MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota coach Jerry Kill says top receiver A.J. Barker's abrupt departure from the team was because he was unhappy with being disciplined, not because of any mistreatment.
Barker quit the Gophers on Sunday and went public with a scathing email that accuses Kill of manipulative and abusive behavior.
Kill responded at a news conference on Monday. He said he confronted Barker at practice Thursday over what the coach felt was a disruptive conversation with the trainer over how to treat his injured ankle.
Kill says he's not out to be popular but denied mistreating players. He says he doesn't treat them "any differently than I treat my two daughters."
He says he feels bad for Barker and thinks he'll regret the way he left the team.
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