Maulers' Kirby Wilson comments on De'Veon Smith release; coach mentions 'respect' in discussing pizza vs. chicken salad clip

David Suggs

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Maulers' Kirby Wilson comments on De'Veon Smith release; coach mentions 'respect' in discussing pizza vs. chicken salad clip image

Pittsburgh Maulers coach Kirby Wilson fielded questions Monday night about his filmed preseason release of running back De'Veon Smith.

The USFL released the documentary "United by Football" in the lead-up to Week 1 of its new season. In one scene, cameras follow along as Wilson cuts Smith. The reason? Pizza, apparently.

In the clip, Wilson sits down with Smith and discusses Smith's refusal to eat chicken salad. Smith says he asked a hotel worker in Birmingham, Ala. — where USFL games are being played — if he could have pizza instead. When the worker asked Smith if it would be a problem if his request wasn't met, Smith said he simply responded, "Yes."

The clip has been viewed over 5 million times on Twitter. Some people are supporting Wilson and the Maulers. Others are offering support for Smith. Most are just watching in befuddlement.

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Reporters asked Wilson about the dismissal after the Maulers fell 17-3 to the Tampa Bay Bandits on Monday. The longtime NFL running backs coach indicated that there were more factors at play than simply Smith's preference for pizza.

"I have a set of standards that we go by as a football team," Wilson said. "Those standards weren't met. That individual (Smith) knew that we had a prior agreement that led to a later misunderstanding. Once those incidents were brought to my attention, I addressed them immediately."

"These are life lessons. They have nothing to do with football," Wilson added. "You're trying to teach people how to respect other people, no matter how you see or view them.

"It's very unfortunate this went out as a one-sided story, but I've been in this business too long. . . . We have a very, very high standard of football. It wasn't met. When we have a player that steps out of line with what we believe in as a staff, it must be dealt with. I didn't think twice about it."

The Maulers said in a statement Monday that Smith violated team rules multiple times. They also said that Smith has asked Wilson to reinstate him to the roster.

Smith responded on Twitter that the Maulers were "lying on my name."

On Tuesday, Smith seemed to send a dig Wilson's way on Twitter.

Among Smith's supporters was Ron Selesky, the former football operations manager for the XFL's Tampa Bay Vipers. Smith spent the 2020 season with the Vipers before joining the CFL's BC Lions in 2021.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.