![]() ![]() Meyer also forbade players from speaking with opponents on the field before games, once claimed the Jaguars lost because they dressed sloppily and told offensive players he wanted them to dunk the ball over the goalpost after touchdowns even though doing so would draw a fine from the league. After one blocking drill, Meyer insisted Chark do extra reps the receiver suffered a broken finger, underwent surgery and missed the preseason. One of those drills fell on what Meyer called “Winner and Loser” days two players would compete, and the winner would be announced over the loudspeaker. In training camp, Meyer pushed for live contact drills despite objections from veteran coaches. “But the way he was running the ship, it was impossible to succeed,” Chark said. Scouts are lazy.” It was an especially jarring comment given that scouts were also in the room.Ĭhark said the year began with optimism Jacksonville’s players turned out in high numbers for voluntary workouts, eager for the new season under Meyer. And then, according to multiple sources in the meeting, Meyer said: “I hate scouts. In his first staff meeting, Meyer criticized the way NFL teams operate, noting specifically that coaches failed to take proper care of players’ health. “I’m hearing he might be a problem for us.” “Who’s this 99 guy on the Rams?” Meyer asked one staffer during the season, according to a source. But multiple sources said Meyer was unfamiliar with star players around the league, including 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel, Seahawks safety Jamal Adams and Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a three-time NFL defensive player of the year. Meyer said he conducted a six-month deep dive on the NFL that included interviews with his former Florida and Ohio State players as well as a study of the salary cap. Several sources said Meyer stepped into the job as if he had all the answers, even though he had never coached in the NFL. Signs of dysfunction were apparent early on. Meyer’s attorney said his client would not comment for this story. The Jaguars replaced Meyer with former Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson in early February, but some who experienced Meyer’s brand of leadership want a fuller public accounting of his tenure. One player described the year with Meyer as “mentally exhausting.” Lambo believed Meyer’s kick was an act of “intimidation,” a theme echoed by several people in the organization. Kicker Josh Lambo said last year Meyer kicked him during warmups - a fact Meyer’s lawyers reportedly conceded to Rick Stroud, the reporter who broke the story for the Tampa Bay Times. ![]() He would usually say that when the coach was around.” “I know he would come up to us and tell us if the receivers weren’t doing good, he wasn’t going to fire us, he was going to fire our coach. “He feels like threats are what motivates,” Chark said. Chark, who signed with the Lions last week after spending the first four years of his career with the Jaguars, said Meyer routinely threatened to fire coaches and cut players. ![]() “The most toxic environment I’ve ever been a part of,” a veteran member of the football operations staff said. But according to coaches, players and staff in Jacksonville, Meyer crossed the line from tough and demanding to belittling, demeaning and leading by fear. He had won national championships at Florida and Ohio State, but he brought plenty of baggage, ranging from harsh treatment of players and staff to mishandling domestic-abuse allegations levied against one of his longest-tenured assistants, Zach Smith.įriends and family over the years have labeled Meyer a control freak and perfectionist, and as he climbed the ranks he developed a reputation as a tough, obsessive win-at-all-costs coach who, by his own admission, was “addicted” to victory. Meyer arrived in Jacksonville with a mixed resume. “I lost all respect for him after that,” a veteran player in the room said. The implication that his players were capable of little more than playing football left some angry, others offended. “You couldn’t get a job paying more than $15 an hour.” “And do you know what would happen if I cut you guys?” Meyer said, according to four people in the room. ![]()
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