NFL MVP left enraged by former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera

There were several primary causes behind Ron Rivera's demise during his indifferent four years as Washington Commanders head coach. His biggest above all else was a failure to solve the quarterback position effectively.

It started by turning down the chance to draft Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa in 2020 and spiraled from there. Trading for Carson Wentz was almost as bad, sacrificing valuable capital for a signal-caller who simply wasn't up to the required standard. Rivera's final roll of the dice - former fifth-round selection Sam Howell - started well but fizzled out in difficult circumstances.

Rivera inevitably paid with his job New general manager Adam Peters started his tenure much more positively, spending the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft on Jayden Daniels - someone who looks capable of spearheading an organizational renaissance based on his seamless transition throughout the offseason.

There was another way Rivera could have gone to begin his tenure in Washington. Cam Newton's release from the Carolina Panthers once Matt Rhule took charge immediately came with speculation about a potential reunion in D.C. Instead, he chose to move forward with Ryan Fitzpatrick over the 2015 NFL MVP.

Cam Newton blasts Commanders' previous regime for 2020 ignorance

Newton spent considerable time on the proverbial scrap heap before signing with the New England Patriots. It was a difficult adjustment made worse by COVID-19 restrictions - something that meant he never returned to the form of old.

This is a topic Newton brought up during a recent edition of his 4th-and-1 podcast. The former No. 1 overall selection out of Auburn was left enraged and hurt by not just Rivera, but others who were on the Panthers when the dual-threat force transformed the franchise. Something that still stings to this day based on comments via MSN.

"I don’t know. It hurt me, though. I said at the bare minimum, ‘Washington would come f—k with me.’ And it wasn’t just Ron Rivera. It was Marty Hurney. It was Ryan Vermillion. Everybody. It was the Panthers reincarnated in Washington. So to not get no call, like, I don’t know why. But I don’t know. Whether I was hurt or whatever, it f–ked with me, though. … You got this coach— a Coach of the Year, who got there not just on his own but with your help. We started the 2013 season 1-3 and finished 12-4. Coach of the Year? Of course. You’ve been through the struggle with him. And then, to not get a call? It was one of those situations where I was like, ‘Okay. I see what’s happening here.'"

- Cam Newton via MSN

Who knows if things would have been different for Rivera had he signed Newton? The head coach and others in positions of power had their reasons behind ignoring the player following his controversial release. He saw first-hand how injuries had begun to take their toll. There was an obvious sense of hesitation that the physically imposing quarterback would go through similar complications in a different environment.

Fitzpatrick didn't exactly fare better, lasting 16 snaps of his first game before being ruled out for the entire 2020 campaign. This began a carousel of rash gambles and underachievers at football's most important position - one Rivera didn't solve effectively as the Commanders descended into bottom-feeder status once again.

Newton hasn't been seen in the NFL since his brief bombshell return to the Panthers in 2021. He's embarking on a fledgling media career and is gaining plaudits for his straight-shooting, charismatic approach. However, it's evident he still harbors resentment towards the likes of Rivera and Marty Hurney for not giving him a shot.

Another example of what might have been under Rivera's watch.

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