Nov 14th 2008 4:46PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Jaguars
Last week Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio became so angry at the insubordination shown by starting middle linebacker and team captain Mike Peterson that he sent him home from practice. Del Rio also fined Peterson $10,000.

But while Peterson is back with the team, he’s not back in the starting lineup. Del Rio says he has permanently demoted Peterson to backup status, replacing him with Daryl Smith.

Sal Paolantonio of ESPN reports: “Daryl Smith is our starting middle linebacker,” Del Rio said in a telephone conversation after Friday’s practice, as the Jaguars got ready for the undefeated Tennessee Titans. …

Del Rio was asked if he and Peterson have reached any kind of meeting of the minds after last week’s dispute.
“There will be no meetings,” Del Rio said. “He has to embrace his new role on the team.”
So Peterson is now relegated to special teams, which he hasn’t played in years. And that’s ridiculous. If Peterson was good enough to start before, why is he suddenly not good enough to start after he talked back to Del Rio? Benching players for insubordination might build character when it comes from a high school coach. It smacks of desperation when it comes from a professional coach.