Tag: Ron Rivera

What did Jahan Dotson say about Commanders and Dan Quinn?

What did former Washington first-round pick Jahan Dotson say about his former team?

Jahan Dotson was the object of much criticism during Commanders’ training camp.

He was traded to the Eagles, and for the next three or four days, the main topic on DC Sports radio was body language and its importance in team building.

The biggest surprise was that GM Adam Peters traded Dotson to the NFC East divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles. Peters was heavily criticized for trading Dotson within the division.

However, Dotson has not (yet) had a productive season through nine Eagles games. He has eight receptions for 98 yards and no touchdowns in his nine Eagles games.

When Dotson was asked about Thursday’s opponent, the Commanders, how did he respond?

“You have a great coached team, a great leader of men,” Dotson said of Quinn. “If you can implement the right kind of mindset and the right kind of culture, you can do a lot of great things, and that’s a kudos to coach Dan Quinn. He’s doing a fantastic job. He knows how to grab the room and … he makes it very easy for people to listen to him and do what he asks.”

Being traded by Quinn before he had even completed a single training camp, one might expect much different comments. But apparently, after spending his first two seasons with Ron Rivera and his second one with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, Dotson was apparently very impressed with Quinn’s coaching and leadership.

What did Dotson have to say about his former Washington teammates? “They have some fantastic players over there and they’re putting their players in some good positions to make plays.”

Credit to Dotson here. He could have taken a shot or two at the new coaching staff that kicked him out the door. However, he took the time to be honest and give credit where it was due.

After all, Dotson played on that 4-13, weak, noncompetitive team that finished next to last in the NFL, earning the No. 2 overall draft pick.

Dotson knows how much worse it was last year; he lived it.

Eagles sign former Commanders/Ron Rivera draft pick

Two of Rivera’s former draft picks find new teams.

The Eagles felt they needed another offensive lineman under their roof, so they signed a lineman the Commanders released earlier this season.

As the Commanders approached opening day, they released offensive guard/tackle Braeden Daniels.

The Commanders drafted Daniels in the fourth round, 118th overall, in the 2023 NFL draft. It was Ron Rivera’s last draft, beginning what would be his final season in Washington.

Daniels was noticeably behind the other offensive linemen during his rookie training camp, so the Commanders placed him on season-ending injured reserve in hopes that he would develop and be ready to contribute in 2024.

However, Daniels was released on August 27 by the new administration of head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters. Two days later, the Houston Texans signed Daniels to their practice squad; however, he was released after only two weeks.

The following week, the Chargers signed Daniels to their practice squad before releasing him only five days later. Thus, in summary, Daniels was drafted in the fourth round, and now, in his second season, he has yet to make an active roster during the regular season.

Three other former Commanders were also signed to practice squads on Wednesday.

The Cardinals (4-4), tied for the lead in the NFC West, signed former Commanders linebacker Milo Eifler. Playing with Washington in 2021 and 2022, Eifler appeared in 13 games. His biggest moment was tackling the punter in the 2022 season finale against the Cowboys.

The Carolina Panthers (1-7) signed receiver/returner Dax Milne. Drafted in the seventh round (258 overall), Milne played in 28 games for Washington in 2021 and 2022. He collected 15 receptions for 120 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown in a home loss to the Vikings in 2022. Returning 40 punts, he had a long return of 19 yards.

Finally, kicker Riley Patterson was signed by the Jets. Patterson kicked in the preseason for Washington before being released on August 22.

When they last met: Commanders and Panthers

What happened the last time Washington and Carolina played?

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Washington 27, Carolina 21 – Week 11, Nov. 21, 2021

In Cam Newton’s return to Carolina, Ron Rivera’s team, led by Taylor Heinicke, ruined Newton’s festive day. Washington came into Charlotte and defeated the Panthers 27-21.

Heinicke twice responded with Washington down by a touchdown to lead scoring drives and toss touchdown passes. Trailing 7-0, Heinicke connected with Cam Sims from six yards, tying the score with 13:29 in the second quarter.

Trailing 14-7 and driving, attempting to score before the half, Heinicke found Terry McLaurin with only nine seconds remaining for a 12-yard touchdown tying the game at halftime.

Washington drove and scored with 9:21 remaining in the third quarter, taking their first lead of the game at 21-14 when Heinicke passed to DeAndre Carter from four yards out.

Heinicke had his finest career day as an NFL quarterback, completing 16 of 22 passes for 206 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He recorded a 141.3 passer rating in the victory, the team’s second consecutive victory after upsetting the Tampa Bay Bucs the previous week at FedEx Field.

McLaurin led Washington with 103 receiving yards, while Antonio Gibson provided 95 rushing yards.

Newton completed 21 of 27 attempts for 189 yards and two touchdowns for a 120.5 passer rating. Christian McCaffrey led the Panthers with 59 rushing yards and 60 receiving yards.

Washington leads the all-time series, having won 10 of the 17 games played since the series began in 1995.

A stark contrast between the Commanders and Panthers

The Commanders and Panthers are in totally different places — a good thing for Washington.

The Panthers organization is in bad shape.

Not only are the Panthers 1-5, but they also have the NFL’s worst point differential this season. And it is not even close. How bad is it? Well, after only six games, the Panthers have already been outscored by 100 points, and the closest to them (Jaguars) are a -65.

Therefore, in only six games, the Panthers are averaging not only being the worst team but the worst team by a touchdown more than anyone else.

Their new head coach, Dave Canales, is in his first season as an NFL head coach. Is it perhaps more telling that Canales got the job after only one season as an NFL coordinator?

Which brings us to majority owner David Tepper. Tepper took over the Panthers in 2019, fired Ron Rivera midseason, and has since kept the revolving door busy.

Tepper fired Rivera and appointed Perry Fewell to finish out 2019. Tepper then hired Matt Rhule in 2020, but during the 2022 season, Rhule was given the pink slip, and Steve Wilks was tabbed as interim head coach to conclude 2022.

Frank Reich was Tepper’s next choice as head coach in 2023. However, after only 11 games, Reich was fired, leaving Chris Tabor to finish the season.

Canales accepted the offer, resulting in Tepper being his boss while Canales took on his first NFL head coaching position. By the way, Washington had not yet hired Dan Quinn.

Tepper wanted QB Bryce Young (Alabama) and traded entirely too much, moving from the No. 9 position in the 2023 draft to the top position. C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) was certainly available, but Tepper got his choice.

The Texans rebounded to a winning season in 2023, while the Panthers finished an NFL-worst 2-15. They are still without the top pick in the 2024 draft because Tepper gave it up to get Young in 2023.

How might Panthers fans feel Sunday when watching the Panthers face Jayden Daniels, who could have been their choice this year if Tepper had not traded up for Young?

All week, the Commanders have heard from the DMV fan base, NFL media, and local media that Washington is now the favorite to win the NFC East.

But that is not solely because Washington is invincible. No, the Commanders have several roster needs that will be addressed next offseason.

Yet, for now, Commanders fans can be very thankful that their owner is Josh Harris, not David Tepper, their GM is Adam Peters, their head coach is Dan Quinn, and their quarterback is Jayden Daniels.

 

What did Ron Rivera say about the Commanders and Jayden Daniels?

Ron Rivera discusses Jayden Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury.

The last thing most Washington fans want to hear is former head coach Ron Rivera discussing the current version of the Commanders. Rivera, fired in January after four seasons in Washington, has drawn the ire of Commanders’ fans more for his poor drafting than his win/loss record.

These days, Rivera is an analyst for the NFL Network, regularly appearing on “Good Morning Football.” As an analyst, Rivera’s job is to discuss all 32 NFL teams, including his most recent team.

On Tuesday, Rivera was in the studio discussing young quarterbacks, which led him to Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels. Rivera was complimentary of Daniels and Washington.

“One of the guys that has been really impressive is what the Commanders have done with Jayden,” Rivera said. “A couple of things that are up there. Time to throw, he gets the ball out of his hands quicker than anybody else in the league, 2.52 seconds. The league average is 2.77. That means a lot of those things are designed for him to make a quick decision and get the ball out. And he’s been very successful.”

Rivera would specifically praise Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury for his work with Daniels.

Rivera may never receive a Super Bowl ring from the Commanders, but his 4-13 record in 2023 put Washington in a position to draft Daniels, which was much more than he accomplished in his four drafts with the Commanders.

Former Commanders DC Jack Del Rio lands a new job

So did Ron Rivera.

Thursday was a big day for a pair of former Washington Commanders coaches.

Jack Del Rio, who served as Washington’s defensive coordinator for four seasons until he was fired on the day after Thanksgiving last November, has landed a new job for 2024. Del Rio will serve as a senior advisor to Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell.

The 61-year-old Del Rio played 11 seasons in the NFL and immediately jumped into coaching. In 1997, Del Rio’s first coaching job was as an assistant strength coach with the New Orleans Saints. One year later, he moved to linebackers coach. After spending time with Baltimore and Carolina, Del Rio was named head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003, where he remained for nine years.

After three years as Denver’s defensive coordinator, Del Rio received another head-coaching job, this time with the Raiders. He joined Ron Rivera in Washington in 2020. Last season, the Commanders were ranked dead last in multiple defensive categories despite significant assets devoted to that side of the ball.

This will be Del Rio’s first college job.

In addition to Del Rio landing a new job, so did Rivera.

Rivera worked with ESPN in the spring, but it wasn’t a permanent position. He recently started appearing on the NFL Network, and on Thursday, it became official. Rivera joined the NFL Network and will appear on shows such as “Good Morning Football” and NFL “GameDay Preview.”

Rivera was fired in January, one day after the Commanders finished the 2023 season with a 4-13 record.

Commanders trade wide receiver Jahan Dotson to the Eagles

Commanders trade 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson to the Eagles.

Another former Ron Rivera draft pick is gone. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Washington Commanders are trading wide receiver Jahan Dotson and a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2025 third-round pick and two seventh-round picks.

Dotson was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Penn State. In his rookie season, Dotson played 12 games and finished with 35 receptions for 523 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the team.

Dotson was a popular pick as a breakout candidate in 2022 but struggled. He played in all 17 games, catching 49 passes for 518 yards and four touchdowns.

There were some concerns about Dotson throughout training camp, as he played more snaps than any other wide receiver in the first preseason game. However, in new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, Dotson mainly played the slot with Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown on the outside.

Washington initially held the No. 11 overall pick in the 2022 draft but traded back to select Dotson. The Commanders also received the draft pick that acquired quarterback Sam Howell, who Washington traded in March.

 

Panthers great Cam Newton admits he was ‘hurt’ by former HC Ron Rivera

Panthers great Cam Newton admitted he was hurt when Ron Rivera didn’t reach out for a reunion in Washington.

The NFL is a harsh business—a lesson Cam Newton is all too familiar with.

While taking fan questions for a recent episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, the Carolina Panthers great opened an old wound involving his old head coach, Ron Rivera. The viewer asked Newton why he believes Rivera never reached out to him for a spot on his Washington Commanders.

“It wasn’t just Ron Rivera,” replied Newton, who thought he’d at least get some interest from Washington. “It was damn . . . [former Panthers general manager] Marty Hurney. It was [former Panthers head athletic trainer] Ryan Vermillion. Everybody. It was Panthers reincarnated in Washington. Did not get no call?”

Rivera and Newton both joined the Panthers in 2011, when the former was a first-year head coach and the latter that year’s No. 1 overall pick. What ensued was a beautiful working relationship—one that resulted in a pair of NFL Coach of the Year awards for Rivera as well as Offensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards for Newton.

The two also helped produced quite a few accolades for the organization itself. Under their lead, the Panthers became the first team in the NFC South’s current alignment to capture three straight division titles (2013 to 2015) and clinched the franchise’s second-ever Super Bowl appearance.

Both would also depart Carolina after the 2019 campaign, as Rivera moved over to the nation’s capital and Newton over to free agency. Save for a one-year stint in New England in 2020 and an even shorter return to the Panthers the season after, Newton has spent most of his time since then on the open market.

Unfortunately, that reunion will probably never happen—at least in Washington. After a four-year run, Rivera was fired by the Commanders this past January.

But maybe, just maybe, Cam gives Ron a call to join him in his new digs.

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Cam Newton was hurt when Ron Rivera and Commanders did not call

Cam Newton was upset that Ron Rivera never called him in Washington when he needed a QB.

Cam Newton is still surprised Ron Rivera did not seek him out to be his quarterback in Washington.

Rivera and Newton had been together in Carolina since the 2011 NFL draft. It was Rivera’s first head coaching job, and Newton was his first draft choice.

Fast forward nine seasons later into 2019. Washington started 0-5 and finished 3-13. Yet, their best performance of the season was when they went to Carolina and ran the ball all day on the Panthers, winning 29-21.

Ironically, it turned out to be Rivera’s last game as Panthers’ head coach, being fired subsequently. In addition, 2019 was also Cam Newton’s last with the Panthers.

Rivera was hired to coach the Redskins in 2020, and Newton was signed by the Patriots. However, after only one season, the Patriots turned elsewhere.

In 2021, Rivera lost his starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, in the very first half of the season opener. Having to go with the undrafted, inexperienced Taylor Heinicke, Newton expected a call from Rivera.

Newton expressed his surprise and disappointment about Rivera on his “Funky Friday” podcast two days ago.

“I said at the bare minimum, Washington will come —- with me,” said Newton. “It wasn’t just Ron Rivera. It was d— Marty Hurney, it was Ryan Vermillion, it was everybody. It was Panthers reincarnated in Washington.”

“To not get no call? —-.”

Newton expressed that he and Rivera have yet to discuss it and that he does not know why he never got a call.

“I don’t know whether I was hurt or whatever. It f—– with me, though. I ain’t going to lie. I am not going to be one of these dudes, like Hell no.”

“We started the 2013 season 1-3 and finished 12-4. Coach of the Year. Of course, you’ve been through the, you know, struggle with him.”

“And then to not get a call? Yeah, it was one of them ______, I see what is happening here.”

The Panthers re-signed Newton in the middle of the 2021 season, and sure enough, Washington went to Carolina, and Newton was given his first start. Washington won that day 27-21; however, Newton had his best game of that season, completing 21 of 27 with two passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, 10 carries for 46 yards, and a 120.5 passer rating.

Asked what he and Rivera said that day when on camera greeting each other on the field, “Man, that ain’t no embrace that you can talk to. It was a brief, ‘Hey Coach, What’s going on, man? Always nice to see you. Take a picture. Ok, go poo.'”

Newton said he and Rivera need to chat, and it would be a good conversation for his podcast. He said he would ask Rivera, “What is it?”

“I felt like I could play. They had Taylor Heinicke. Taylor Heinicke, I respect. Uh, Scarface, that’s what we would call him. But to ride with him?”

“Cool, I ain’t going to dwell on that, but I felt a certain type of way that I didn’t get no interest from Washington in an unstable quarterback situation.”

Newton became a free agent after the 2021 season but was never signed by another NFL team.

Former Commanders RB Antonio Gibson calls his former team ‘a struggling organization’

Antonio Gibson says the Commanders are “a struggling organization.”

The Washington Commanders spent a third-round pick on running back/wide receiver Antonio Gibson in the 2020 NFL draft. As a rookie, Washington immediately made Gibson a full-time running back and handed him the starting job. Gibson proceeded to rush for 795 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The future looked bright for Gibson.

In 2021, Gibson started 16 games for the Commanders, rushed for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns, but struggled with fumbles. He fumbled six times in 2021.

The Commanders brought in Brian Robinson Jr. in 2022, who would overtake Gibson as the starter, allowing Gibson to be more of a receiving option out of the backfield.

This offseason, Gibson departed. Gibson’s fumbling issues and poor coaching derailed a once-promising career in Washington. Neither head coach Ron Rivera nor Gibson’s offensive coordinators (Scott Turner and Eric Bieniemy) knew how to use him best.

Gibson signed a two-year deal with the Patriots in March.

In his first training camp with the Patriots, Gibson had some parting words for his former team, calling them “a struggling organization.”

This should go over well with Washington’s fans. The comments were all over Gibson, asking him if he “fumbled his words.”

In all seriousness, Gibson isn’t wrong. The Commanders were a struggling organization while he was there. And maybe the Patriots do things completely differently, but so does Washington — now.

Rivera and his staff are gone. From the top on down, the Commanders are much different, and everyone is raving about the changes. So, sure, Gibson may remember things one way, but that’s not how things are these days.

Gibson was used incorrectly in Washington. If he had a clean slate and time left on his contract, perhaps new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could help maximize his skillset. Both sides needed a change, and the Commanders signed Austin Ekeler, while Gibson gets a chance to restart his career.