Jack Del Rio = P.R. Train Wreck

I don't know what Jack Del Rio's major was at the University of Southern California, but I am fairly certain it was not public relations or marketing. In the past week, Del Rio has taken on an additional role with the Jacksonville Jaguars - public relations train wreck.The public relations train jumped off the tracks last week when, in a radio interview following what was widely considered to be the worst loss in franchise history, Del Rio said, "I have no desire to understand the fans frustrations..." While I understand what Del Rio meant by that comment - that he could not allow the feelings of the fans dictate how he does his job - the words were poorly chosen and came off sounding extremely bad. To put it in terms the former USC catcher can understand: "Strike One."If the public relations train jumped the tracks with Del Rio's comments last week, it slammed into a tree yesterday when it was revealed that Del Rio "strongly suggested" that quarterback David Garrard stop doing his weekly radio show. Garrard had recently started doing an hour-long radio show on Friday afternoons that broadcast from a local business, giving Jaguars fans a chance to come out and meet the quarterback of their favorite NFL team. Del Rio reportedly contacted Garrard, or one of his representatives, shortly before his show was scheduled to go on air last Friday and "strongly suggested" the quarterback pull the plug on the show. Continuing with the baseball speak, "Strike Two, Jack."What is worse than Del Rio pulling the plug on Garrard's radio show are the pathetic reasons that Del Rio supposedly gave for his mandate. Suggesting that Garrard spend that hour on Fridays with his family. Saying he wanted Garrard off his feet. Ridiculous. So ridiculous, in fact, that we all know that they are not the real reasons. First of all, David Garrard is a grown man who should be able to do what he chooses to do in his off hours. Does Del Rio dictate every waking moment of all his players, or just the quarterback? Secondly, I assume Garrard is sitting down when doing the radio show - most people do - so the "wanting him off his feet" argument is completely invalid. Lastly, the suggestion that Garrard spend that time with his family is the one that bothers me the most. By all accounts, David Garrard is a great family man. Just about every time I have seen him out in public away from the stadium, Garrard has been with his family. In listening to people who were at the broadcasts of the radio show, Garrard apparently had family members either there with him or nearby waiting to meet him after the show each week. Using his family as an excuse was uncalled for, in my opinion. i would like to know if Del Rio spends that hour with his wife and kids every Friday. Somehow, I doubt it. And if I had to bet on it, I'd bet that David Garrard spends far more time with his family than does his head coach.What Jack Del Rio needs to understand is that he is coaching a team in a city that, in good times, has to over achieve to sell out a stadium that is too large for its market. He is coaching in a city that has been hit harder by the current economic downturn than most other NFL cities. He needs to realize that he is coaching a team that only brought 38,000 people through the turnstiles for its home opener. A team that is more than likely going to have every home game blacked out this season. He needs to realize that the more positive exposure and interaction with the fans that his team can get, the better. He needs to realize that David Garrard is a great ambassador for the Jaguars, and allowing the public access to such an ambassador only reaps positive things.I like Jack Del Rio. I always have. I think he is a good coach who has been hampered in the past by the bad personnel decisions made by James "Shack" Harris. I think Del Rio, along with new general manager Gene Smith, have the Jaguars heading in the right direction. A direction that will have the team back as serious playoff contenders in the near future. I also know that Jack Del Rio can't afford any more public relations gaffes. Someone at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium needs to pull him aside and give him a lesson in how to deal with the media and the fans in Jacksonville, Florida. Somebody needs to get in his ear head him off before his next public relations disaster becomes, in the fans opinions, "Strike Three."