Rivera Gathers Players, Rips Team For Lack Of Effort In Practice

[fieryprophet]

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2012/08/rivera-rips-team-for-questionable-effort.html

About an hour into the Panthers' practice, Rivera stopped the drills, gathered his players around him and lit into them for a lack of effort.

The Panthers were in shorts and shoulder pads, and Rivera thought some of his players were going through the motions.

"I wanted to make sure people understand the way you've got to practice. We're starting to back off now looking to game time. ... I wanted to make the point that a lot of opportunities are being passed up by not practicing hard," Rivera said afterward.

"Just because we back down doesn't mean we don't practice hard. We don't want the big collisions because we're not in full pads. But to do what we did for two periods and basically waste that time, that was disappointing."

Rivera said he was speaking to veterans and young players. But he wanted the young guys to know that last year the Panthers used 17 extra players because of injuries, and many of them were signed off the practice squad.

Rivera thought the tempo improved after his talk. There was no punitive running after the practice.

[Zod]

I like it.

[2jakefansinva]

as well.......

[Guest]

nice, very nice

[Wesmesss]

.....Flashback 2 years ago.....

Reporter: "Coach Fox, it seemed the players lacked intensity today in practice. Any particular reason why?"

Fox: "It is what it is sometimes."

Oh how the direction of this franchise has turned. RivERA

[Catalyst]

Rivera seems like a scary dude to have pissed off at you.

[bigdog10]

good for him.

I'd imagine players listen to him when he barks, especially given the fact that he has a ring and was a key cog in one of the most dominant defenses ever assembled

[Gabeking]

They should totally start off practice tomorrow with the nike commercial of the fat kid running to get them pumped up lmao

[Gabeking]

good for him.

I'd imagine players listen to him when he barks, especially given the fact that he has a ring and was a key cog in one of the most dominant defenses ever assembled

I don't think he was necessarily a 'key cog' per se, wasn't he a backup?

[davos]

Ripem a new one Rivera

[TheRed]

Good, wouldn't expect any less from him. Now if he will just boot Mare out of town already..

[beastson52]

They should totally start off practice tomorrow with the nike commercial of the fat kid running to get them pumped up lmao

For some reason I really like that commercial. I applaud Nike for actually airing it. Wouldn't be surprised if it get pulled because someone's feeling gets hurt and people protest.

[Floppin]

I don't think he was necessarily a 'key cog' per se, wasn't he a backup?

Yep. But that linebacking corps was fuging stout.

[dr_rock]

I don't think he was necessarily a 'key cog' per se, wasn't he a backup?

backing up: Wilber Marshall, Mike Singletary and Otis Wilson. Pretty strong.