Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio defended a tweet he posted earlier this week that questioned why protests after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police were not being discussed the same way as the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Del Rio referred to the riot that saw thousands of people break into and vandalize the nation’s Capitol building in an effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election as a "dust-up."

"I'm just expressing myself," Del Rio said to reporters on Wednesday. "And I think we as Americans have the right to express ourselves especially if you're being respectful. I'm being respectful."

"I just asked a simple question," he continued. "Let's get right down to it. What did I ask? A simple question. Why are we not looking into those things if we're going to talk (Jan. 6)? Why are we not looking into those things?

"Because it's kind of hard for me to say I can realistically look at it. I see the images on TV. People's livelihoods are being destroyed, businesses being burned down. No problem.

"And then we have a dust-up at the Capitol. Nothing burned down. And we're not going to talk about … we're going to make that a major deal. I just think it's kind of two standards."

Del Rio made these comments after he was asked whether or not he would be willing to address, with his players, a June 6 tweet, where he wrote:

"Would love to understand 'the whole story' about why the summer of riots, looting, burning and the destruction of personal property is never discussed but this is ???"

Del Rio told reporters Wednesday that he'd "talk about it with anybody."

"Let's have a discussion," he said. "We're Americans. Just talk it through. I'm for us having a great opportunity to have a fulfilling life. Like I said every which way I can, when I'm here it's about love and respect. I love my guys. I respect my guys. But I also love the fact that I'm an American and that means I'm free to express myself. And I'm not afraid to do that."

Washington head coach Ron Rivera declined to comment on Del Rio’s statements when he met with media members Wednesday.

"I'm not gonna talk about the stuff that I talk with my coaches about, especially stuff that's off the field and not pertaining to football," he said. "It's just everyone's entitled to their opinion now."

(Photo: Geoff Burke / USA Today)