the Arizona Cardinals, was named to Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated’s 2000 NFL All-Pro team; eight months after 9/11, he left his NFL career and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004.)
Eilert added, “And each game thereafter, I am going to write another person’s name from the United States military, whether active, retired, killed or missing in action, or a prisoner of war. These people are why I am standing because they gave me and everyone else the chance to have freedom and earn a living playing a sport I love.”
“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, players may display the names of victims of police violence and/or systemic racism on the padding along the bottom of the backs of their helmets … The names will come from an approved list, with names like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery among the possibilities,” <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/08/30/players-may-display-names-of-victims-of-systemic-racism-on-their-helmet-padding/">Pro Football Talk</a> reported on Sunday.
The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/retired-police-captain-was-murdered-while-protecting-his-friends-pawn-shop-during-riots-widow-says">reported</a> on June 3 of David Dorn’s death:
<blockquote>Retired St. Louis police captain David Dorn was trying to defend his friend’s pawn shop Monday night as the city continued to devolve into chaos. In video that has since been removed, Dorn, 77, can be seen defending the business during his last moments of life. Dorn was killed by looters and rioters who broke into Lee’s Pawn &amp; Jewelry; his body was found on the sidewalk outside around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. The Associated Press <a href="https://wcti12.com/news/nation-world/widow-retired-police-captain-died-protecting-friends-store">reported</a>that no arrests have been made in the case so far.
Dorn’s wife, St. Louis police Sgt. Ann Marie Dorn, told the St. Louis Dispatch that her husband was friends with the owner of the pawn shop and regularly came to the owner’s aid whenever alarms went off.
Dorn retired from the St. Louis police force in October 2007 after serving 38 years. His close friend on the force, St. Louis County police Chief Tim Fitch, who knew Dorn for 30 years, told the media that Dorn and his wife helped disadvantaged youth while he was on the force.</blockquote>

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