Meet Ron Rivera. The Man Ain't Playing. It Really Is A New Day

[top dawg]

It is just so refreshing as a Panthers fan to see Ron Rivera towing the line and raising standards (even if it's only a perception, and not truly the reality). By now, some of us have heard that Rivera is making Otah win his job back:

"Nobody's getting anything there. Byron Bell did a hell of a job for us last year," Rivera said. "We know what Jeff's capable of. But the problem with Jeff is we haven't really seen him in two years. It's up to Jeff. If Jeff wants to come back and be a huge part of it, it's on him. He's got to do the things we ask him to do. He's got to do them the right way."

On its face, this may seem like just about the RT position, but this is really about every position on the team. Rivera isn't going to give players that haven't earned their spots, a starting role by default. Now, of course, positions are pretty much safe for veterans(unless they have an epic drop-off), but injury and and basically failing to meet up to these higher expectations will keep everyone honest. This will not only give the team an edge, but it will help the Panthers keep an edge. Even though this attitude is not exactly anti-conservative on all points, it surely seems like the antithesis of the stuck-in-the-mud, unenthusiastic, less energetic coaching regimes of the Panthers' past who appeared to be just going through the motions, and less willing or able to adapt.

After a couple of rough years, it was easy to be excited about whoever the FO hired. I mean, dude, a cracker is appreciated like a loaf of bread to a hungry man. But, the more I see of Rivera, the more I really believe that there couldn't be a better person for the job.

[Lumps]

[Shufdog]

I'm not trying to be a dick but there's allready a thread on this.

[Lumps]

I'm not trying to be a dick but there's allready a thread on this.

Not trying to be a dick but I already posted that.

[Shufdog]

JINX! :lol:

[KillerKat]

Not trying to be a dick, but you're all dicks

[Lumps]

ok the huddle is for t and a and a little panthers

nuff dick talk

[Shufdog]

ok the huddle is for t and a and a little panthers

nuff dick talk

LOL!

[PhillyB]

Accountability is something we haven't seen as a core value of the team since delhomme. glad to see rivera/cam/beason changing the locker room culture.

[top dawg]

Accountability is something we haven't seen as a core value of the team since delhomme. glad to see rivera/cam/beason changing the locker room culture.

Yeah, I agree. I really can't define how, but I think that as fans we were lulled into a certain mindset of lower expectations. I kinda feel that the FO didn't help the situation as best they could have because they were under that same hypnotic spell. I know that it may not be popular to say it, but I probably differ from you in that I believe that Jake's very presence on the team for as long as he was, was (in a way) indicative of an attitude of anti-accountability and speaks more to Fox's ideology than Rivera's. But, to your main point, a culture of accountability and excellence, I might add, is great to see.

[top dawg]

Not trying to be a dick but I already posted that.

Not exactly the same thing, but if you and others want to believe it is, then that's your thing.

[Clicheking]

I'm not trying to be a dick, but I have the biggest

[ladypanther]

Don't care how much this stuff gets posted.

I think Rivera will lead this team to the Super Bowl....and win.

[rayzor]

Yeah, I agree. I really can't define how, but I think that as fans we were lulled into a certain mindset of lower expectations. I kinda feel that the FO didn't help the situation as best they could have because they were under that same hypnotic spell. I know that it may not be popular to say it, but I probably differ from you in that I believe that Jake's very presence on the team for as long as he was, was (in a way) indicative of an attitude of anti-accountability and speaks more to Fox's ideology than Rivera's. But, to your main point, a culture of accountability and excellence, I might add, is great to see.

it all boils down to "it is what it is".

it's an apathetic response and attitude that was prevalent throughout the team and it all comes from the guy who was the HC who kept on spouting it over and over and over.