If it seems like we posted a very similar story about a head-turning statement from Art Briles last week, it's because we did.
A week after declaring at Dallas Cowboys training camp that he's always lived his life in a righteous manner, the former Baylor coach spoke to reporters during a visit to a Houston Texans practice by doubling down on his tour of cognitive dissonance, this time saying, "I've never done anything illegal, immoral or unethical."
Art Briles visits #Texans practice: "I've never done anything illegal, immoral or unethical." pic.twitter.com/gf0rGDJlj7
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) August 16, 2016
It's clear by now Briles has no idea, or at least has no interest in publicly admitting, why he was fired. We know that Baylor most certainly did not want to fire him. He delivered the football program to heights even the most ardent of Bears backers never would have dreamed of -- two Big 12 championships, a sparkling new stadium on the Brazos River, a brand and scheme that made Baylor cool for goodness sakes -- and carried the university's profile along with him.
So why, then, would Baylor fire him if, in his words, he's never done anything illegal, immoral or unethical.
The media may not ask him, but a prospective new boss will.
Briles is not shy about his desire to return to football in 2017, comparing himself to a person who lost a beloved dog, and we know there are few people more desperate than college presidents and NFL owners presiding over losing enterprises. And coaches with a 50-15 record and four top-15 finishes over the last five years don't come available often.
Watching Briles angle for a job and seeing if any decision makers are bold enough to make a move for him will be one of the most interesting subplots of the 2016 season.