Player and Coach Feuds
Ex-Vikings wide receiver blasts his former coach Brad Childress on a conference call, telling reporters he would like to "duke it out" at the 50-yard line with his former coach. Click through for other player-coach feuds.
AP / Getty Images
The Royals' Jose Guillen, left, had a heated exchange with Kansas City pitching coach Bob McClure before a game in July game.
Getty Images / AP
Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez apologized after a confrontation with traveling team secretary Jack McCormick, in which the slugger reportedly shoved him to the ground on June 28.
Greg Trott, Getty Images
Shawn Chacon, left, was placed on waivers by the Astros June 26 following a physical confrontation with GM Ed Wade. "I lost my cool and I grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground," Chacon said. The pitcher was upset by the decision to move him from the starting rotation to the bullpen.
Getty Images / AP
Outspoken wide receiver Chad Johnson has repeatedly feuded with Cincinnati Bengals management. Johnson blasted the team last year for implying he was "selfish and a cancer" and asked for a trade, prompting head coach Marvin Lewis to reply "he is a Cincinnati Bengal for quite a while."
Tony Tribble, AP
NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his step-mom, Teresa, feuded over Dale Jr.'s trademark No. 8 after his departure from DEI last year. The driver settled on using No. 88 in 2008.
Diane Bondareff, Nextel / AP
Manager John Gibbons, who was recently fired by the Blue Jays, routinely feuded with players during his time in Toronto. Gibbons reportedly challenged Shea Hillenbrand to a fight in July 2006 and had a shoving match with Ted Lilly after the pitcher refused to surrender the ball when he was removed from a game later that year.
Dave Sandford, Getty Images
Chicago Bulls rookie Joakim Noah, left, was benched for a game last season for a confrontation at practice with assistant coach Ron Adams before a game at Philadelphia. But his teammates voted to keep him benched for an additional game.
AP (2)
The scuffle wasn't the Bulls' first. In 2006, Ben Wallace, left, challenged ex-head coach Scott Skiles on a Bulls team rule forbidding headbands. Wallace was pulled from a game by the coach for defiantly wearing it during play.
AP (2)
Falcons star D'Angelo Hall, left, was one of the many Atlanta players who had issues with former coach Bobby Petrino last year. After Petrino bolted for a college gig with Arkansas at the end of last season, Hall said "I don't have any respect for him. He turned his back on the organization."
Getty Images (2)
It's been more of the same with the Jags; Williamson's battled injuries, played in just five games, and has four catches for 27 yards (but 25 percent of his receptions resulted in touchdowns!)
With the Jags hosting the Vikes this weekend, the story line, naturally, is Williamson facing his former team. In addition to the on-field banalities such stories evoke, there's also this: Williamson's then-coach Brad Childress fined the wideout for missing a game to be with his family after his grandmother's death. Seriously.
After some players protested, Childress reconsidered, but it helps explain why Williamson still has bitter feelings about his time in Minnesota. And why, during a Wednesday conference call, he said he'd like to "duke it out" with his former coach this Sunday. Wait, what?
"We can meet on the 50-yard line and we can go at it," Williamson said. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound receiver said he liked his chances against Childress, too, especially with a few inches and at least 10 pounds on the coach. Williamson even said he would fight with both hands tied behind his back.When reporters got Childress on the horn for his response to the challenge, he offered this:
Childress initially said he wasn't "biting" on Williamson's comments, but when pressed about his height and weight on a conference call, he responded: "Do you need my reach? I'm not like a woman; I'll give you my weight. It's 190 pounds of twisted steel and rompin', stompin' dynamite. Is that enough humor for you?"Huh. I guess the boys back at the robot factory have a sense of humor; somebody made Childress less dull during his latest software upgrade. Oh, and it probably bears mentioning: via the AP, Williamson didn't specify whether he wanted a boxing match, good ol' wrasslin', or some MMA action. My money's on: it doesn't matter.
The Vikings head coach has at least one supporter, though: defensive end Jared Allen, who calls the team's bald leader "a tough-minded guy" with "a bad ... mustache." Shocking.
Latest NFL Photos
Members of the Southern Columbia High School football team cast shadows across the ground behind them as they do warm up exercises before the start of practice in his aerial photo Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 19, 2008, in Catawissa, Pa. (AP Photo/Bloomsburg Press Enterprise, Jimmy May)
AP
This undated photo provided Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 by the Denver Police Department shows Willie Clark. Clark was indicted Wednesday in the December 2006 shooting death of Kalonniann Louisa James Clark. (AP Photo/Denver Police Department)
AP
This undated photo provided Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 by the Denver Police Department shows Brian Hicks. Hicks was indicted Wednesday in the December 2006 shooting death of Kalonniann Louisa James Clark. Police say Hicks also owned an SUV used in the New Years Day 2007 drive-by slaying of Denver Broncos and former Oklahoma State cornerback Darrent Williams. (AP Photo/Denver Police Department)
AP
This undated photo provided Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 by the Denver Police Department shows Brian Hicks. Hicks was indicted Wednesday in the December 2006 shooting death of Kalonniann Louisa James Clark. Police say Hicks also owned an SUV used in the New Years Day 2007 drive-by slaying of Denver Broncos and former Oklahoma State cornerback Darrent Williams. (AP Photo/Denver Police Department)
AP
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) holds his right pinkie after making a few passes during practice at the Cowboys training facility in Irving, Texas, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
AP
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman reaches up for a pass during drills at football practice at the team's training facility in Irving, Texas, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
AP
Dallas Cowboys running backs Felix Jones (28) and Marion Barber (24) stand in the end zone waiting to participate in drills during football practice at the team's training facility in Irving, Texas, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
AP
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) stretches along with the rest of the team before the start of football practice at the team's training facility in Irving, Texas, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
AP
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) makes a throw during football practice at the team's training facility in Irving, Texas, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
AP
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, front, prepares to make a throw as backup quarterback Brooks Bollinger (5) looks on during football practice at the team's training facility in Irving, Texas, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
AP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
11-20-2008 @ 2:40AM
juancatfish said...
both should be out of league by feb.
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 2:40AM
gene said...
Yeah too bad he doesn't want to catch passes with the same furry. Instead he wants to fight an old man.....WHAT A LOOOOOSER!
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 2:40AM
A.J. said...
Let me be honest. I've never thought that Troy Williamson was a great player. But on the other hand, I'm of the mind that the way he entered the league pretty much set him up to fail. Troy Williamson was picked 7th overall in 2005 - a pick that was a DIRECT result of trade of one RANDY MOSS that offseason. I mean, how would you like to be a 21-year-old rookie receiver that has to come in and fill shoes like that? It's just not fair - and that's to say nothing of the fact that Daunte Culpeper comes in and has a really slow start. Then, about halfway through the season, his knee explodes during a game and he's replaced by Brad Johnson, who was already ancient and starting to lose what little arm strength he had. And the fans (and perhaps even the coaching staff and management) are still looking for Randy Moss and perhaps even a bit of Cris Carter to shine through in a rookie that didn't have those attributes.
Suppose, in a supreme act of insanity, the Colts traded Peyton Manning to another team for a first-rounder, and then used THAT VERY SAME PICK to draft another QB as their next franchise guy. That's setting a bar pretty high for a kid just out of college. It's one thing to ask him to start that early in his career. It's another entirely for him to enter the league already being compared by default to one of the most physically gifted guys at his position.
Reply
5-22-2009 @ 1:06AM
chas said...
AJ has a very good arguement [point],but the bottom line is always [almost always] business. The man was [is] a total bust on this level , and should shut his piehole.
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 6:54AM
hank biel said...
MICHIGAN COACH RODRIGUEZ . WE ALL NO COACH CARR LEFT U WITH NO MORE THAN A GOOD HIGHSCHOOL TEAM. GO OUT SATURDAY AND KICK THE BUCKEYES BUTTTTTT.
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 7:33AM
DAVE said...
Williamson is not only lame on the field,, but it sounds like hes a few buckets short on brains,,, why is he still around? On any given Saturday I watch college kids catch some amazing passes,,,then I turn on the NFL and listen to the announcer apoligize,,,"WOW,, hit him right on the numbers,,now you won't see him do that often" and next pass same stuff. Watch college,,, its better ball.
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 9:11AM
Robert Donnelly said...
Why don't they fight in the school yard and then the principal can call their parents and tell them what "BAD" boys they are!
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 9:46AM
bob said...
someboby get vince mcmahon on the phone
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 9:59AM
Ryan said...
How about having a spelling bee challenge.
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 10:00AM
sperry said...
2 words: Grow up!
Release it to the universe before it eats up your soul...
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 10:03AM
southcarolinasteeler said...
i live in columbia s.c and watched troy play for the gamecocks. i can describe him in one word......overrated!!! The only reason he said that about childress is because he knew he wouldnt be on the field in the direct line of fire of the vikings defense!
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 10:06AM
Po said...
I'm 7'2'', 290 pounds. I want to meet Shaq at half court and slap his loose neck skin. Shaq, accept this challenge, on behalf of everyone who wants to see you play ball again, and quit hackin' people half your size! P.S. The Law of physics states, that I'm going to break your mandible in 2 different places.
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 10:09AM
Pretty said...
He needs to sit his loser ass down somewhere. But of course no one is more worthless then Detroit Lions, I say give Williamson to them. One more loser won't hurt....
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 10:10AM
Jamie said...
If his fighting skills stand up to his talking the way his playing skills did to his contract/"promise," Childress has just pretty much nothing to be concerned with. I mean, about all he's got to fear is that Troy will show up...and that's probably it.
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 10:16AM
Bakari said...
LOL... Okay the guy is a bust at this point in his career. But the point of his anger towards his former coach comes from the coach fining him for mourning the loss of his grandmother. As a person who just lost his grandmother earlier this year I understand the feelings about it. Should he say out loud that he wants to fight his former coach? No. But I think he has every right to feel that way if Childress really did fine him for that reason. If Williamson was a pro-bowl receiver in Jacksonville, would the opinions on this blog be different?
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 10:15AM
D said...
Ohhhh here we go. Don't get me wrong Williamson sounds like a complete jackass, but why do the white folk always make it a color issue? Williamson being black has nothing to do with his poor judgement, he's a young man who was in over his head as soon as he was drafted. rikanite and BILL don't realize what a disservice they're doing their own race by acting like mindless bigots. I think if they were really proud of being white they would be happy about it and not have to go around parading it. I suspect jealousy, to be honest.
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 12:32PM
ewd67 said...
Nobody mentioned race until you brought it up.
11-20-2008 @ 10:21AM
SteelerChick said...
Williamson is being given a bad wrap. Coming in behind Moss is not the issue. The issue is he never had a good enough quarterback throwing to him. Now he's in Jacksonville and seems to get injured a lot. But 25% of his catches result in touchdowns. What this tells me if they got the ball to him more they would score more touchdowns. Just gotta keep him healthy. I'm not going to call him names because he's been injured a lot. To do that is ignorant. No one wants to be injured. Look at LaDanian Tomlinson (I hope I spelled his name right). His injuries have been ridiculous. He hasn't been the same and he's a great runner. Don't call Williamson jackass or lame because of that. When healthy, he can perform well if being thrown to be a good quarterback. Childress is a jerk for what he did. But I do think Williamson needs to leave it in the past and be more professional about it. Let the Lord deal with Childress. He probably will in February.
Reply
11-20-2008 @ 11:54AM
Dkoby said...
Hey, 25% of 4 catches is 1, He caught 1 touchdown pass. If he catches about 25 more he will equal his drops in three years on the vikings
11-20-2008 @ 1:02PM
SteelerChick said...
Hey dkoby, do you know that for a fact? Here's the thing: he only played in 5 games. You don't know if he would have done better had he not been hurt. And who was throwing to him when he dropped those balls in Minnesota? Were they thrown accurately and he just dropped them? I'm willing to bet all of those drops were not his fault. Even Randy Moss drops a ball every now and then. My point is 25% of 4 is 1, but 25% of 50 is 12.5. Lets say he only dropped 12.5 out of 50 catches. That's pretty good. He is not a sorry, bad, or terrible receiver. He is better than you and others are giving him credit for. That's what I was saying. Plus this story is not about how good or bad Williamson is. Its about how he's still pissed at the coach and wants to still kick his butt. My point again, Williamson needs to let it go and not even speak about violence.