From a Tuesday tweet to a Wednesday morning reversal to a seemingly forced Wednesday afternoon mea culpa, Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has found himself in a self-created crisis.
Yes, he has the right to say whatever he wants. However, most statements spoken in a public forum are protected by the First Amendment from government repercussions. It does not ensure anonymity from private repercussions.
Del Rio’s Inappropriate Approach
Others may criticise you for your beliefs as a result of those repercussions. They can also include the loss of economic possibilities and/or job in some cases, particularly if the person works in an industry that relies on things like locker-room harmony, fan support, and, in some cases, a quest for taxpayer money to build a stadium.
Del Rio’s factually incorrect attempt to downplay the January 6 uprising by calling it a “dustup” puts him at risk of losing his job, especially after Virginia state senator Jeremy McPike termed the remarks the “final nail in the coffin” of public funding. We believe he chose to post an apology after being given the option of apologising or leaving.
Cancel Culture
The next question is whether or if his apology will put an end to it. Will the Commanders think about their possibilities for defensive coordinator? Ron Rivera, the head coach, has a defensive background, which makes a late-season transfer easier. Besides, Del Rio isn’t Bill Belichick as a defensive coordinator; the idea that talent trumps everything simply doesn’t apply to Del Rio in the same way it does to others.
This isn’t a case of “cancel culture,” a term frequently used by those who would rather have the power to say and do anything they want with no consequences. This is a business matter involving football. Is it in the best interests of the Commanders to keep Del Rio or to move on? They make the same evaluation all the time.
