If this is accurate, "[LaFleur] told me I had to earn my starting spot back and that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. " I don't think that's motivation. It's basically saying you won't get the starting spot. I think the words got twisted. Based on my little consumption of LaFleur, I would imagine the conversation was more likely "you have to earn your starting spot" with LeFleur offering feedback on how to do that and what he needs to do.

He's more of a inspire his players kind of coach, rather than berate them knock them down kind of coach. At least, that's my impression of him.

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I don’t know....if I was a pro athlete, and had any self respect, I would take what the coach said as motivation to prove him wrong.
If just being told “that it wouldn’t happen anytime soon”, it would push me too show he was wrong and I was worth the starting spot.
Maybe Matthews did something that caused the coach to say something like that to him. Maybe he was dogging it, and the coach was letting him know that giving less then 100% wasn’t acceptable.
Of course I don’t know, just saying we are only getting one side of the story.

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No... no... no... he is not a QB. 😂

Seriously now, color me not overtly interested in this type of article from a single source. Either sour grapes from a player, or a possible conflict between them based on playing time. If there is a trend such as this, fine, but these one off cases and making a snap judgment sounds like a cheap parlor trick Cowherd or Bayless would deploy.

No offense to the writer, as he was just trying to cover an angle, but I don't think this is really news.

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I agree pack93z.
Now, if we heard the same kind of thing from 10 players, then I would consider it as signs of a possible problem.
One guys opinion might be just a dislike of someone.
One guy here might hate someone, say nothing but negative things about him, while dozens of guys think he’s a great guy.

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