If they are a true cancer then you act like a surgeon and remove them. It's the head coach's job to do what is best for the team. Just think what would happen if they did that. The other players would know that if they cause problems then they could be next.
I think you are mistaken. A former player has the right to call out a player, in public, more than anyone else. If he doesn't like what AJ is saying, he can give back the money and take his therapy doll and go home.
Even if we win in a big way this Saturday, I don't think we will know how much we have improved until we play Wisconsin. If we were to lose against ULM then CKD is done.