- The Washington Times - Monday, October 7, 2019

Washington Redskins cornerback Quinton Dunbar was the first player to send a public message regarding coach Jay Gruden’s firing Monday morning.

Dunbar posted a photo of himself and Gruden to his Instagram and said he “owed” Gruden for helping him stick in the NFL.

“I’m thankful for you coach, if you wouldn’t have made me switch to db 5 years ago during training camp i don’t know where I be right now, but look at me now,” Dunbar wrote. “I owe you coach for life sorry we couldn’t get the job done for you (expletive) crazy.” He added a heartbreak emoji at the end of the caption.

Throughout his tenure, Gruden was viewed as a players’ coach. After Sunday’s 33-7 loss to the New England Patriots, running back Chris Thompson got emotional and started crying when talking about the possibility of Gruden’s firing.

It’s frustrating, of course,” Thompson said. “It’s something that’s tough to think about with that situation. I really care about Jay.”

But as Thompson’s tears seemed to imply, players felt this was coming after Washington’s 0-5 start.

ESPN reporters Dianna Russini and Josina Anderson said unidentified Redskins players generally felt this was inevitable. The players Anderson talked to, however, appeared to blame Gruden for a culture of laziness at practice.

A starter told Russini: “If they think (firing Gruden) will make us better this season, it won’t.”

• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.

• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.

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