NFL Network analyst Steve Smith went viral last week for his on-air diatribe directed at Denver Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy. 94 WIP midday host Hugh Douglas said he tries to stay away from criticism that becomes personal because of his time playing the game at the highest level..
After Smith’s outburst, Douglas was discussing New York Jets QB Zac Wilson, and said he hesitates to use overly negative language about an individual player.
The station played a clip of former NFL head coach Dick Vermeil calling the Jets “losers” during an appearance with Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie. Douglas called the encapsulation from Vermeil “out of character”.
“The Jets are guilty by association when it comes to Zac Wilson,” argued Douglas. “Now, what was it a couple weeks ago, he had one of the best QBR ratings that he’s ever had.”
“He’s terrible,” Joe Giglio said.
“I didn’t want to say that he’s terrible because the one thing that I’m trying not to do — because I see a lot of my contemporaries doing that. Now, I’m trying not to use those words like ‘garbage’ and like certain things like that, because it does take a lot to get to this level of play at this level,” Douglas said.
Comments from Douglas pale in comparison to the approach Smith took Thursday night, calling Jeudy “an average wide receiver” and “mentally unable to handle constructive criticism”.
