Commanders’ Ron Rivera ‘assured and cozy’ in his job standing

ASHBURN, Va. – Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera mentioned he’s “assured and cozy” in what he has performed since becoming a member of the group throughout a turbulent interval within the franchise’s historical past and has not thought of his job safety .

With a report of 4-6 coming into Sunday’s sport in opposition to the New York Giants and with a brand new proprietor in Josh Harris, Rivera’s job standing will probably be a subject of dialog. Harris has mentioned he would give the soccer operations workforce, together with the teaching workers and entrance workplace, the complete season so he might finest consider his subsequent transfer.

However Rivera is in his fourth 12 months together with his program and despite the fact that they gained the NFC East in 2020, the Commanders have but to complete with a successful report beneath him. Rivera mentioned his principal focus stays growing quarterback Sam Howell, in his first season as a starter, and your complete offense. Washington hasn’t posted a successful report since 2016 and hasn’t gained a playoff sport for the reason that 2005 season.

“My large disappointment is that we did not play in addition to we wanted to on protection. Does that make my job safety shaky? It may very well be,” Rivera mentioned. “I don’t know what Mr. Harris goes to do. The reality is, it is the character of the sport. I perceive. If it occurs, it occurs. If I keep, I keep. Till then, we’ll maintain working.”

Rivera has been by way of this earlier than. In 2019, he was fired by new Carolina proprietor David Tepper after almost 9 seasons with the Panthers.

Subsequently, he mentioned that it’s not troublesome for him to dam ideas about his future. In Carolina, he led the franchise to a 15-1 report and Tremendous Bowl look in 2015. The Panthers went 11-5 two years later and he was fired two years after that when the workforce fell to 5-7 after a loss. to Washington.

In Washington, Rivera was given full management of the soccer facet and have become the face of the franchise. Throughout this time, Washington modified his title; was the topic of investigative tales concerning the group’s tradition beneath proprietor Dan Snyder; was investigated and fined $10 million by the NFL; was investigated by Congress and the Federal Commerce Fee. The Drug Enforcement Company has raided the workplace of former head athletic coach Ryan Vermillion.

Rivera additionally dealt together with his personal most cancers. In August 2020, he introduced that he had squamous cell carcinoma. Though he completed his remedies through the season, the consequences of the remedies on his physique lingered for a couple of years, impacting his stamina and vitality.

“S…, I have been by way of sufficient,” Rivera mentioned. “The final three and a half years have not been straightforward. Anybody who thinks it has been straightforward, rattling you. I will be trustworthy. That is how I really feel concerning the final three years. It has been rather a lot. We have performed rather a lot; have had our moments. What finally feels good and the questions that should be requested: is the tradition higher and have we discovered the quarterback? That is all I can examine. Our guys will present up and play exhausting to the bitter finish, and we’ll see what occurs.”

Rivera has mentioned in latest weeks that he believes Washington has its quarterback of the current and future in Howell. By way of ten video games, Howell leads the NFL with 2,783 yards (and has 32 extra cross makes an attempt than some other quarterback). He’s tied for fifth within the NFL with 17 touchdowns and fourth with 9 interceptions. Rivera mentioned he continues to have conversations with Harris about gamers, plans and the video games.

“Mr. Harris was nice,” Rivera mentioned. “He performs every thing near the vest, as he ought to, and it’s his prerogative as an proprietor to make selections that he believes are finest for the longer term. We are going to proceed to work and play exhausting and see the way it unfolds. keep in management.” what I can do and that is what occurs on the soccer subject.”

Washington suffered a last-second defeat in Seattle. It traded its two beginning targets – Montez Sweat to Chicago and Chase Younger to San Francisco – on the Oct. 30 deadline. It has left the Commanders skinny on the place, particularly as James Smith-Williams, who has began the previous two video games on the left facet, has been out with a hamstring harm.

“Final week we did not get the strain on the quarterback that I might have preferred,” Rivera mentioned. “[Seahawks quarterback] Gene [Smith] was having a tough time. It could have been good to place extra strain on the quarterback. It could have helped us and given us a greater likelihood to win, however I will work with what now we have, take care of what now we have and stick with what I mentioned.”