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ASHBURN, Va. – The last time Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio answered questions from the media, it resulted in a $100,000 fine. This time, it resulted in him deflecting all questions about the events of January 6, 2021 .and stuck to football.
Del Rio, who on June 9 called the events at the U.S. Capitol 19 months ago a “dust-up,” made it clear Wednesday in his first news conference since then that he only wanted to discuss his players or the commanders in general.
“I’m so happy to be in camp right now,” Del Rio said. “The team is doing a great job preparing for the season and everything I would like to talk about has to do with football and good defense.”
Washington coach Ron Rivera said things are “calm” with Del Rio.
“He was great about it,” Rivera said. “He accepted it and understood that it had nothing to do with his point of view and that it was just his interpretation more than anything else and that’s why it was done.”
Del Rio was fined by the team for his comments, in part because he caused another distraction for a franchise that didn’t need one. It came shortly before a June 22 congressional hearing on the investigation of Washington owner Dan Snyder and as the Virginia Assembly debated whether or not to vote on possible funding for a stadium in the state.
Del Rio has since deleted his Twitter account as a “personal choice.” He compared what happened in the Capitol to the protests after the killing of George Floyd. The “dusting up” comment — for which he apologized later that day — led to calls from some groups, including the NAACP, for him to be fired. Others were upset that he was even fined.
He tweeted: “I would like to know the ‘whole story’ of why the summer of rioting, looting, arson and destruction of personal property is never discussed but this is??? #CommonSense.”
During a June 22 congressional hearing, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell whether the team was right to fine Del Rio.
When asked if Jordan mentioned his name, Del Rio said, “I really don’t have anything to add.”
Del Rio’s comments were not a topic during training camp interviews. In the spring, the players said they discussed it, but also said they were rooting for Del Rio based on their own interactions with him over the previous two years.
Last week, Rivera fired defensive line coach Sam Mills III and promoted Jeff Zgonina from his assistant role.
“Coach [Rivera] has a good sense of what he wants to do,” Del Rio said, “and it’s our job as staff members to bring that to life and make it productive. And that’s what we’re going to do.”
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