Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio met with head coach Ron Rivera on Friday following Del Rio’s controversial comments and tweet about the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. As a result, Rivera fined Del Rio $100,000. The money will be donated to the U.S. Capitol Police Memorial Fund.
Del Rio will also have to address the team on Tuesday at the start of the Commanders’ mandatory three-day minicamp. According to the Washington’s Post’s Nick Jhabvala, Del Rio is expected to meet with Rivera once again Monday. The two will “determine the best approach” in addressing the team.
Commanders players have been mum publicly about Del Rio’s comments and recent Twitter activity.
Washington’s defensive tackle Jonathan Allen didn’t take issue with Del Rio’s comments or takes.
“Me personally, I don’t care about his opinion,” Allen told J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington. “As long as he shows up every day and he works hard, that’s what I want from my defensive coordinator.”
Commanders defensive back Kendall Fuller also refused to take a stance through the media about Del Rio. He admitted he was unaware at the time of Del Rio’s initial tweet. Even after a reporter read the initial comment, Fuller didn’t react.
“I don’t have a reaction right now. Like I said, if I have a reaction towards something, I will express that with him,” Fuller said.
Granted, Fuller’s comments were before Del Rio met with reporters and referenced the Jan. 6 incident as a “dustup.”
Still, it laminated that if anyone within the Commanders organization has an issue with Del Rio’s comments they’re in no rush of expressing it through the media.
Others outside of the organization haven’t been so quiet. NFL hall of famer Ed Reed and the NAACP president Derrick Johnson have been vocal with their displeasure with both Del Rio’s comments and how the Commanders have handled the matter.
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Shelby Harris said he was not surprised by Del Rio’s comments. Harris played under Del Rio when he was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.
Del Rio deleted his Twitter account over the weekend.
