Jay Gruden: Stop Calling Me Fat

Washington is such a hilarious disaster, man. We’re not even done with the preseason, but the starting quarterback is shell-shocked and fed up, and the head coach is talking like a man who’s already in the middle of a 3-13 campaign. Here’s what Jay Gruden had to say to the press yesterday ( via the ):

That’s all we’re trying to preach as coaches, man. Block out the negativity surrounding this franchise, and it’s our job as a football staff and football team to go out and change the perception of this franchise. That’s what we’re trying to do. But we have to go out there and prove it and do it to get the negativity out of here.

This team is 0-0! This is a time when coaches and players and fans are supposed to be feeling optimistic, not openly talking about the organization’s poisoned by negativity. Gruden went on to say he was taking all of the criticism that’s been lobbed at him in stride, but he’s not cool with people calling him fat:

“I really dislike the guy that called me a fat ass,” Gruden said with a laugh, referring to CBS Sports radio host Scott Ferrall. “That really ticked me off. I don’t mind you critiquing my coaching style, but to make fun of my weight, that’s unfair. I’m only 225 [pounds]. But other than that, man, it’s football.

The quarterback hates his life, everyone hates the team, and the head coach is publicly responding to fat jokes made at his expense. What a franchise.

[ Washington Post]