A big reason why Ron Rivera was hired to run the Washington Football Team was his tough-guy disposition. A butt-kicker who chewed on players in film sessions and spit them back on Sundays ready to play. Instead, Rivera has become a Washington politician who sidesteps questions and authorizes mediocrity.
Hello, Senator Rivera.
Owner Dan Snyder has always alternated his coaching hires from tough guys to soft touches. After "Club Jay" Gruden, it was time for Mr. Mean, much like Marty Schottenheimer and Mike Shanahan previously. Yet, a second straight 2-6 start hasn't seen meltdowns by Rivera. Just cutting a kicker or two and even then waiting until a quiet Tuesday after the bye week to fire the second, who saw three of five field goal attempts blocked, one by an offensive lineman's helmet. The old "Riverboat Ron" would have made Chris Blewitt walk the plank after the first bad game, or at least immediately after the second.
What's going on?
Rivera entered the job talking about a quick reversal of the franchise's ill fortunes. Now he's talking five-year plans like a Soviet senator. Fan patience is exhausted after just 25 games where Rivera's 9-16 record threatens to fall below the septic line of 12-20 by predecessors Jim Zorn and Steve Spurrier.
Snyder called his last front office move "coach-centric," where Rivera would run everything after presidential failure Bruce Allen was finally fired. The only problem is Rivera surrounded himself with faithful followers from their previous Carolina days and mediocrity has swept through the building once again. That's better than the sexual harassment stench by those sanctioned, fired or retired, but still fans want to see winning and that's not happening any time soon.
Rivera has missed getting a franchise quarterback – twice. He blew the kicking situation – twice. It looked like a second bad season.
But, there's still one path to redemption, though not the postseason. It's keeping the team playing hard after a bad start like last season, when managing 7-9 and a first-round postseason exit. If players continue playing hard, at least fans can respect the effort and the coach.
"I try to encourage those guys to keep their heads up," Rivera said. "I encourage those guys to have fun. I encourage those guys to work hard. I mean, the only way through this is to work hard. There's no quick fix. There really isn't. I know some people pointed to some other teams, 'Oh, look at this team.' Well, there are some other outside reasons why they're where they are in terms of players. So, at the end of the day, we have what we have and we're going to work with it and do the best we can, because at the end of the day, these are the guys that got to develop."
Fair enough – deliver a respectable effort with no tanking and fans will begrudgingly accept that. But, keep losing to mediocre teams like Denver and Rivera might be on the clock in 2022. Coaching in tough times separates good and bad coaches, and Rivera has always been a good late-season coach.
"It gets hard to come to work when you're not winning," he said. "People look at you different, people act funny, and the truth of the matter is, that is the nature of this game. Somebody's got to win, someone's got to lose. How you handle it, how you work through it, how you work with it, how you live within it, that's ball. I've been fortunate that I've been around a long time, and I've gone through both sides of it. It is hard, but somebody once told me it takes a lot of energy to be negative. It doesn't take a lot to be positive."
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.
Listen to DC sports talk now on Audacy and shop the latest Washington Football team gear!
