Bieniemy ‘Complaints’ from Commanders? Here’s Why Players Are Wrong

“Eric Bieniemy is who he is. Eric Bieniemy is a tough, hard-nosed coach … I'm going to be the biggest and harshest critic, but also their No. 1 fan because I've got their back." - New Commanders coach on players’ criticisms.

Eric Bieniemy's first summer as the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders - and his players’ reaction to him - merits context.

On Tuesday morning, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera revealed that some players have approached him to complain about Bieniemy's intensity.

"Yeah, they have," Rivera said. "I had a number of guys come to me and I said, 'Hey, just go talk to him.' I said, 'Understand what he's trying to get across to you.'

“I think as they go and they talk and they listen to him, it's been enlightening for a lot of these guys. I mean, it's a whole different approach.”

Most Washington fans would agree that “a whole different approach” merited around here. And for Bieniemy’s part as he comes over from the Super Bowl Chiefs to both install a new offense and help change the D.C. culture, he’s not apologizing.

Said Bieniemy: "Eric Bieniemy is who he is. Eric Bieniemy knows how to adapt and adjust. Eric Bieniemy is a tough, hard-nosed coach, but also understand I'm going to be the biggest and harshest critic, but also their No. 1 fan because I've got their back."

Rivera mentioned that “you're getting a different kind of player from the players back in the past, especially in ,light of how things are coming out of college football. So a lot of these young guys, they do struggle with certain things and a lot of it is from where they've been.”

That doesn’t make much sense, given that we’ll assume the “complainers” arent the rookies, but rather are vets who became accustomed to a “Washington Way” that Bieniemy was hired to help Rivera fix.

Bieniemy: "If I'm not doing my job, my ass gets fired."

— John Keim (@john_keim) August 8, 2023

Bieniemy is clearly trying to up the intensity around here, trying to create a climate where jobs are on the line. And this is more than fair … because he approaches his job the same way.

Said Bieniemy: "If I'm not doing my job, my (butt) gets fired."

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