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Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera is frustrated, and understandably so.
At the NFL owner’s meetings, Rivera expressed his frustrations on the franchise often being the target of bad news. “Quite honestly I’m tired of it, I really am,” Rivera said via John Keim of ESPN.
“But the only way to fix it is winning, and that’s the truth.”
No doubt, Rivera must be tired of hearing about the inappropriate culture at Ashburn, prior to his arrival. But also following his arrival, his first Washington football team was called the uh, lame, “Washington Football Team.” His owner in February was accused on national television of inappropriately touching a woman not his wife. After the allegations, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced another investigation into the sexual climate of the franchise.
I feel for Ron Rivera, I really do. No one would want the past to continually be brought up in your face, when you are attempting to change the culture yourself since your arrival in 2020.
Coach Ron has been here two years, but I must ask, how does he think we feel? I have been following the franchise passionately since the 1969 season.
I grew up watching George Allen have winning years in each of his seven seasons (1971-77). Joe Gibbs made us proud to be Washington fans, during his tenure (1981-1992) coach Joe had one losing season in 12 years! In those years, Coach Joe experienced eight playoff births, five NFC title games, four Super Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl championships.
In the 29 seasons that have followed, Washington has only been to the playoffs six times (1999, 2005, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2020). And Gibbs came back for a four-year stint and led Washington to two of those playoff appearances.
I’m tired of the franchise for the past 29 seasons having 18 losing seasons. I’m tired of the franchise for the past 29 seasons winning only two playoff games.
I’m tired of the owner having meddled in signing overpriced, unmotivated free agents, disrespecting the football scouts, coaches and front office to draft a quarterback because his son went to the same high school.
I’m tired of the owner creating a culture that runs off entirely too many good hard-working employees on the business side, being an embarrassment for the sexually inappropriate culture he did nothing to eliminate. And now I am tired of hearing he himself may have inappropriately touched Tiffani Johnston.
I believe Ron Rivera is sincerely tired of his two years with the team. How much more must many of us be tired after the last 29 years?