Carolina Panthers: Former HC Ron Rivera is turning Washington around
By Dean Jones
Should the Carolina Panthers regret firing Rivera?
In a word, no.
Although Ron Rivera is enjoying a renaissance in Washington, it’s clear that a fresh set of ideas were needed and the Carolina Panthers acted accordingly to try and turn things around.
That’s not to say Rivera became a bad coach overnight, but sometimes things run their course.
The Panthers have shown encouraging signs of their own under Matt Rhule, who arrived in Carolina on a seven-year, $60 million deal from Baylor after emerging as one of college football’s brightest young coaches.
He is the right man for the job. Rhule has made a smooth transition to the next level and has a young, exciting roster who can become a postseason contender in the not-too-distant future providing the necessary reinforcements are brought in next spring.
As for Rivera, getting to the postseason would be all the vindication he needs. It is ironic that the Panthers might be standing in their way in Week 16, which is a game that could have extra meaning that simply wasn’t expected at the start of the campaign.
Rivera deserves a tremendous amount of credit for overcoming struggles. But anyone that saw his level of resolve in Carolina knows that the coach is made of stern stuff.