Tag: Ron Rivera

Jul 28, 2023; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy (R) jokes with Commanders defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina (L) during warmup on day three of Commanders training camp at OrthoVirginia Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Rivera: Commanders players ‘a little concerned’ by Eric Bieniemy’s intensity

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A new level of intensity from the new commander over the Washington offense has players “a little concerned,” according to Commanders head coach Ron Rivera.

Rather than discuss their questions with Bieniemy, a vocal and fiery leader hired away from the Kansas City Chiefs, players have taken their issues to Rivera early in training camp.

His advice?

“I said, ‘Hey, just go talk to him,’” Rivera recounted Tuesday. “‘Understand what he’s trying to get across to you.’”

Rivera said he doesn’t expect Bieniemy to tone down the level of intensity because he had success with his coaching style with championship results with the Chiefs.

“It’s not going to change because he believes in it,” Rivera said. “(Defensive coordinator) Jack (Del Rio) has his approach. Having been a head coach, I think Jack has a tendency to try to figure guys out a little bit more as opposed to, ‘Hey, this is it, this is the way it’s going to be.’ That type of stuff. Eric hasn’t had that experience yet.”

Bieniemy was a candidate for multiple head coaching positions in recent years but didn’t land of the NFL’s top 32 jobs.

Rivera said the other side of the equation with coach-player relationships is “young guys, they do struggle with certain things and a lot of it — is from where they’ve been.”

NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes described Bieniemy as “always on” and said he “sets the standard at the highest level” for players.

That doesn’t mean they were always in lockstep. Entering the halftime locker room of an eventual loss to the Indianapolis Colts last season, Mahomes and Bieniemy had an on-field shouting match that both dismissed as frustration.

Bieniemy spent five seasons with the Chiefs before coach Andy Reid allowed him to exit for a play-calling role with Rivera and the Commanders. Rivera and Reid are close friends.

“This is his now,” Reid said of why it made sense for Bieniemy to go to Washington. “He’s working for Ron Rivera, who’s a dear friend, and more of a defensive head coach than offensive head coach, so this allows EB to do his thing, and I’m happy for him.”

–Field Level Media

Jun 8, 2023; Ashburn, Virginia, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera (L) talks with Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio (R) on day three of minicamp at OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park, held inside the training bubble due to poor air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke in Ashburn. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders call off final day of OTAs

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The Washington Commanders called off their final day of organized team activities (OTAs) scheduled for Tuesday, with head coach Ron Rivera and his coordinators happy with how the spring went for their club.

The Commanders instead will have meetings and a light workout Tuesday to conclude their offseason program. The team held a minicamp last week.

Washington will reconvene for training camp next month, when Sam Howell will make his bid to be the 2023 starting quarterback. Veteran Jacoby Brissett remains in the mix for QB1.

The Commanders finished last in the NFC East last season with an 8-8-1 record. They haven’t had a winning record since 2016 but did make the playoffs in 2020 with a 7-9 mark.

Jack Del Rio is the defensive coordinator and Eric Bieniemy is entering his first season as offensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) passes the ball against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Rivera: Sam Howell is Commanders QB1 entering offseason

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Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Sam Howell — who has thrown 19 passes in the NFL — will enter the offseason as the team’s first-string quarterback.

Further, Rivera said the Commanders are not interested in signing — or trading for — one of the veteran quarterbacks expected to be available this offseason.

Rivera made the comments during three separate interviews Wednesday after being named the recipient of the 2022 Salute to Service Award.

“The biggest thing we decided is he will start out as QB1,” Rivera told PFT Live. “He will most certainly get the first opportunity. We go into OTAs and minicamp, he’ll be QB1. He’ll fight for that position. We’ll give him every opportunity to earn it, and we’ll see what happens when we get into training camp and through it.”

As for pursuing Derek Carr via trade or signing free agent Jimmy Garoppolo?

“No,” Rivera said. “I think the biggest thing is we have to find a guy to come in that’s going to compete, but in terms of finding a guy you’re going to have to spend a lot of capital on, no.”

A fifth-round draft pick in 2022, Howell started the final game of his rookie season and completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 26-6 win against the playoff-bound Dallas Cowboys.

“It’s his opportunity,” Rivera told reporters in a separate interview, where he said Howell is “more than likely” going to be QB1.

“This is a challenge to him. If he comes out and does the things that he’s capable of — we believe he’s capable of — he can most certainly be our guy. But we’ll find out,” Rivera added. “Again, that’s what competition’s going to do. It’s going to bring the best out in all our guys.”

The Commanders, who alternated quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke for the first 16 games, let go of offensive coordinator Scott Turner after finishing the season at 8-8-1.

The Commanders are still interviewing candidates to replace Turner.

Howell, 22, was inactive for nine games and did not play in the other seven games in which he was active in 2022.

The Commanders are expected to release Wentz before the league year begins in March. They acquired him from the Indianapolis Colts in an offseason trade and he finished 2-5 as the starter with 11 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.

Heinicke took over when Wentz got hurt and compiled a 5-3-1 record, completing 62.2 percent of his passes for a team-high 1,859 yards with 12 TDs and six picks.

If Howell is tabbed the Week 1 starter, he would make the Commanders’ seventh different starter in seven years.

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (left) talks with offensive coordinator Scott Turner (right) before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders fire offensive coordinator Scott Turner

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The Washington Commanders fired Scott Turner on Tuesday after three seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Turner, 40, reunited with head coach Ron Rivera in Washington in 2020 after the former spent two seasons as the Carolina Panthers’ quarterbacks coach.

While with the Commanders, Turner dealt with eight different starting quarterbacks under center.

“I met with Coach Turner today and informed him that we will be moving in another direction going forward with the offensive coordinator position,” Rivera said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we did not live up to the expectations and standard that I expected to see from our offensive unit. I felt it was best for a fresh start at the coordinator position heading into next year.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Scott and thanked him for his three years of service to our organization. I wish Scott and his family all the best in the future.”

Washington (8-8-1) posted a 1-3-1 record over its final five games of the season to fall out of playoff contention. The Commanders ranked 24th in the NFL in average points per game (18.9), 21st in passing yards (204.2) and 20th in total yards (330.3).

Washington finished 29th in the league in 2020 and 21st in 2021 in terms of total offense.

Turner is the son of former Washington coach Norv Turner.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera greets quarterback Carson Wentz (11) before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Rivera blows up at Carson Wentz question after win

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Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera delivered a profanity-laced answer to a question implying that it was owner Dan Snyder – not Rivera – who orchestrated the trade for Carson Wentz in the offseason.

The comments came after Washington’s 12-7 win over the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. Wentz threw for 99 yards without a touchdown or interception in the low-scoring win over the Bears.

An ESPN investigative report earlier in the day that centered on Snyder said the owner wanted Wentz as a way to mask the issues within his organization.

Rivera’s blow-up also came at the end of a week in which he felt compelled to apologize to Wentz about his own comment about why the Commanders were 1-4.

“Everyone keeps on saying I wanted nothing to do with Carson,” Rivera said Thursday, denying it with a profanity. “I’m the (expletive deleted) guy that pulled out the sheets of paper and looked at the analytics and watched the tape in freaking Indianapolis, OK? And that’s what pisses me off. The young man doesn’t deserve to have that all the time.”

A source told ESPN that the trade for Wentz was “100 percent a Dan move,” which also would be problematic given that Snyder made an agreement with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to hand over operational control of the team to his wife, Tanya.

Rivera has said all along that he brought the idea of the trade to ownership.

Earlier this week, Rivera apologized to Wentz after suggesting the quarterback was the reason the team wasn’t leading the NFC East this season.

“I actually talked to Carson this morning,” Rivera said Tuesday. “In fact, I talked to the whole team. I had a mea culpa moment and that I should know better. I created a little bit of a distraction, and that’s one thing that I try not to do, and it’s one thing that I’m very aware of.”

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2022; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson (8) participates in drills during day three of training camp at the Park in Ashburn. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders RB Brian Robinson set for NFL debut after shooting

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The Commanders activated rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. from the non-football injury list on Saturday, and he’ll be available when Washington hosts the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Robinson, 23, was released from the hospital on Aug. 29 after undergoing surgery for two gunshot wounds suffered while he was a bystander during an attempted robbery in Washington, D.C., the previous day. Robinson has made a speedy recovery, with doctors saying he sustained no structural damage.

“He had good week,” Commanders coach Ron Rivera said Friday afternoon, according to the team website. “This morning, he was there and he was in good shape. So we’re pretty fired up.”

So is Robinson, who was running agility drills 18 days after the incident.

“It’s been a long five weeks, but it’s a lot of work,” Robinson said Wednesday. “We put in a lot of work over that time, and I could say I did everything I needed to do over that time period to make sure I was here today.”

He called the time immediately after the shooting “probably one of the lowest points in my life.” But now he’s headed toward his NFL debut.

“I’m definitely ambitious, and I’m gonna fight for anything I believe in,” Robinson said. “If I believe that I can return back to the field and do what I need to do to the level that I want to do it, then that’s the steps I’m taking to put myself in that position.”

A third-round pick this year, Robinson rushed for 57 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown in the preseason. He added two catches for 15 yards.

As a senior at Alabama in 2021, Robinson rushed for 1,343 yards with 14 touchdowns for the national title runner-up.

–Field Level Media

Jan 19, 2019; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; East head coach Sam Mills III of the Carolina Panthers walks off the field at the end of the second quarter against the West at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Commaders fire DL coach Sam Mills III

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The Washington Commanders fired defensive line coach Sam Mills III on Tuesday.

He will be replaced by assistant defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina.

Head coach Ron Rivera said the decision to relieve Mills of his duties had been building over the offseason because of a difference in philosophy.

“It was something I just felt had to be done,” Rivera said.

Mills, 44, was part of Rivera’s staff with the Carolina Panthers, first as a defensive assistant and then as the defensive line coach. When Rivera took over as coach of the Washington franchise in 2020, Mills went with him.

Mills is the son of the late Sam Mills, who played with the Panthers and New Orleans Saints. The elder Mills was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame posthumously on Saturday.

Zgonina, 52, played in 219 games with seven teams over 17 NFL seasons (1993-2009) as a defensive tackle.

–Field Level Media

Jun 15, 2022; Ashburn, Virginia, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera speaks with the media after practice on day two of minicamp at The Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: NFL fines Ron Rivera, docks Commanders two practices

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The NFL fined Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera $100,000 and stripped the team of two organized team activity practices in 2023 for conducting practices with excessive contact in spring sessions, multiple media outlets reported Friday.

ESPN reported the NFL Players Association reviewed the Commanders’ practice sessions on June 1 and 8 and informed the NFL’s Management Council that the team violated the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

This news comes on the heels of the NFL reportedly pushing back at the Dallas Cowboys for getting too physical in their organized team activities for a second consecutive year.

The league reportedly took away one OTA practice from the Cowboys for 2023, and head coach Mike McCarthy received a fine. ESPN reported that McCarthy was forced to pay $100,000.

ESPN reported Friday that the NFL fined Houston Texans head coach Lovie Smith $50,000 after learning that his offensive and defensive linemen engaged in prohibited one-on-one drills.

Friday’s reports from Washington come one week after the Commanders fined defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio $100,000 for the comments he posted to Twitter that downplayed the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The team said the money will be donated to the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund.

–Field Level Media

Oct 31, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Washington Football Team defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders DC deletes Twitter account amid controversy

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Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has shut down his Twitter account after controversial comments led the team to fine him $100,000.

Del Rio, 59, posted remarks last week that downplayed the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, calling it a “dust-up” compared to the protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police two years ago. Del Rio later apologized for his comments.

Washington coach Ron Rivera issued a strongly worded statement Friday that said while he respects the right to free speech, there is no defense of the Jan. 6 actions, which he called “domestic terrorism.”

“His words hurt a lot of people in our community,” Rivera said of Del Rio. “I want to make it clear that our organization will not tolerate any equivalency between those who demanded justice in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the actions of those on January 6th who sought to topple our government.”

The team is donating Del Rio’s fine to the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund.

Del Rio is entering his third season with Washington. He previously was the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-11) and Oakland Raiders (2015-17).

–Field Level Media

May 8, 2022; Potomac, Maryland, USA; Washington Commander head coach Ron Rivera watches the trophy presentation on the 18th green of the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders coach Ron Rivera wins Halas Award

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Washington head coach Ron Rivera was named the winner of the 2022 George Halas Award by the Professional Football Writers of America on Monday.

The award is given to an NFL player, coach or staff member who has succeeded following adversity. Rivera battled squamous cell carcinoma during the 2020 season, then led the Commanders to the playoffs that season.

Rivera is the 54th winner of the Halas Award and the second in as many years from the Washington franchise. Former quarterback Alex Smith won in 2021 following his return to football after a devastating leg injury put his career in jeopardy.

Other 2022 nominees for the Halas Award were Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, Philadelphia Eagles tackle Lane Johnson and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Rivera also was a finalist in 2021.

He was diagnosed with the cancer in his neck in August 2020 in the midst of his first training camp as Washington’s coach. He underwent treatment over seven weeks of the season, including IV treatments during halftime of games, but never missed a game on the sidelines. He was declared cancer-free in January 2021.

Washington finished the 2021 season with a 7-10 mark.

Rivera, 60, has a 90-82-1 record in 11 seasons coaching the Carolina Panthers (2011-19) and Washington. He led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season, where they lost to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

The award is named for Halas, who won 324 games and six NFL titles in 40 seasons as coach of the Chicago Bears.

–Field Level Media