Tag: Ron Rivera

How did Eric Bieniemy respond when asked if Dan Quinn offered him a job?

Bieniemy said in February he was not fired.

Eric Bieniemy doesn’t want to talk about the Washington Commanders anymore. On the second day of UCLA’s spring practice, Bieniemy spoke publicly for the first time since leaving Washington after one season as offensive coordinator.

A reporter mentioned Bieniemy’s departure from Washington and asked if new head coach Dan Quinn had offered him a job or about any other NFL opportunities before accepting a position as Deshaun Foster’s offensive coordinator.

With a smile on his face, Bieniemy made it clear he didn’t want to discuss his previous employer.

“Here’s what I’m going say is this: I’m here coaching at UCLA,” Bieniemy answered. “All that other stuff, you could go talk to the Commanders. I’ll leave it just like that.”

Bieniemy spent 10 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs before departing after Super Bowl LVII to become the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders. Bieniemy hoped to help improve a struggling Washington offense in what was a lame-duck year for head coach Ron Rivera in an effort to land a head-coaching job.

Things didn’t go well. The Commanders went 4-13, and Rivera was fired. After Quinn was hired, he said he had spoken with Bieniemy and wished him well, but they would not be working together in Washington.

“I think he’s an excellent coach,” Quinn said on Feb. 5. “I had a chance to visit with him today. We’ll continue that dialogue, but we’re not going to work together here, but in this coaching brotherhood, I wanted him to know, man, I really respect the work that he’s done……I wish EB nothing but the best, and he’ll do a great job.”

In an email to ESPN, Bieniemy said he was not fired.

“I have no regrets with the Commanders,” Bieniemy wrote. “Contrary to what some think and what has been put out in the media, I was not fired. I actually just chose not to stay. Learned a lot and that is always a good thing.

Rivera ceded much control to Bieniemy in 2023, allowing him to structure practices to his liking and giving him complete autonomy on offense. The Commanders finished 26th in total offensive DVOA, per FTN. Heading into the season with a young quarterback, Bieniemy’s offense led the NFL in passing attempts and finished dead last in rushing attempts.

Bieniemy doesn’t want to talk about the Commanders, while Washington fans have turned the page from the previous era.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin remains a believer in Sam Howell

Terry McLaurin believes the future is still bright for Sam Howell.

At this time last offseason, head coach then-Washington head coach Ron Rivera and multiple players were singing the praises of rising second-year quarterback Sam Howell. After an impressive first start during the 2022 regular-season finale against Dallas, Rivera chose to give Howell the reins at quarterback in 2023.

One of those who believed in Howell from the start was star wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Throughout the offseason, McLaurin spoke of Howell’s work ethic and progress.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as Rivera had hoped in 2023. Washington won four games, and after an impressive first half of the season, Howell struggled in the second half of the season. While he did start all 17 games, he was benched twice late in the season.

The Commanders fired Rivera in January, hiring Adam Peters as the new general manager and Dan Quinn as the head coach. Once free agency kicked off last month, Peters began flipping the roster. One of those moves was trading Howell to Seattle in a pick swap. With a new quarterback coming in via the 2024 NFL draft, the Commanders gave Howell a fresh start, opting to sign veteran Marcus Mariota to pair with a rookie.

Washington began its offseason program this week, and players are excited about the new regime. McLaurin is among those excited but discussed his former quarterback. The star wideout still believes Howell has a bright future ahead of him.

“It’s always tough seeing someone you build a really good relationship with move on in their career,” McLaurin said. “Especially your quarterback, because as a receiver, you want to continue to try to build that chemistry. That was only our first year playing with one another, and I feel like him and I made some great plays, and we had some room for growth, and I think that comes with any new quarterback/receiver relationship.”

As for Howell’s future, McLaurin sees a good opportunity for him in Seattle.

“To see him go in a situation to have a chance to compete and play under a really good quarterback in Geno (Smith). I think he’ll really like throwing to receivers like (Tyler) Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and DK (Metcalf). So I think he’s going to a situation where he’ll have a chance to continue to show that he can play quarterback at a high level in this league, which I still truly believe.”

McLaurin not only believes in Howell as a player, but has a tremendous amount of respect for him after a difficult season in which Howell was essentially thrown to the wolves at times.

“I’ll always have a lot of respect for Sam, how he handled things good and bad last year,” McLaurin said. “I think he took a really big step in his career to continue to prove that he can play at a high level.”

You can watch McLaurin’s entire media session below, where he talks Dan Quinn, Curtis Samuel and his feelings about the new regime.

Former Commanders LB Khaleke Hudson signs with Saints

Another member of Ron Rivera’s first draft class has a new home.

Another former Washington Commander has found a new home, as linebacker Khaleke Hudson signed with the New Orleans Saints on Thursday.

Hudson, a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, appeared in 58 games for the Commanders over four seasons, playing primarily on special teams. However, Hudson did start 12 games at linebacker, including eight last season. Hudson finished with 108 tackles in four seasons, including seven for loss and one sack.

Many believed Hudson would be a player that new head coach Dan Quinn would want to re-sign because of how hard he plays. But the Commanders went in another direction, adding Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner to start, and Anthony Pittman and Mykal Walker for depth. New safety Jeremy Chinn can also play linebacker in Quinn’s defense.

With Hudson signing with the Saints, that officially puts a bow on former head coach Ron Rivera’s first draft class. Chase Young — who also signed with the Saints this offseason — was traded last season. Antonio Gibson, Saahdiq Charles and Kam Curl all departed as free agents. Antonio Gandy-Golden and Keith Ismael have been gone, while James Smith-Williams remains unsigned.

Commanders fare poorly in 2023 NFL draft re-grade

The early returns aren’t good for Washington, but a new regime brings hope.

Ron Rivera’s final season in charge of the Washington Commanders was horrendous. The Commanders finished 4-13 and fielded the NFL’s worst defenses, and Rivera was relieved of his duties in January.

Rivera’s final legacy with Washington is his 2023 NFL draft class. The early returns aren’t good. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, the Commanders’ first-round pick, was benched twice. Second-round pick Quan Martin showed flashes when he was allowed to play, while third-round pick Ricky Stromberg barely played, made no impact and missed the second half of the season with an injury.

Fourth-round pick Braeden Daniels likely wasn’t making the team out of training camp and was placed on injured reserve. Fifth-round pick K.J. Henry showed promise in the second half of the season, while sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. thrived in a limited role. Finally, seventh-round selection Andre Jones Jr. didn’t do much but has tools.

So, if we graded this class after one year, it wouldn’t be a passing grade.

Diante Lee of The Athletic recently regraded the entire 2023 NFL draft, assigning grades to all 32 NFL teams. Lee placed Washington under the final category: A step backward/Incomplete. Only three teams were in this category, and Lee offered the following analysis:

Washington Commanders: D-minus

Emmanuel Forbes (No. 16) had some rough moments, to the point that he was benched during the 2023 season. Safety Quan Martin (No. 47) played in the slot by necessity as a rookie, but it’s not clear if that’s the best spot for him in Dan Quinn’s defense. After trading away two starting edge rushers last year, this team cannot afford to have its early picks sitting on the bench.

That’s a deserving grade. We could make the case you could give Washington an F. The good news here is that new head coach Dan Quinn brings hope. Quinn hired an all-star staff, including new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., known for his work with defensive backs. That’s good news for Forbes and Martin.

If Forbes and Martin turn out to be hits, while others, like Henry and Rodriguez, can carve out roles, this draft will not look nearly as bad in a couple of years.

Panthers great Cam Newton explains key difference between Ron Rivera and Matt Rhule

Panthers great Cam Newton: “I would kick it with Matt Rhule.”

There’s no question, even to the most novice eye of the game, that former Carolina Panthers head coaches Ron Rivera and Matt Rhule were two completely different Carolina Panthers head coaches. And a certain someone who played under both men spoke about why.

While talking about the dynamic between pro athletes and their higher-ups on Friday’s episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, franchise great Cam Newton was asked about the differences between Rivera and Rhule. He responded to co-host Omari “Peggy” Collins by saying that Rhule’s lack of a playing background in the NFL showed.

“And that’s not no slight to Matt Rhule,” Newton stated. “Matt Rhule was an unbelievable guy. So much so, that when I say ‘unbelievable,’ I’m like, yo, he’s a guy that I would kick it with. We had great conversations. We had great meetings and great insights on the game, family, religion—just the whole process to how we both got to this situation.

“But it was a little different coming from Ron Rivera. He knew what it was like to be a player in certain situations. Practice intensity, locker room tension, knowing how to get the most out of their players—it’s just certain different tactics you have to go about.”

While the circumstances were vastly different, Newton probably had a much better experience with Rivera—a former Super Bowl-winning linebacker. The two spent nine years together in Carolina, where they secured three NFC South titles and the organization’s second-ever trip to the Super Bowl.

Newton’s time with Rhule lasted just half a season, as the Panthers brought back the 2015 Most Valuable Player to help save their 2021 season. But even Superman couldn’t save that ship from ultimately sinking.

Regardless, perhaps we’ll see Newton and Rhule kick it some time down the line.

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Commanders DE Efe Obada tells a terrific story about what makes Dan Quinn special

Obada explains why playing for Dan Quinn is special for him.

When Washington Commanders defensive end Efe Obada suffered a leg injury in a Week 11 loss to the New York Giants, things didn’t look good for his future.

Obada, who was 31 then, was scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season. After the game, it was revealed that the reserve defensive end had suffered multiple leg fractures, ending his season.

To make matters worse for Obada, Washington had fired head coach Ron Rivera. Rivera had believed in Obada, signing the raw but talented Obada who had begun his career as a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. Obada spent four seasons with the Carolina Panthers before signing as a free agent with the Bills in 2021.

In 2022, Rivera came calling again. Obada had a productive 2022 season for the Commanders in a reserve role and re-signed with Washington on another one-year deal in 2023. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to just five games last season.

With Rivera gone, how would new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn view the soon-to-be 32-year-old Obada, who is coming off a severe injury?

As it turns out, Quinn remembered Obada. Back in 2016 when Quinn was head coach of the Falcons and Obada was trying to make it in the NFL, he spent some time in Atlanta’s training camp. While he didn’t make the team, he left an impression on Quinn in those few short weeks.

The Commanders were busy in free agency, signing at least 15 outside free agents but re-signing only four of their own — so far.

One of those Washington chose to retain was Obada.

Obada revealed to reporters that when he was in the hospital in November, only two coaches called him: Rivera and Quinn. Rivera, for as much as he struggled in Washington, was always respected by his players. That was not a surprise. Quinn calling Obada was a surprise.

‘Early in my career when I was still trying to figure out what football was, I had the opportunity to go for a training camp in Atlanta,” Obada said. “And Dan Quinn was the head coach there. I was there for about two or three weeks and thought nothing of it. Recently, when I broke my leg and when I was at my lowest point in the hospital, apart from Rivera, he (Quinn) was one of the only coaches that messaged me. He messaged me that I was a warrior and that I would get back. And that meant so much to me. So, for everything to play out the way it played out and for him to be here, honestly, he’s the only coach that I would want to play for right now. He’s one of the only coaches I want to go to war for, and it’s a testament to the kind of guy that he is because he cares about someone eight years later. He didn’t need to text me, and he did.”

We’ve heard how and why so many other coaches and players love Quinn. This is an excellent example, and that kind of loyalty goes a long way.

Commanders signing linebacker Frankie Luvu named one of the NFL offseason’s top 10 moves

More praise for new Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu.

In four seasons as head coach of the Washington Commanders, Ron Rivera never could figure out the linebacker position. Whether it was his refusal to invest in the position in free agency or just choosing the wrong players, the position was a significant weakness for Washington.

In three days last week, new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn did more to address the position than in Rivera’s entire tenure.

The Commanders signed former Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu to a three-year deal and followed that up by landing future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner. Wagner may be entering his 12th season in 2024, but he proved he has plenty left in the tank last season.

Luvu is coming off his best two seasons and, at 27, is an ascending player. He fits everything that Peters, Quinn, and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. describe as players they wanted to build around.

Luvu’s signing has been touted as one of the more underrated moves of the offseason. Cody Benjamin of CBS took that a step further, calling Luvu’s signing one of the 10 best moves of the offseason thus far.

Bobby Wagner is the bigger name joining new coach Dan Quinn’s defense in Washington, but Luvu has the makeup of a real building block. The former Carolina Panthers standout is going on 28 but appears to be just entering his prime, emerging as a fast, physical, downhill pocket disruptor. He’s got the potential to be a tone-setter for a franchise in transition.

Washington fans will love Luvu, and don’t be surprised if he’s a popular jersey among fans next season.

Commanders didn’t even make an offer to safety Kam Curl

The Commanders didn’t even attempt to retain Kam Curl.

Over the past two seasons, former Washington coach Ron Rivera made it clear how important safety Kam Curl was to the Commanders. Ex-defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio often echoed those sentiments.

Rivera and Del Rio are gone. Washington has a new head coach (Dan Quinn) and a new general manager (Adam Peters). And through one week of free agency, we’ve seen Peters begin taking a wrecking ball to the roster Rivera assembled.

Still, many believed Curl would be among Washington’s free agents with a high probability of returning. It didn’t happen, as Curl signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams.

Before Curl signed with the Rams, the Commanders had already decided to move on from Curl after signing former Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn to a one-year deal.

Did Washington even attempt to keep Curl?

According to Sam Fortier of The Washington Post, the Commanders didn’t even make Curl an offer.

Why? Fortier offered the following:

Washington didn’t offer a deal to Curl because it believed veteran Jeremy Chinn would be a “better fit” at box safety for its new defensive scheme. (Chinn, 26, signed a one-year deal worth a base value of $4.1 million.) The official declined to elaborate on the specifics of the new scheme or why Chinn was a better fit.

Curl’s lack of turnovers iddn’t help his chances at a return. After recording three interceptions as a rookie in 2020, Curl had none over the past three seasons. Still, he was a good, dependable player and always assignment-sound.

It was no secret Curl wanted to stay in Washington. However, a flooded safety market due to multiple releases ahead of free agency hurt his market.

Peters has signed 20 players since free agency opened last week. Only four of the signees played for the Commanders last season. Most outside signees were signed to modest short-team deals as Peters sought to fill holes and maintain financial flexibility for future seasons.

What did Ron Rivera think of the Sam Howell trade?

Ron Rivera also has an idea on which quarterback the Commanders like at No. 2.

At this time, one year ago, a desperate Ron Rivera staked his future on the right arm of young quarterback Sam Howell. Entering a critical fourth season as head coach of the Washington Commanders, Rivera had struck out on previous quarterbacks and decided to roll the dice with his 2022 fifth-round pick.

With limited funds due to a pending ownership change, Rivera was unable to improve the Commanders around Howell last offseason. Instead, he hoped new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy could spark Washington’s offense.

It didn’t work. The Commanders finished 4-13, and Bieniemy led an offense with the most passing attempts in the NFL — and the fewest rushing attempts — as they lost their final eight games.

Howell did some good things for Washington, at times making Rivera look like his gamble would pay off. Unfortunately, Howell struggled badly in the second half of the season. He was benched twice and finished with as many interceptions (21) as touchdowns (21).

The Commanders moved on from Rivera and hired Adam Peters as the general manager. Peters hired Dan Quinn to replace Rivera.

Last week, Washington moved on from Howell, sending him to the Seattle Seahawks in a pick swap that netted the Commanders Seattle’s third-round pick.

Rivera is now a member of ESPN, making his debut earlier this month. Last week, he was a guest on “You Better You Bet” on BetQL, discussing the Commanders moving on from Howell. 

“Well, I think it was a smart move for both teams,” Rivera said. “Just because of the way the draft picks were traded. It gives the Commanders, I believe, six in the first two days, which is outstanding. And then you look at what Seattle gets; Seattle gets probably, who is gonna be a solid backup that has the ability to be a starter in this league. And I really like what they’ve done. Now you know, with Geno as their starter, gives them a guy, in case something happens, can come in and, I think, do a nice job running their offense for them.”

Remember what Rivera said about Howell last offseason and in the early weeks of the 2023 season? That sure sounds like a different tone. He still praised Howell but made sure to use the term “backup.”

Who does Rivera think Peters and the Commanders will select at No. 2 overall in next month’s NFL draft?

In his first episode on “NFL Live” earlier this month, Rivera linked LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels to the Commanders. Rivera referenced new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and the style of offense he wants to run as a reason he believes Daniels will be Washington’s pick.

He reiterated that stance in this interview.

“Oh, I think they go with Jayden Daniels,” Rivera said of Washington. “This is about who’s going to fit that style of offense that Kliff Kingsbury is bringing to town. That’s why they went out and signed Marcus Mariota, and I think that’s what you’re going to get. I really do. I think that’s the kind of player they’re looking for, and I think he’s dynamic enough.”

Washington fans will likely roll their eyes at Rivera’s thoughts. In fairness, he was asked the question. The Daniels’ connections to Washington make sense, as do the Drake Maye ties. When everyone mentions mobility, they apparently forget that Maye is pretty mobile, too, and offers a higher upside as a passer.

Former Commanders linebacker Cody Barton signs with Broncos

Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu are in, while Cody Barton and others are out.

It’s been a good week for Washington fans hoping for improved linebacker play. The Commanders signed former Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu to a three-year deal to kick off free agency and followed that up by signing future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner to a one-year deal.

On Friday, Washington’s starting inside linebacker from 2023, Cody Barton, found a new home. Per his agent, Barton signed a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos for $3.5 million. It’s the same terms he signed for in Washington last March.

Barton started all 13 games in which he played for the Commanders, recording 121 tackles, including three for loss and one interception. But don’t mistake that number of tackles for effective play. While Pro Football Focus can sometimes be controversial with its grading, PFF’s grade of 53.9 for the 2023 season was accurate.

Washington’s linebackers were a weakness during all four seasons under Ron Rivera, but it was particularly bad last season.