"The league is woke and this is just one more nail in the coffin for me" - NFL fans react to Commanders' Ron Rivera's explanation for fining Jack Del Rio
Ron Rivera's explanation for fining Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was not considered satisfactory by many.
Del Rio landed in hot water for comments regarding the notorious Capitol riots in January. The events of that day are currently being investigated by the United States government. Del Rio called the Capital Riots a "dust-up," and received plenty of bad press as a result.
Del Rio did apologise for his comments later but that has only slightly blunted the sharpness of criticism against him.
Rivera claimed that while he respected the right to free speech, he found Del Rio's comments to have become a huge distraction for his team.
"This is not [about] the fact that he exercised his right to free speech. This is about what impacted the football team. I believe in the First Amendment very strongly. But the thing that we all have to understand with these rights, these freedoms come [with] tremendous responsibility, and we have to understand that as well."
"This is about the impact that was made on our football team, the distraction it has become. It’s a very serious question and topic, but at the end of the day, it did impact us, and that’s why I did what I did."
Ron Rivera's explanation did not sit well with a lot of people. This NFL fan sees this as another nail in the coffin for NFL's popularity:
@NickiJhabvala Taking a knee and disrespecting the anthem and our country was a major distraction and cost the NFL millions if viewers. They embraced it. The NFL is woke and this is just one more nail in the coffin for me.
Not everyone is convinced that the coffin is being prepared for burial, however.
🏻 we know you’ll be there@ApecrazyA @NickiJhabvala See you on Sunday, Billy 👋🏻 we know you’ll be there
@ApecrazyA @NickiJhabvala How many more nails before your done?
Others pointed out the mob mentality behind Rivera's decision:
@NickiJhabvala @MikeGarafolo Basically if you don’t believe what the crowd believes you can express it. I think that is a misguided view
Another Twitter user presented his own analysis:
@thejintsman @NickiJhabvala @MikeGarafolo No, basically it's don't say something that will create a divide among you and the people you are supposed to lead
One user called out the Commanders' double standards considering the numerous allegations against the team's owner Dan Snyder. These allegations include sexual harassment, financial irregularities, among others:
@NickiJhabvala Why would this be a distraction and not the continual investigation into the team's owner of a very toxic workplace environment? 🤔
One Commanders fan chimed in with a pessimistic view of what this means moving forward for the coaching staff.
@NickiJhabvala @MikeGarafolo Beginning of the end for this coaching staff. Once they don’t feel like Ron has their back, it’s over as a group.
This Commanders fan wasn't convinced anything was really said...
@NickiJhabvala He didn't really do anything but okay...
Not all fans were bearish on Rivera's decision, though:
@NickiJhabvala I think this is perfectly put by Rivera. We are free to do certain things, but not free from the ramifications.
Some fans were not convinced that it was an issue until Rivera spoke out.
@NickiJhabvala Was no distraction until Ron clutched his Pearls and made it a distraction.
Ron Rivera enters make or break season in Washington
The Commanders franchise could be in for a major overhaul if Dan Snyder faces consequences for his numerous transgressions as Washington's owner.
If Rivera fails to lead his team to the playoffs for the second straight sesaon - and third straight losing season overall - a new ownership group could overhaul the coaching staff (and perhaps the roster) completely.