The controversy surrounding Jerry Jeudy is getting way overblown

Broncos head coach Vic Fangio had an interesting week. Last Sunday night, for the first time since taking over as head coach of the Broncos, Fangio’s squad actually competed in a game with the Chiefs. Following the game, the Broncos once again found themselves with less than favorable headlines, however, with the PED-related suspension of cornerback A.J. Bouye and perceived negative tweets sent out by wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.

The best moment of the Fangio’s week came when he played down the controversy related to Jeudy. While nothing is known for certain, Jeudy posted two tweets that appeared to indicate displeasure with his role in the Broncos offense thus far this season.

Fangio, who usually leaps at the opportunity to publicly criticize his players, had the following to say about the situation:

“The last three games — the game before this past one — obviously, he wasn’t going to get many balls thrown to him that day. I don’t think he’s hit the wall at all. I think he’d just like to have more catches and I don’t know of any receiver that doesn’t feel that way,” Fangio told reporters Wednesday. “I’m glad he’s a little frustrated that he’s not getting more production. We want our guys to feel that way. I don’t know what he said or didn’t say on Twitter, but I’m okay with Jerry. Jerry’s in a good spot.”

While many fans and media are quick to bury Jeudy over the tweets, Fangio decided not to pile on the young player.

This season has been frustrating for the entire team, especially coming off of the loss to the Chiefs. The Broncos had a legit opportunity to pull off the upset and let it slip away. Jeudy, like many of his teammates, probably felts the Broncos could have won that game. More so, Jeudy likely felt that if he’d had more targets, he could have helped the Broncos get that victory.

The disappointment the team has faced over injuries and other bizarre circumstances is likely to take a mental toll on players, especially the younger ones. Jeudy is a young man living in a city he’s never been to with the inability to socialize. While the tough guy bravado would say “suck it up, Jerry,” that type of attitude is unproductive and unrealistic.

Jeudy had a lot of hype coming into this season. He is used to being a winner and a key contributor. He has watched other rookie wide receivers flourish, while he has been stuck on an offense that has yet to develop on identity.

Jeudy had a few key drops in Week 1 against the Titans that have haunted him all season. As Nick Ferguson is always quick to point out, the drops have become somewhat of a myth, as he had very few since that Week 1 performance.

Fangio exhibited a sense of sympathy, empathy and understanding for his rookie wide receiver. I’m sure Fangio will discuss with Jeudy that there are more productive and preferred ways to express frustration. He doesn’t need a public admonishing to accomplish this.

Fangio, to his credit, likely understands that he let his team down with some of his questionable in-game decision making against the Chiefs. Had Fangio coached a better game, then maybe his players wouldn’t be so frustrated. A win over the mostly full-strength Chiefs by the shorthanded Broncos would have been a sign that maybe the Broncos are headed in the right direction.

The coaching was as much to blame as the play last week. The team was well prepared, but once the game started, certain coaching decisions hindered the Broncos chances of victory. Fangio as the leader takes the fall before the players.

Jeudy’s frustration is out of lack of production, not his contract or other items not related to football. He’s purely frustrated over football. Fangio expressed that he likes when his players want to contribute more. That’s a player you can work with. It’s up to Fangio to help Jeudy find a way to translate that desire to succeed onto the field every Sunday.

Shannon Sharpe went all the to the Hall of Fame telling his quarterbacks he was open. He also learned to play as a teammate. That’s where Jeudy needs to be. He needs to understand that it’s okay to want more targets, but he also know when to be a good teammate.

Some have laughably called for a benching of Jeudy like that is going to somehow send a message that the Broncos have a strong culture. That idea is ridiculous. This is an organization that lacks leadership and accountability, but they’re going to suddenly bench a 21-year-old player for tweets? Yeah, that should fix everything.

Many are comparing Jeudy’s situation to the Giants benching Golden Tate earlier this season. This is a bad argument. Tate is an 11-year veteran. He should know better. Jeudy is a rookie and is learning to be a professional in the most unusual season in NFL history. The comparison doesn’t work.

Garett Bolles recently expressed gratitude toward Fangio’s belief in him when everybody else counted Bolles out. While Fangio has much to improve on as a head coach, his willingness to stand with a player when nobody else will is a true sign of leadership.

At times, it would be nice to see Fangio be more complimentary of his players publicly, but it is always nice to see him defend the players that the public has made the target of their scorn.

Jeudy didn’t get popped for PEDs. He didn’t violate COVID protocols. What he did was ill advised and it should have been kept in-house. It is truly a learning moment for a rookie.

On a 4-8 team, this is hardly a distraction. Fangio is beginning to show an ability to connect with his players, that could be the quality that keeps him in Denver for 2021.

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