WATCH: USFL team cuts former Michigan standout for choosing pizza over chicken salad
The USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers coaching staff and administration must take their dinner choices seriously, as they have already cut a player for choosing to eat pizza over chicken salad.
As caught on video, former Michigan running back De’Veon Smith was recently cut from the Maulers – a team in the newly-formed United States Football League (USFL) – for making the decision to order a pizza and eating it instead of the team’s meal of chicken salad.
As shown in the video, Smith is seen walking into a room with three other guys, including Maulers head coach Kirby Wilson, and taking a seat. In a brief conversation, Wilson explains to Smith that he is being cut for not following team rules – referring to the pizza over chicken salad situation.
“This is very difficult for me as a head coach – my first time,” Wilson begins to tell Smith. “But we have a business … this is a business, and you’re a business man. We all are, because that’s the nature of the beast right now. When I first talked to you guys on March 22, I had a handbook and I covered some items that were very important to me.
” … It has been brought to my attention that has occurred with you. So unfortunately, the cost of doing business, I’m going to have to let you go.”
Smith said that he didn’t say anything disrespectful, but he was ultimately cut by the Maulers for making the decision he did.
“I can tell you what happened exactly,” Smith says to his former coach. “I didn’t say anything disrespectful. He said, ‘Is that going to be a problem?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ That’s it. … I walked away. I didn’t think I was disrespectful. I don’t eat chicken salad, and I said, ‘Is there another option?’
“He walked in with pizza, and I said, ‘Can I get a slice of pizza?’ He said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Is that going to be a problem?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ That’s all I said. I didn’t say no cuss words, nothing. … That’s all I said – I promise you. … No disrespect, on my dad’s life.”
Although Smith tried to explain himself to Wilson, the coach said that there was no going back at that point and proceeded to walk out of the room.
“I appreciate you sharing that, but the matter is it’s done,” Wilson said. “Good luck.”
Smith, 27, rushed for 2,235 yards and 22 touchdowns over four seasons at Michigan from 2013-2016.