Ron Rivera Taking A Page From Gordon Bombay?

/

Remember in D2: The Mighty Ducks when Gordon Bombay went from being the fun-loving coach who tied Goldberg to the posts to the slick-back hair, Icelandic-ish coach who became star struck in a pair of coach’s loafers, then back to the guy who quacked his way back into the hearts of his team?  Well, Ron Rivera is blowing his duck call, hoping to find a way to get his team motivated, relaxed, and having fun again. It’s a tough task when you're 1-5 and requires a different strategy than swapping out jerseys at the end of the period, which I have to believe was against World Junior Hockey rules. Now I would be OK with them trying to get Joe Thomas off the Browns and swapping jerseys with Mike Remmers like Russ Knuckle Puck Tyler did. 

Since I don’t think the NFL will allow any of these motivational strategies, Rivera did what any employer hoping to nourish a positive relationship with their workforce does—give them time off.  Rivera announced that the team would practice only two days this week, then take the rest of the bye week off. “I told them I want them to get away from it, don’t read anything, don’t watch anything, don’t listen to anything. Just get yourselves ready to come back focused in and start right back to work the following Monday,” Rivera said.

Carolina heads into the bye week coming off four straight losses. They are 1-5, wounded, and, gauging from Cam Newton’s press conference, not enjoying it. The Dabb’n, the dancing, the selfies, Carolina had fun on Sundays last year. This year, we haven’t seen the same joy.

Rivera, who for the last several years has been a steady leader that understands his players, break out the lasso, the rollerblades, or just a bucket of pucks for these guys. As Hanz encouraged Gordon, “Show them how to play. Show them how to have fun. Teach them to fly!” At this point, the season is more than about winning like Hanz described. It’s about building character forged through adversity.

Since we’re not ducks, we won’t quack. Instead, we roar. Roar. Roar! Roar! Keep Pounding!
 

By the Professor, aka Tony Dunn
Follow on Twitter @Cat_Chronicles

Featured
Grier is Here
Grier is Here
C3 Seahawks at Panthers Post Game
C3 Seahawks at Panthers Post Game
Featured
Should the Panthers Head Coach Search Slowik Down?
Should the Panthers Head Coach Search Slowik Down?

What Panthers fan wouldn't want this type of staff in Charlotte? Given the fact that the Panthers have already completed a virtual interview with Slowik, there is hope. Tepper has made some poor choices early on in his ownership tenure, but he has a chance to right nearly all of those wrongs. Bring Slowik to Carolina and get #1 back in the building.

Should Panthers Fans Tepper Expectations, or Has The Temper Been Squashed?
Should Panthers Fans Tepper Expectations, or Has The Temper Been Squashed?

This rebuild will not be completed in a single offseason, so draft choices and free-agent acquisitions must be tailored to that vision. Otherwise, it's all for naught. We've seen this twice already with the Rhule and Reich coaching hires happening with existing general managers already in place. Furthermore, the pair needs to live and die together. This encourages the GM to make smart picks and signings with coaches' input and enables the coach to get the most out of that talent.

Billionaire Hedgefund Owner, David Tepper, Turns Event Planner
Billionaire Hedgefund Owner, David Tepper, Turns Event Planner

Tepper wasn't bad; he just wasn't good. He wasn't offputting entirely, but he wasn't endearing in the least. Instead of opening up to tough questions, Tepper kept the press conference brief. When he fielded some of the tougher questions, like about the process of selecting Bryce Young #1, he responded with statements like, "The process was done the way the process was done."

A Beginner's Guide to Betting on NFL Games
A Beginner's Guide to Betting on NFL Games

Entering the arena of NFL betting is requires calculated decisions and keen insights. As the season unfolds, each game presents a fresh set of variables and considerations that, when understood, can transform the spectator into a participant in the action.