Quote:
Originally Posted by Phobia
Otis. He worked in the FO at the time.
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thank you google...
New Panthers coach mixed it up with Chiefs legend
By JEFFREY FLANAGAN
Former Chiefs linebacker Jack Del Rio is expected to be introduced as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars today. When you mention the name Del Rio in these parts, you can't help but think of Otis Taylor as well.
Del Rio and Taylor were involved in one of the ugliest incidents in the 1987 NFL strike, the last time the NFL went on strike.
Del Rio, along with several other players, was picketing outside the stadium offices when Taylor, then a Chiefs scout, tried to walk through the line with some replacement players he had scouted.
Del Rio did not recognize Taylor and thought he was a replacement player, too. Taylor said Del Rio called him a "dirty scab" and a "lowlife."
A scuffle ensued, and witnesses reported that Del Rio got Taylor in a headlock and body-slammed him to the ground. Another striking player, Dino Hackett, and sports agent Charles Meek eventually separated the players.
Kansas City Star sportswriter Randy Covitz was covering the strike story and was on the scene. He said once Del Rio finally recognized Taylor, Del Rio said, "Hey, Otis, I used to love watching you. You were a great player."
Taylor did not take the incident lightly and filed a criminal complaint against Del Rio. But the Kansas City prosecutor did not file charges.
Taylor then filed a $1 million lawsuit against Del Rio, player representative Nick Lowery and the NFL Players Association. The case was settled out of court two years later.
Taylor, who recently retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, could not be reached for comment Thursday.