Tua Tagovailoa Says It's 'Tough' in Dolphins Locker Room After 5th Loss of Season
Oct 17, 2021
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) gestures during the first half of an NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, England, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Dunhan)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn't want to talk about his individual performance following Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The loss dropped Miami to 1-5 on the season, and Tagovailoa admitted things in the locker room aren't doing so well as the Dolphins are now in sole possession of last place in the AFC East.
Miami has lost its last five games following a season-opening win against the New England Patriots. Three of those losses came while Tagovailoa was sidelined with fractured ribs.
Tagovailoa looked solid in his first game back, completing 33 of 47 passes for 329 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 22 yards on three carries.
But as WPLG's Will Manso points out, the Dolphins have much more significant issues than Tagovailoa:
Tua Tagovailoa is 33-47, 329 yards, 2 TD, 1 bad INT and 22 yards rushing coming off broken ribs. Today taught us what most of us already knew. The Dolphins have much bigger issues than Tua.
Miami's offensive line "has been a nightmare" this season, as Pro Football Focus wrote last week (h/t the Palm Beach Post.) Entering Sunday's game, Tagovailoa had been sacked four times in two games and had been pressured on 28.6 percent of his dropbacks.
Compare that to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have a solid offensive line. Veteran quarterback Tom Brady has been pressured on 13.2 percent of his dropbacks through six games.
The Dolphins could also use an upgrade at running back. Malcolm Brown, Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin combined for just 55 yards on the ground in Sunday's loss to Jacksonville. Of the three, only Brown has a rushing touchdown this season.
In addition, Miami's defense needs to be better. Entering Sunday's game, the Dolphins defense had allowed 12 passing touchdowns, tied for third-most in the NFL and six rushing scores, also third-most in the league.
Things aren't looking great for the Dolphins, who are slated to take on the Atlanta Falcons before facing the Buffalo Bills on October 31. They're already in a deep hole, but that hole will be even more difficult to climb out of if they lose next weekend's game to Atlanta.
Jaguars' Urban Meyer Says NFL Game in London Is Like a '3-Hour Root Canal'
Oct 17, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer listens to a question during a practice and media availability by the Jacksonville Jaguars at Chandlers Cross, England, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. The Jaguars will plat the Miami Dolphins in London on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer continues to make headlines in his first NFL season.
Following a 23-20 win over the Miami Dolphins at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, Meyer told reporters the game in London was like a "three-hour root canal."
It was a back-and-forth game that the Jaguars almost let slip away. However, kicker Matthew Wright came up big for Jacksonville, hitting a game-winning 53-yard field goal as time expired.
For Meyer, Sunday's game probably did feel a lot like a root canal. It was a suspenseful yet sometimes frustrating game, but in the end, his team walked away with a win, which is rather relieving for a franchise that hadn't won a game since Sept. 13, 2020.
The Jags are now 1-5 on the season, and rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence finally has his first NFL victory.
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars Beat Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins to End 20-Game Losing Streak
Oct 17, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) celebrates with Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones (11) after they combined to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, England, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
The Jacksonville Jaguars snapped their 20-game losing streak thanks to Sunday's thrilling 23-20victory over the Miami Dolphins at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Matthew Wright won the game with a 53-yard field goal as time expired. He went 3-of-3 on kicks in the game, with two coming in the final four minutes.
Urban Meyer's first season as head coach has been anything but smooth sailing, and the Jaguars entered Week 6 as one of only two winless teams in the NFL (Detroit Lions). They had the fourth-worst defense by points allowed per game and fifth-worst scoring offense.
The Dolphins haven't been much better, and they have now dropped five consecutive games since their Week 1 victory over the New England Patriots. Tua Tagovailoa did make his return to the lineup after missing the previous three games because of a rib injury, but it wasn't enough.
Trevor Lawrence and Marvin Jones Jr. took advantage of a depleted Miami secondary that was without Xavien Howard and Byron Jones.
Lawrence broke the 300-yard barrier for the first time since Week 1. Jones had a season-high seven receptions and 100 yards with one touchdown on 10 targets in the win.
Tagovailoa threw for 329 yards and two scores in the loss. The Dolphins were one-dimensional on offense because their rushing attack only picked up 77 yards on 20 carries.
The start of this game had a familiar feeling for Jaguars fans. Miami went 75 yards on a 13-play drive that lasted seven minutes, 15 seconds to take a 7-0 lead.
The Dolphins eventually took a 13-3 lead with 5:42 remaining in the first half.
After the teams traded punts on the next two possessions, Lawrence went to work to help the Jaguars close the gap. The rookie quarterback led a six-play drive that was capped off with a fantastic throw and catch by Marvin Jones Jr. for a 28-yard touchdown:
An absolute DIME from Trevor Lawrence to Marvin Jones Jr. for the TD 🌟🌟
Lawrence's TD pass to Jones traveled 49.2 yards in the air, Jones had 0.9 yards of separation from #9 Noah Igbinoghene, and 2.5 yards from the sideline.
Before that touchdown, the Jaguars' previous three drives gained a total of 28 yards on 14 plays.
Among the many problems that Jacksonville has had in 2021, second-half adjustments are near the top of the list. The team entered this week having been outscored by 49 points after halftime in the first five games.
This time, though, the Jaguars wasted no time taking advantage following intermission. They needed just five plays to go 75 yards for the go-ahead score on the first drive of the third quarter.
Lawrence and Robinson split the reps on that touchdown drive. The second-year running back racked up 25 yards on back-to-back carries, including a score from one yard out.
Those runs were set up by a terrific 29-yard throw from Lawrence to Jamal Agnew that was placed between four Miami defenders:
Jacksonville's execution in short-yardage situations remains a problem. The coaching staff elected to go for it on 4th-and-1 from the Dolphins' 9-yard line, but Robinson was stopped short of the sticks for a turnover on downs.
The Ringer's Steven Ruiz noted the Jaguars' lack of success running the ball on 4th-and-short in 2021 after that play:
Those bad fourth-down vibes were shunned on the final drive. Lawrence hit Laviska Shenault Jr. over the middle for nine yards on 4th-and-8, and the Jaguars were stopped the clock with one second remaining to set up Wright's game-winning field goal.
Wright had the magic touch in this game. He used a combination of physics and voodoo to make this 54-yard field goal hook back inside the goal post after it left his foot looking like a surefire miss to tie the score at 20:
HE HOOKED IT IN!@Jaguars tie it up with a WILD 54-yard field goal. #DUUUVAL
The good vibes continued for the defense on Miami's ensuing possession. Josh Allen and Chapelle Russell stuffed Malcolm Brown on 4th-and-1 to take possession at the Dolphins' 46.
There are still a lot of things for the Jaguars to correct if they want to build on this win. Their pass-catchers are still dropping too many passes that stop drives. Shenault had two in the first half. Dan Arnold dropped an easy catch on their first offensive possession on 3rd-and-5 that forced them to settle for a field goal.
But given how long it had been since this franchise won a game and everything that has been happening behind the scenes with their head coach, Jaguars players have every reason to be happy with this performance.
Tagovailoa's Inconsistent Effort Raises Concerns for Dolphins
It can be easy to overreact in the moment to a single play in an NFL game, especially one made by a young quarterback who is still developing.
That play came late in the third quarter. The Dolphins, trailing 17-13, just regained possession after Zach Sieler recovered a fumble when Lawrence was strip-sacked by Christian Wilkins.
On the very first play after the turnover, Tagovailoa gave the ball right back to Jacksonville with a terrible interception that was thrown directly to Nevin Lawson:
The television camera didn't get a full view of what Tagovailoa saw. Jaylen Waddle was wide-open down the sideline on the play, but the Dolphins quarterback didn't put any air under the throw to get the ball over the defender.
Despite the decision being right, Tagovailoa's execution on the play left a lot to be desired.
Some mitigating circumstances — the rib injury, an unusual coaching arrangement — but you have to really try hard to watch Tua Tagovailoa this morning and think he’s on his way to becoming a high-end NFL quarterback.
Tua has been really bad today. It's been masked to some extent because the Jaguars have the worst pass defense in the NFL, but Tua is just nowhere near where a Top 5 pick should be in Year 2.
Just when it seemed like the Dolphins were in trouble, things did swing back in their favor until the end. The defense forced a turnover on downs when Robinson was stopped on 4th-and-1 from Miami's 9-yard line to keep the Jaguars from scoring.
Tagovailoa's first drive after the interception was one of the best of his young career. He went 6-of-6 for 66 yards and the go-ahead touchdown pass to Waddle.
Miami's coaching staff put a lot on Tagovailoa's plate in his first game since Sept. 19. He threw a season-high 47 passes and had his first 300-yard game since Week 17 last season.
Mike Gesicki aided his quarterback by catching eight passes for 115 yards. He entered Week 6 with 227 receiving yards all season.
The Dolphins' use of Waddle is puzzling. He has the speed and athleticism to create big plays, but he only has 301 yards on 37 receptions in six games.
The Dolphins have only scored more than 20 points in a game once this season. If they want to find ways to consistently put points on the board, force-feeding playmakers like Gesicki and Waddle in the passing game is their best bet to do so.
Co-offensive coordinators George Godsey and Eric Studesville are still struggling to find answers. Until they do, there's no reason to expect the Dolphins to turn things around anytime soon.
What's Next?
The Dolphins will return home to host the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. ET. The Jaguars have a bye in Week 7 before taking on the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Oct. 31.
Report: Many Jaguars Players Feel Struggles Are from Urban Meyer's Coaching, Habits
Oct 17, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer listens to a question during a practice and media availability by the Jacksonville Jaguars at Chandlers Cross, England, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. The Jaguars will plat the Miami Dolphins in London on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
At least some members of the Jacksonville Jaguars believe Urban Meyer's coaching style is to blame for the team's 0-5 start.
Per CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, "many Jaguars players are convinced" that one of the main reasons they have struggled in the second half of games is connected to their "practice habits and the way ... Meyer has worked them dating back to the summer."
Among the issues, La Canfora noted players have told other members of the coaching staff going back to training camp "that they did not believe there was sufficient recovery being built into the schedule and that the nature of their practices was not conducive to navigating through a lengthy season."
The Jaguars were fined $200,000 and Meyer was docked $100,000 by the NFL for rules violations during organized team activities.
Meyer's tenure as head coach of the Jaguars has gotten off to a disastrous start, and they are one of only two winless teams in the NFL, along with the Detroit Lions. Their -59 point differential is the second-worst in the league entering Week 6 (Miami Dolphins, -75).
The second half is when opposing teams have done most of their damage against the Jaguars, as they have been outscored by 45 points in the second half through the first five weeks.
"Just ask anyone down there about how the players feel on game day," one source told La Canfora. "They have dead legs. It's become a real problem. It's not just one or two guys. It may sound like an excuse, but to the players it's real."
In addition to what's happening on the field, Meyer has been a distraction off the field. He didn't travel back to Jacksonville with the team after a 24-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 30.
During his extended stay in Ohio, Meyer was filmed at a bar with a woman who wasn't his wife dancing on him in a clip that went viral on social media.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan reprimanded Meyer for his "inexcusable" conduct and said the coach "must regain our trust and respect."
"I just apologized to the team and staff for being a distraction," Meyer told reporters Oct. 4. "It's stupid. I explained everything that happened and owned it and, just stupid. I should not have myself in that kind of position."
The Jaguars hired Meyer as their head coach Jan. 14. This marked his first time in the NFL after a 17-year run in college football from 2001-18.
Urban Meyer Rumors: Jaguars HC 'Never Had the Locker Room' to Lose Before Viral Video
Oct 14, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer watches players warm up before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Some players on the Jacksonville Jaguars may not have been connecting with head coach Urban Meyer before the recent scandal that put his standing with the team in question.
According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, sources don't believe Meyer's actions caused him to "lose the locker room" because he "never had the locker room" to begin with.
The sources noted that his coaching style "hasn't rung" with the Jags' veteran players the same way it did with younger players during his coaching days in college.
Meyer came under fire for skipping the team flight back home after a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4, remaining in Ohio and being caught on video at his bar and restaurant in Dublin, Ohio, with a woman who was not his wife dancing closely in front of him.
Meyer told reporters he apologized to the team for his actions: "I just apologized to the team and staff for being a distraction. Just stupid, and so I explained everything that happened and owned it. Just stupid. Should not have put myself in that kind of position."
The 57-year-old coach also attempted to explain what happened at the bar: "There was a big group next [to] our restaurant and they wanted me to come over and take pictures, and I did. They were trying to pull me out on the dance floor, screwing around, and I should have left."
In the wake of Meyer's press conference, Jaguars owner Shad Khan released a statement, calling his actions "inexcusable" and noting he would have to regain trust within the organization:
Despite Khan's aggravation, he kept Meyer in the fold, and the head coach later told reporters he never considered resigning.
The Jags were in search of a big-name hire after going 23-43 with one playoff appearance under Doug Marrone over the past four-plus seasons.
Jacksonville lured Meyer out of retirement by giving him his first NFL head coaching jobs after successful stints at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State in the college ranks.
Expectations were high for the three-time national champion, but it has been a difficult transition.
The Jaguars are one of only two winless teams in the NFL, sporting an 0-5 record. Jacksonville hasn't been close in most games, as four of its five losses have come by double digits.
Meyer will look to get his first NFL win as a head coach Sunday when he leads the Jags against the Miami Dolphins in London.
James Robinson on Jags' 20-Game Losing Streak: 'You Can't Wrap Your Head Around That'
Oct 11, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson (25) runs down the sideline while being pursued by Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered their 20th consecutive loss Sunday, and the losing streak is starting to take a toll on their players.
"You can't wrap your head around that," running back James Robinson told reporters Sunday after the Jaguars lost to the Tennessee Titans 37-19 at home to fall to 0-5 this season. "We've got to find a way to win."
In the history of the NFL, only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a longer losing streak. They lost their first 26 games in 1976-77.
"We're a really good team," Robinson added. "Obviously, our record doesn't show it, but we've got a lot of great guys in the locker room and we've just got to find something that's going to work for us."
Jacksonville's players hope to avoid getting closer to the record for the NFL's longest losing streak, but the team faces a daunting schedule.
The Jaguars will be in London next week to face the Miami Dolphins before their bye week. After that, they will face the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons.
If the losing streak continues through all six of those games, Jacksonville will have the chance to set a new all-time record against the Los Angeles Rams.
Despite the Jaguars' lackluster play this season, the players are still trying to remain positive.
"We don't really talk about that [losing streak]," rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. "I don't think that's good to talk about that. You can't get desperate. You've got to just keep going to work.
"We're going to win some games," Lawrence continued. "We're going to turn it around, and we all thought today was the day we were going to get that first win and it wasn't."
Urban Meyer Rumors: Jaguars Insiders Think Execs Will Have 'No Choice but to' Fire HC
Oct 10, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer watches during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 24-21. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Urban Meyer's time as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars may be short-lived.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, many within the team "believe the damage done from Meyer's actions last weekend will end up dooming his tenure there and leaving ownership with no choice but to move on by 2022."
Jacksonville is off to an 0-4 start this season, and Meyer is under further scrutiny after a video showing a woman dancing on him in an Ohio bar spread across social media.
While the 57-year-old's job is still secure, his actions drew a statement from Jaguars owner Shad Khan that said he had to "regain" the team's trust after his "inexcusable" conduct:
Meyer's decision not to fly back with the team following a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals made an already dire situation even worse.
La Canfora reported his "issues interacting with coaches and players, plus the low morale from a rocky preseason, were already significant problems even before the season began." What's more, he was "fighting for respect" in regard to his ability to coach in the NFL following the winless start.
Then, the video was released after Meyer stayed in Ohio instead of traveling back to Jacksonville with his team.
While the coach told reporters during his press conference he remained in Ohio to see his grandchildren and was out to dinner with his family when another group of people attempted to get him out on the dance floor, many with the team did not appreciate his response.
They "were further blindsided by Meyer's initial reaction to the images appearing on the internet, imploring the coaches to speak to the players about the situation, cancelling their Monday meeting and waiting until Wednesday to speak to the entire roster."
One agent for a player called the coach "a laughingstock in that locker room," while a Jaguars staff member said his response was "pretty gutless."
That echoes a previous report from Michael Silver of NFL.com:
THREAD 1) The Urban Meyer situation in Jacksonville has reached a crisis point, especially in the locker room. One player told me, 'He has zero credibility in that stadium. He had very little to begin with.'
3) Instead Meyer 'only apologized to position groups individually.' He portrayed the woman in the videos as a random person who was 'just there dancing.' Suffice it to say, his audience was highly skeptical.
The Jaguars are also staring at an uphill battle on the field. They face the division-rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday and have not won a game since their season opener in 2020. They showed some fight in the 24-21 loss to the Bengals, which the team could have built upon during the last week of practice.
Instead, Jacksonville's head coach has dominated the headlines.
Shelley Meyer Says She's Leaving Twitter After Backlash to Husband Urban's Bar Video
Oct 7, 2021
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 02: Shelley and Urban Meyer arrive to Michael Rubin's Fanatics Super Bowl Party at the College Football Hall of Fame on February 2, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer's wife, Shelley Meyer, released a statement Thursday on Twitter and announced she was leaving the platform.
Shelley wrote in part, "We all make mistakes-we are all sinners. If you think you aren't? Then cast the first stone."
She was seemingly referencing the video that went viral this week showing a young woman dancing in front of Meyer while he appeared to touch her backside while at his bar and restaurant in Dublin, Ohio.
Following the Jaguars' loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, Meyer did not fly back to Jacksonville with the team. Instead, he went from Cincinnati to Columbus to visit family and go to dinner at his restaurant.
On Wednesday, Meyer told reporters he discussed not traveling with the team with general manager Trent Baalke "way in advance."
"I thought at the time, now that maybe I thought it through, but I thought at the time this was a chance for everybody to clear their head, including myself. With my family located where we were, to go spend a day or two with them and then get back. Because I knew I wanted them to get out of dodge, too, and clear their heads."
Regarding what happened at his bar, Meyer told reporters: "There was a big group next [to] our restaurant and they wanted me to come over and take pictures, and I did. They were trying to pull me out on the dance floor, screwing around, and I should have left."
Additionally, Meyer said he apologized to Jaguars players and staff members, noting that he "should not have put myself in that kind of position."
Jaguars owner Shad Khan released a statement calling Meyer's actions "inexcusable" and calling for him to earn back the trust of the organization:
NFL reporter Mike Silver reported Tuesday that there is turmoil within the Jaguars locker room, with one player telling him "[Meyer] has zero credibility in that stadium."
Meyer was asked Wednesday if he had considered resigning, but the 57-year-old coach said he had not.
On the heels of 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State, Meyer is in the midst of his first season as an NFL head coach with the Jags.
Meyer went 187-32 and won three national championships at the college level, but the transition to the NFL has been difficult.
The Jaguars are one of only two winless teams at 0-4, and they will look to score their first win of the season Sunday when they host the Tennessee Titans.
Trevor Lawrence Says He Still Respects Urban Meyer After Bar Video Controversy
Oct 6, 2021
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Urban Meyer (L) of the Jacksonville Jaguars speaks with Trevor Lawrence #16 during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at TIAA Bank Field on September 26, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer still has the support of rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence amid a rocky start to his tenure.
"He's still my head coach," Lawrence told reporters Wednesday. "I still respect him, regardless of what happens. We're a team and we figuring it out."
Meyer drew criticism after a video showed him dancing closely with a young woman who wasn't his wife at his restaurant in Dublin, Ohio. He apologized on Monday, saying he "should not have myself in that kind of position":
Urban Meyer apologizes for "being a distraction" to the Jaguars following a viral video of him at a bar that circulated over the weekend pic.twitter.com/13ZrcsbQ2R
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the 57-year-old also spoke to his team Wednesday to apologize.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan didn't mince words about the situation, calling Meyer's conduct "inexcusable" and adding that "he must regain our trust and respect."
Many have wondered whether Meyer's job is already in jeopardy because this is merely the latest gaffe since being hired in January.
Meyer and the Jaguars failed to foresee the inevitable blowback to bringing in former Iowa strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle, who had been accused of making racist remarks and belittling and bullying Hawkeyes players. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported in September he was also struggling to make the transition from college to the NFL.
Michael Silver of NFL Network reported Tuesday things have now "reached a crisis point":
2) Players were particularly put off by the fact that Meyer canceled Monday's team meeting, as he dealt with the uproar over the videos of him and a young woman getting cozy in that Ohio bar. 'He even canceled the team meeting. He was too scared,' a player said.
Meyer said Wednesday he doesn't intend to resign, so he doesn't appear to be going anywhere for the time being.
Lawrence's vote of confidence may help a bit, but Silver's reporting pointed to deep issues inside the locker room.
Lawrence likely has a lot of influence by virtue of being the starting quarterback and the cornerstone of Jacksonville's future. However, his sentiment may not be shared among all of his teammates.
Urban Meyer Says He Hasn't Considered Resigning from Jaguars After Viral Bar Video
Oct 6, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer watches during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 24-21. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Meyer has come under fire this week after the release of a video that showed a woman, who was not his wife, dancing close to him while his hands appeared to touch her backside.
The viral video was taken at Meyer's bar and restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, where he went after the Jaguars' loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last Thursday rather than flying back with the team to Jacksonville.
While addressing the media Monday, Meyer said he apologized to his players and fellow coaches for his actions at the bar: "I just apologized to the team and staff for being a distraction. Just stupid, and so I explained everything that happened and owned it. Just stupid. Should not have put myself in that kind of position."
Meyer also offered an explanation for what happened: "There was a big group next [to] our restaurant and they wanted me to come over and take pictures, and I did. They were trying to pull me out on the dance floor, screwing around, and I should have left."
Jaguars owner Shad Khan released a statement Tuesday, calling Meyer's actions "inexcusable" and noting that he would have to earn back trust:
On Wednesday, Meyer was asked multiple questions about the decision to go to Columbus rather than fly back with the team, which is unusual for a head coach.
Meyer said he discussed his desire to stay in Ohio after the game with general manager Trent Baalke "way in advance."
Meyer also said of the decision to not travel with the team:
"I thought at the time, now that maybe I thought it through, but I thought at the time this was a chance for everybody to clear their head, including myself. With my family located where we were, to go spend a day or two with them and then get back. Because I knew I wanted them to get out of Dodge, too, and clear their heads."
The 57-year-old head coach said earlier this week he had primarily gone to Columbus to visit his grandchildren.
In addition to saying Wednesday that the Jaguars had not fined him, Meyer told reporters:
"Why did I decide to come out of what I was doing and do this? Our owner, I just became—I admire the guy so much. He's become a friend, he's a guy that I, like I said, I just admire. Jacksonville, I know very well. I know our fans have been hanging in there with us, and I apologize to them. And I wanted to make that perfectly clear."
Meyer is in the midst of his first season as the Jags' head coach after previously enjoying great success as a college head coach at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State, winning a total of three national championships.
His NFL career is off to a rough start, as the Jaguars are one of only two winless teams at 0-4.
The Jags are scheduled to return to action Sunday when they host the Tennessee Titans in an AFC South clash.
