Jaguars' Urban Meyer denies confrontation with Marvin Jones, calling assistants 'losers', per report

Meyer responded to reports that their is internal strife among he and his players and coaches

Things are not going well in Jacksonville. The Jaguars have lost 11 out of their first 13 games under Urban Meyer, and tensions are reportedly boiling over between the first-year head coach and his players. Per NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, Meyer has recently had multiple run-ins with players and other coaches on his staff.

One of the most public debacles involved star running back James Robinson, who hasn't played more than 52% of offensive snaps over the past two games including a six-carry, 4-yard effort in Sunday's 20-0 shutout loss to the Titans. While Meyer said his lack of playing time is injury related, Pelissero reports that Meyer ordered Robinson's benching after a fumble recorded early in the loss to the Los Angeles Rams last week. He reportedly had running backs coach Bernie Parmalee stop Robinson from re-entering the game, as Carlos Hyde took over. When quarterback Trevor Lawrence asked Meyer about Robinson's status, he was then allowed to return to the field. Several Jaguars players also reportedly voiced their frustration to Rams players after the game. 

Additionally, during a staff meeting, Meyer reportedly delivered a harsh message saying that he's a winner and that his assistant coaches are losers. He reportedly challenged each coach individually to explain when they have ever won and forced them to defend their resumes. In another reported instance, free-agent addition and wide receiver Marvin Jones became so angry with Meyer's criticism of the receivers that he left the facility until other staff members convinced him to return. He then had a heated argument with Meyer at practice. 

Following the Jaguars' loss to the Titans, Meyer denied there was ever a confrontation with Jones and that he called his assistants "losers," per Albert Breer of the MMQB. He did, however, say that he is hard on his staff.

With seemingly everything going wrong for the Jaguars on the field, Meyer said that outside noise is the last thing he and his team need right now.

"What's the answer? Starting leaking some information or nonsense? That's garbage," Meyer said, via Breer. "If there is a source, then that source is unemployed. I mean, within seconds."

This report is hardly the first development that has cast Meyer in a negative light. The former Ohio State coach embarrassed the Jaguars in October when he was filmed getting a bit too friendly with a young woman at a restaurant on their bye week. It was then reported that his situation had reached a "crisis point" in the locker room. One player reportedly said that Meyer has zero credibility, and had very little to begin with.

Things didn't start well with Meyer and they haven't gotten better. CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora even reports that general manager Trent Baalke has become a "strong proponent" of assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach Charlie Strong should ownership part ways with Meyer after just one season. It remains to be seen if Shad Khan would make such a decision, but it sounds like it could be possible.