“No player should be victimized and discriminated against because of his exercise of free speech,” Derrick Johnson, the NAACP’s interim president and CEO said, via the AP .
“It’s time for Jack Del Rio to resign or be terminated,” Johnson said, via Pro Football Talk. “His comments could not have been more offensive and ignorant. The January 6th insurrection—* an attempted coup*—* was far from a ‘dust-up.’ Each day we learn more and more on just how close our democracy came to autocracy. Downplaying the insurrection by comparing it to nationwide protests, which were in response to a public lynching, is twisted. You can’t coach a majority Black team while turning your back on the Black community. It’s time for you to pack up and step off the field.”*
I conceptually agree. I suspect the amount of the fine was purposely selected for shock value. But, Del Rio has a contract paying $3.5 million plus incentives. $100K is less than 3% of that, so it is just a hard slap on the wrist. But, I also suspect there is contractual language that can be easily applied to justify the fine or maybe the amount, although I don’t like the way that Washington waved the fine around in public saying look how good we are. When one has a employment contract, it’s always important to understand what rights you are giving up in exchange for the money.