Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is once again taking heat for making some tone-deaf comments about running back Josh Jacobs.
On Thursday, the Packers running back entered no contest pleas to one misdemeanor count of battery and one misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.
Jacobs had been charged with strangulation and suffocation (a felony), battery/domestic abuse, criminal damage to property/domestic abuse, disorderly conduct/domestic abuse, and intimidation of a victim. According to the prosecution, Jacobs got into a violent altercation with his girlfriend on May 23 at his home in Wisconsin after he was accused of “talking to other girls.”
On Friday, Matt LaFleur was asked to comment on Josh Jacobs being convicted of battering a woman.
“Well, because I know the guy, and I know the character of the guy, so I’ve said it many times,” LaFleur told the media. “And unfortunately, situations occur in life, and it’s just an unfortunate situation.”
He was then asked “what is the rationale for keeping him on the team?” LaFleur replied, “Yeah, I’m not, guys — I’m not gonna get into any of this until the league completes their investigation.”
Many fans are very angry with how flippant Matt LaFleur has been about the whole situation
LaFleur received backlash in June during the team’s OTAs for stating it was “business as usual” with Josh Jacobs in camp so shortly after his arrest. His latest comments about Josh Jacobs only made things worse for him.
“Yeah, situations, like sometimes you’re late to work because of traffic, sometimes you beat the s— out of your girlfriend in an elevator, you know, situations,” one fan wrote.
“If he was the third string center would he still be there? Of course not. Just tell the truth. He’s a maggot that can help our team score points,” another commented.
“So he always knew he was this kind of dude?” another fan asked.
“So LaFleur supports men putting their hands on women violently…got it,” read another comment.
“‘I know his character. I mean, besides the part where he beats a woman because he has no self control,'” someone else wrote sarcastically.