Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer has been accused of striking one of his former players.
Former Jags place kicker Josh Lambo, a second-team All-Pro honoree in 2019, claims that Meyer kicked him while he was stretching during pregame warmups prior to a preseason game earlier this year.
Lambo, recounting the incident for an article published on Wednesday by the Tampa Bay Times, said Meyer kicked him firmly -- strong enough to register as "a five" on a 10-point scale -- after he had missed a couple kicks in preseason games.
“I’m in a lunge position. Left leg forward, right leg back,” Lambo told the outlet. “... Urban Meyer, while I’m in that stretch position, comes up to me and says, ‘Hey Dips--t, make your f--king kicks!’ And kicks me in the leg.”
Lambo, who was cut by the Jaguars after missing his first three attempts in the regular season, said he promptly cursed out his former coach in response to the kick, and later informed his agent about what had happened.
The Jaguars acknowledged receiving the complaint but said Lambo's camp declined to pursue it further when given the opportunity.
Lambo said he was stunned by the kick.
"I don’t care if it’s football or not, the boss can’t strike an employee. And for a second, I couldn’t believe it actually happened. Pardon my vulgarity, I said, ‘Don’t you ever f--king kick me again!’ And his response was, ‘I’m the head ball coach, I’ll kick you whenever the f--k I want.’”
In a statement to the newspaper, Meyer disputed Lambo's characterization of the incident, and said there were players and coaches who could verify his account.
According to Lambo, Meyer later "cornered" him at team facilities and threatened to cut him for his profane response to the kick.
Lambo says he was moved to speak up about Meyer, calling him a "bully," in the wake of a series of unflattering headlines involving the embattled head coach and the hapless Jags. The 31-year-old veteran kicker remains a free agent after his release, following five seasons in Jacksonville.
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