Angry Rivera

[Jase]

That is from Tampa.

That's the one I referred to in the OP

[UNCrules2187]

Saw this on Twitter...

 

[t96]

I wasn't thinking long term, but, yeah.  Valid point.

 

I agree with the base of what you said though, Ditka may be an angry and bitter man but he could certainly coach a team to dominate. I'll take angry, bitter man who can win you games as a HC any day.

[PanthersATL]

I love love Ron but damn he messed up on the Hardy thing. Dont worry, this isnt a stupid "fire Rivera" I am just of the strong opinion he messed up and drew waaay more attnetion now by benching him. Im fully confident if Hardy played this would have been the last we heard of it from the media and it would have blown over and the media would have gotten over it.

Even if they didnt, oh well. Now he cant play Hardy at all because he will look like a flip flopper. I love Rivera and I truely 100% believe he will take us to the SB this year but he messed up big time with his last minute decision of Hardy. He should know better the public and media have the attention span of a 2 year old and of Hardy played they would forget

 

In the end, I think it should have been Richardson who made the final decision - it should never have come down to Ron making the right choice (with Richardson's feedback).

 

In the past, Richardson has shown that he doesn't want Major Distractions on the team and will suspend or dismiss players that don't follow The Code:

 

• Punch another player during training camp? Suspension. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp08/news/story?id=3514554
• Plot to kill your wife?  Off the team (like you need a link for this one)
• Use steroids? Off the team http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2025197
• Have sex with another cheerleader in a Miami bathroom stall? Off the team. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2216124

 

Suspending Hardy - even if it ends up being for just one game - is consistent with the type of team that Richardson has tried to put together. 

 

That it ended up falling to Rivera's shoulders to take action on?  No wonder Rivera was angry today.

[propagandamachine]

He knows what he has and just to show the league - he deactivated one if the teams defensive ends and still DOMINATED

[gettlemanjack]

Rivera and his troops are out for blood! Watch out NFL!

[the butch]

He's finally realized the media is not his friend, and isn't playing Mr. Nice Guy anymore. That and there were a couple of calls (and non-calls) he came out about 20ft onto the field to complain about.

[L-TownCat]

Ron always looked like he was trying not to be too overbearing or walking on egg shells.

 

Not anymore...

 

This dude looks like hes ready to bleed for this team.  I bet he goes home puts on the pads and tackles oak trees for dropping leaves in his yard.

[bLACKpANTHER]

[Guest]

funny, he was yelling at Hardy in that pic, IIRC

[Matthias]

According to NFL Live, the Panthers can only deactivate Hardy for three more games before they have to do something with him. (Either release him or play him)

[Carolina Bandit]

It's a natural progression. When he started he often appeared dumbfounded and confused. But now what you see is CONFIDENCE. He has implemented his plan and the plan has proven to be successful. Confident people are in control of there destiny and have little use for anyone or anything getting in the way of their progression. Coach Rivera meet Coach Riverboat.

[megadeth078]

Am I the only one that doesn't see any anger in Rivera's post-game press conference?  Rivera protected himself and his team from the media's shenanigans and took a stand against any non-football-related questions.  Comparing Rivera's actions to those of an angry, old prick (Ditka) seems like something the media would do because they are bitter that Rivera didn't allow himself to get bullied.  Rivera wasn't angry.  He made it clear that he wasn't going to humor the media's thirst for headline-grabbing trash and made sure the topic stayed on football.