Commanders News: Ron Rivera, Antonio Gibson, Jason Wright and winning NFC East
By Dean Jones
Which Washington Commanders' news stories are hitting the headlines on this special day of celebration across the United States of America?
Good morning and a very happy 4th of July to you all. This is always a momentous occasion across the United States of America, but there will be further jubilation for Washington Commanders fans later in the month when their beloved franchise finally gets sold to Josh Harris' ownership group for $6.05 billion.
Until then, the news and rumors keep coming. Among the stories causing conversation recently include Ron Rivera's status among other head coaches, Jason Wright's future with the Commanders, Antonio Gibson's potential for a bounce-back campaign, and a bold prediction surrounding Washington's divisional chances in 2023.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Commanders HC Ron Rivera ranked
Ron Rivera is one of the most experienced and respected figures around. However, that doesn't detract from what a pivotal upcoming campaign this is for the head coach and the Washington Commanders.
Rivera will be working under more scrutiny than ever before thanks to the presence of new ownership. It's something he's dealt with before, but he'll be hoping for a better outcome next time around.
When ranking every head coach entering the 2023 campaign, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports placed Rivera at No. 21. This is thanks in no small part to his suspect evaluation of football's most important position.
"His fatherly leadership has helped ground an oft-dysfunctional organization, and he knows how to deploy a talented defensive front. But the annual flirtation with middling QBs has a cost. Rivera hasn't led a winning season in six years, and he hasn't coached a playoff victory since 2015, when Cam Newton won MVP and the Panthers made the Super Bowl."
- Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports
Benjamin has a point given this is a quarterback-driven league. Rivera is hanging his hat on Sam Howell next season, which could legitimately go either way and will result in his removal if things don't go according to plan.