Commanders News: Ron Rivera, Josh Harris, Andrew Luck and Budda Baker
By Dean Jones
Commanders head coach slumps in NFL rankings
There is obviously an enormous amount of pressure on Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera next season. A new ownership group is going to have its own ideas on how to move the franchise forward, so the respected figure must leave no doubt he should be part of these plans moving forward.
Rivera is seen by many as a lame-duck head coach on a hiding-to-nothing in 2023. His offseason moves have been underwhelming thanks in no small part to the sale saga, but he's never been the biggest spender in free agency thanks to his preference for rewarding proven performers, instead.
There wasn't a lot to encourage Commanders fans in Patrick Daugherty of NBS Sports Edge's annual preseason NFL head coaching rankings. Rivera slumped to No. 25 from No. 17 last year, with the writer being particularly scathing in his criticism.
"In 12 years as an NFL head coach, Ron Rivera has won 5-8 games nine times. All three of the exceptions featured Cam Newton at quarterback. The mediocrity has been accompanied by a “bad quarterback” alibi in Washington, but anyone who has only three winning campaigns in nine Newton seasons probably isn't doing it right. Although seemingly a Hall-of-Fame person, Rivera is an anachronistic coach who won't be there by the time Washington finally takes the next step."
- Patrick Daugherty via NBC Sports Edge
Daugherty certainly has a point on all fronts. Whether Rivera is a little too long in the tooth to alter these perceptions is the big question.