Photo Courtesy Of Maize & Blue Nation
Now-former USFL Pittsburgh Maulers player De’Veon Smith was dropped from the team for requesting pizza instead of chicken salad during a hotel stay.
In a clip that went viral on social media, Maulers coach Kirby Wilson was seen delivering the news to Smith, saying he disrespected the hotel’s employee he requested pizza from.
“This is very difficult for me as a head coach,” Wilson said in the clip during a meeting with the running back and other individuals. “We have a business. This is business, and you’re a businessman. When I first talked to you guys, on Mar. 22, I had a handbook, and I covered some items that were very important to me…I’m going to have to let you go.”
The video was a part of USFL’s documentary series, United By Football: A Season in the USFL, which debuted via FOX on Apr. 16.
“He crossed the line, so we had to deal with it,” Wilson added.
He continued, referencing a line in the handbook he gave his team members, saying, “Line 46 addresses that. ‘Any disrespect of football or members of staff, USFL, etc. will not be tolerated.'”
“I didn’t think I did anything disrespectful. I [asked], ‘Is that going to be a problem?’ [to the hotel worker] and he said, ‘Yes,’ and I walked away,” Smith responded. “I mean, I didn’t think that would be disrespectful. I don’t eat chicken salad, and I was like, ‘Is there another option?’ He walked in with pizza, and I said, ‘Can I get a slice of pizza?’ He said, ‘No.’ That’s all I said. I didn’t say [any] cuss words, nothing, I promise you on my dad’s life.”
His now-former coach said he appreciated what Smith told him, but the matter was “done.” He said, “Good luck,” and exited the room as the young man buried his head in his hands with disappointment.
On Apr. 18, the 27-year-old took to Twitter to give more insight on the incident, maintaining his innocence.
“I was never made aware that I violated any team rules, let alone 3 in a 24hr span. I never disrespected anyone,” he wrote. “Coach Kirby and I spoke after being released. In that talk, he said that he’d certainly vouch for my character.”
He fired off another tweet the following day, saying, “God does not like ugly man!”
However, it is unknown whether or not he was referring to the reason he was cut from the Maulers.