ASHBURN, Va. – Washington’s Washington coach Ron Rivera gathered his players after practice on Saturday and delivered a five-minute award, with his voice going all the way up about what it takes to win. It was a much different conversation to the practice than he had Thursday night with his players when he told her about his diagnosis of cancer, a conversation that kept her quiet.
But his message Saturday was necessary – a reminder that, despite what he insists on, the show must continue. It also felt normal for Rivera and the players. However, Rivera wants to tackle certain themes at home to help the team carry through days in which he may not be able to practice.
“I’m not getting angry about this,” he said. “I’m honest. I know I’ll wrestle, so on days I do, I ask the coaches to step up and the players to act and take ownership. I understand the meaning of what I’m going through and I understand how hard it will be. Those days I can be on the field, I’ll be on the field. When I’m there, we’ll be business as usual. If not, Plan B. I do not expect that to happen “I hope it does not happen. I hope I can do every exercise. The prognosis is good, so I am fairly confident. I can not wait to start and get over it.”
Rivera reiterated that doctors caught his cancer early and the prognosis is good. He will undergo five treatments seven weeks a week – a mixture of chemotherapy and proton therapy. But he knows that there may be days when he is too tired to exercise. Rivera said Jack Del Rio, who has 12 years of NFL head coaching experience with the Jaguars and Raiders, would take over if needed. Del Rio was an interim coach in Denver seven years ago when coach John Fox missed four weeks with a heart problem.
Rivera said he did not have a former head coach on his staff in Carolina. He made it a priority to hire someone in Washington, and wanted someone with experience where he could turn him. Del Rio has already given him suggestions that he has implemented, Rivera said.
“I have a great saying that I really appreciate. It’s called drawing me no card unless you’ve been there,” Rivera said. “Jack has been there and has been very helpful. … It shows you the importance of having that kind of man. Now in the circumstances we have, his value to us is even greater. “
Rivera, 58, did not want to elaborate on whether he needed surgery or not, or if additional precautions would be taken because of COVID-19. All he knows is that he will continue to work.
“That’s one thing the doctors talk about, if you can focus on that, because it detracts from other things that are happening,” Rivera said. “Many times that helps people through situations and circumstances.
“For me it’s another challenge, a challenge I accept. I have to continue to be the person I am and be disciplined about it. More importantly, the doctor said at one point that you have to be selfish. and take care of you. “
Rivera told his players about his diagnosis after a passage in her practice bubble. Some said they were shocked by what they heard. They also said Rivera delivered the news in a calm tone and in a straightforward manner. He told her he had some sad news; he told her it would take a few months of treatments and not worry about him.
“It was absolutely just silence,” defensive tackle Jonathan Allen said. “Everyone was intent and listening. You were just praying for him. That’s a serious diagnosis. His mood said a lot. He was very confident he would hit this. He stood up very strongly; there is a lot of respect in that.”
Linebacker Thomas Davis Sr. played eight seasons for Rivera in Carolina and signed with Washington this year. He said Rivera does not want the players to worry about him. Davis also knows that this can inspire her.
“He’s great at finding ways to motivate guys,” Davis said. “But only his presence and knowing what he’s going through, his goal is to know to still be here for the team, as a player who motivates you daily. You face various bumps and bruises and the grinding of a camp. your head coach is there for what he is up against and his idea is to be here every day, that motivates you to come in and work every day. “
Rivera said he gave a lot of thought to what he would say Thursday.
He said he also told the players: “OK, let’s say Coach needs to step back. Are we waiting for someone else to step up or will we step up ourselves? This is all part of our growth. It’s a learning moment. “We’ll find out a little more about ourselves.”
And maybe develop a stronger bond.
“When a coach opens up his personal life for you, you can get to know him better,” said center Chase Roullier. “This is by no means a good circumstance, but it shows you who he is as a coach, as a person. He wants us to know him fully and understand him both as a person and as a coach. It lets us get to know him better. to know and respect him more and to see him as our leader and someone you want out with the field. “
Said Allen, “When someone can be vulnerable, that says a lot about their mental toughness. For Coach to tell us that, it’s an enormous step in building that trust with guys who have not played with him before. . “
But Rivera also wants to build a winner, and that was the other message he delivered Saturday. He was amazed at how sluggish the exercise was late. He promised one player – guard Wes Martin – and begged him to take his chance to win a starting job. He pointed to Davis and recalled Adrian Peterson as examples for others. But Rivera made it clear what was acceptable and was not. He said it was a theme he wanted to emphasize, knowing it could help them get through days he might be missing.
“Today was not acceptable,” he said. “If this is what will happen, we will fight. I can not allow that to happen.”
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