JACKSONVILLE – Urban Meyer left no doubt Wednesday:
The off-field issues that have been a major topic around the Jaguars in recent days have been addressed – both with ownership and the team.
Meyer, in his first season as the Jaguars' head coach, on Monday said he had apologized to the team for his role in a video that went viral on social media over the weekend – with Meyer saying he shouldn't have been a distraction.
Meyer on Wednesday said he spoke with Owner Shad Khan three or four times regarding the matter.
"The message was loud and clear, and I agree with," Meyer said Wednesday as the Jaguars (0-4) prepared to play the Tennessee Titans (2-2) at TIAA Bank Field Sunday at 1 p.m.
Khan in statement Tuesday said:
"I have addressed this matter with Urban. Specifics of our conversation will be held in confidence. What I will say is his conduct last weekend was inexcusable. I appreciate Urban's remorse, which I believe is sincere. Now, he must regain our trust and respect. That will require a personal commitment from Urban to everyone who supports, represents or plays for our team. I am confident he will deliver."
Meyer said he met with the team "individually" Monday and again Wednesday.
"I had a very pointed conversation with them, owning a stupid mistake that I made," Meyer said. "The job of a coach is: No. 1, the health and safety of a player; No. 2, motivate them and bring out the greatness in them; and No. 3 is give them everything possible to be successful and give them a great locker room – and get the heck out of the way.
"I apologize for the distraction with a huge week coming up, especially after they made so much improvement from Week 1 to Week 4. That was the conversation."
Meyer also closed the press conference by speaking highly of Khan – "I admire the guy so much – and saying to Jaguars fans: "I know our fans hanging in there with us and I apologize to them."
Meyer said he met with players in small groups rather than as a team to discuss the issue because he wanted "to get in their space."
"I have a good relationship with this whole team," he said. "I'm not a big team-meeting guy. I do a lot of it that way [in groups]. A team meeting is a big environment. In my opinion, you don't get much done in a team meeting. You get a lot done when you're in personal space with people. I've always done that."
Meyer said he received eight-to-10 phone calls from team leaders in recent days.
"They were over-the-top supportive, saying, 'We've got you, man … we move forward,''' Meyer said. "A common them was, 'Coach, we all did stupid things.' I'm really impressed with our guys."
The Jaguars lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-21, this past Thursday. Meyer remained in Ohio following the game to see his family, with the video being taken at an establishment there later in the weekend.
"I thought at the time it was a chance for everybody to clear their head – including myself – with my family located where they were, to go spend a way or two with them and to get back," Meyer said of staying not flying to Jacksonville with the team. "I knew I wanted them to get out of Dodge, too – to clear their heads."
Meyer said he has not spoken with the NFL office regarding the matter, nor was he fined. He also said he didn't consider resigning, adding that his objective moving forward is to ensure the issue doesn't hurt preparations for Sunday.
"I'm in a fight to make sure that doesn't happen," he said. "As of now, I don't see that one bit. I'm dealing with this personally. But a win, as far as the organization and the team, will do wonders."
