Washington Football Team gratitudes for Thanksgiving 2020
What does the Washington Football Team have to be thankful for?
With Thanksgiving coming up this week and the new year right around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to look back at the different reasons why the Washington Football Team should be grateful.
Now, 2020 hasn’t gone the way any of us expected, and that is something that goes well beyond the football field, but whenever there are gray clouds, there is always a silver lining. Let’s look at that silver lining for Washington.
New head coach
After dealing with head coach Jay Gruden since 2014, and only having one finish at the top of the NFC East, it was refreshing to bring in a new coach.
Now, some fans have criticized Coach Ron Rivera, including his decision to bench Dwayne Haskins, failing to make some in-game adjustments, and more, but I for one am happy that we have a competent leader as head coach.
Whether you like Ron Rivera or not, anyone who can come into this organization and handle all the dysfunction, and still continue to show up engaged and ready to work, deserves credit.
With the ownership in-fighting, sexual harassment allegations within the organization, the domestic violence arrest of a now-released player, the team name change, and on and on, Rivera has dealt with the issues on and off the field while Dan Snyder weaseled away.
And by the way, during this entire ordeal, Rivera was fighting cancer and going through chemotherapy treatments. He would sometimes miss practices or need to get treatments done at halftime, but one place you would always find him was on the sidelines during games, encouraging his team.
Nobody would have questioned it if Rivera phoned it in and took some time away while letting Jack Del Rio serve as an interim coach. But, he has stuck it out and been with this team through all the ups and downs of this season.
Regardless of the team’s record, Rivera is someone who epitomizes leadership and is someone that both the young players and veterans will rally around and fight for. Look at what Kyle Allen had to say about Coach Rivera earlier this season:
"It’s just the toughness. I think it’s grit. It starts with our head coach. Our head coach is going through cancer right now. It’s getting treatment, he’s getting chemo, and then he’s showing up the next day at work. He’s setting the example for us and it’s right in front of our eyes."
That is what this team needs! Someone that leads from the front. Someone that will be there for his players every step of the way, but also won’t coddle someone that does not meet his expectations. Someone that puts the team above any individual player. That is how you change a culture that has been dysfunctional for much of Snyder’s 20-plus year tenure.