'(Bleep), I've Been Through Enough!' Is Ron Rivera Really 'At Peace' With Likely Firing from Washington Commanders?
Ron Rivera is under tremendous heat as the failing head coach of the Washington Commanders, as he should be.
But in the interest of fairness, we would suggest we take him at his word regarding his inner-most feelings about his present and future ... without suggesting we have knowledge about those feelings with terminology that threatens to rob him of his dignity.
What does Rivera say about his job security as the head of a 4-9 team in last place in the NFC East?
"I’ve told you," he said recently, "I’m not worried about anything. All I’m going to do is do my job and see how things go. That’s the only thing I can do.”
Is there something deeper here?
There is a report insisting that Rivera is "at peace" with however his tenure plays out. ... and depending on how those two words are interpreted, we have a difficult time buying that.
"At peace" with the effort he's made over the course of four years in bringing some level of stability and class to ousted owner Dan Snyder's traditionally downtrodden program? Surely.
But "at peace" with being a 4-9, "at peace" with a 26-36-1 overall record, "at peace" believing he's got any sort of presentation he can make to new owner Josh Harris that would save his job?
No way.
We like the quote, as relayed by ESPN's John Keim in this otherwise- outstanding piece, that allows Rivera to tell his own story.
"(Bleep), I've been through enough," Rivera said. "The last three-and-a-half years has not been easy. Anyone who thinks it's been easy, the hell with them. I'll be honest. That's how I feel about the last three years. It's been a lot.
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"We've done a lot, we've had our moments. The thing that feels good at the end of the day and the questions that need to be asked: 'Is the culture better, and have we found the quarterback?' That's all I can control."
Rivera is frankly wrong in believing that improved culture and Sam Howell's promise is "all he can control." There are other goals that matter, too. ... like wins, playoff berths and Super Bowls.
But having said all of that? Yes, (bleep), Ron Rivera has "been through enough."