In a post-practice meeting with reporters, Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio downplayed the assault on the US Capitol building on January 6, calling it "controversial" compared to the racial justice protests the death of George Floyd in 2020.
"I can look at pictures on TV [of the Floyd protests] — people's livelihoods are being destroyed. Businesses are being burned. No problem," he said. "And then we have a dispute on Capitol Hill, nothing burned, and we're going to make a big deal out of that. I think they're like two standards, and if we apply the same standard and we're going to be reasonable with each other, let's have a discussion. That's all it was [on Twitter]. Let's have a discussion. We are Americans.
Del Rio, 59, has been outspoken on Twitter in the three offseasons he has coached the Commanders, often on conservative political issues.
The latest came Monday night in response to an article by the Brookings Institution think tank about the House committee investigating the January 6 attack. Del Rio wrote, "I'd love to get the whole story about why the summer of rioting, looting, burning, and destruction of personal property is never discussed, but this is??? #Common sense."
His comments have drawn the ire of some fans and commentators, including former cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Tweeting a clown emoji to the veteran coach, Brian Mitchell called out Commanders head coach Ron Rivera to address the situation.
"How do [you] expect someone on that team to be direct when you have a guy like that in the defensive coordinator position? Mitchell said on his radio show 106.7 The Fan Wednesday.
Del Rio said he's not worried his players will be offended by his comments.
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