Ron Rivera Presser: John Madden was a tremendous inspiration for me
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By: Scott Jennings
Ron Rivera speaks to the media after today’s practice
Injury updates:
Ron Rivera on his favorite moments and lessons learned from John Madden: pic.twitter.com/4MpuaEdrYJ
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 29, 2021
Practice report:
DNP
OT Sam Cosmi (Illness)
CB William Jackson III (Calf)
DE Montez Sweat (Personal)Limited
RB Antonio Gibson (Hip)
OL Saahdiq Charles (Ankle)
WR Curtis Samuel (Hamstring)
DE James Smith-Williams (Illness)Full
QB Taylor Heinicke (Knee)— John Keim (@john_keim) December 29, 2021
Montez Sweat:
With @AliRockettRTD: Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera expressed condolences to the family of Montez Sweat, and said the team has resources available to help grieving players. Sweat’s brother was killed Tuesday afternoon in Richmond: https://t.co/FnDT4dSDQV
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) December 29, 2021
“It is rough, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families,” Rivera said. “We try to make sure that players understand that we’re here for them. We do have a team psychologist and she’s available, as well as myself (and the other coaches). … We’re there for them.”
John Madden:
Ron Rivera on his favorite moments and lessons learned from John Madden: pic.twitter.com/4MpuaEdrYJ
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 29, 2021
Ron Rivera on John Madden’s death: “I was sad to hear that. It was truly unexpected from what I understand. … He was a tremendous inspiration for me.”
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) December 29, 2021
Ron Rivera on Madden: “When you sat down and talked with him and discussed something with him, he would tie in a story about something he went through, so you could relate to him. …His knowledge of it wasn’t just guessing or telling you. His knowledge was practical experience.”
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 29, 2021
Ron River addressing the media and talking about his relationship with John Madden. He said Madden had a way of tying in personal stories in everything, which Rivera enjoyed because everything Madden taught came from things he had experienced
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) December 29, 2021
Reaction to John Madden passing away:
“Well, I was sad to hear that yesterday. It was truly unexpected from what I understand and surely unexpected by me. Favorite moments, gosh, there are a lot of them. Really just first getting a real true opportunity to visit with him and work with him and have him help me as I navigated through being a head coach at the beginning of my head coaching career. He’s always been very supportive, always been there and he was a tremendous inspiration for me.”
Memory that stands out from his relationship with John Madden:
“Well, the one thing I really appreciated more than anything else was the very first time I went to his office in California. We sat down, it was his office in Pleasanton, California. We sat down and the first thing he said to me when we started talking about being a head coach, he said, ‘Hey, don’t ever forget you are the head coach.’ He said, ‘everything will stop and start with you and everything will come across your desk.’ It was interesting because from that point on just the realization. I’d already been a head coach for two years, but just having him put it to me in those terms – very direct and very blunt and very straightforward – really just kind of I think helped galvanize my attitude and feelings about being the head coach.”
What about John Madden stood out to him:
“He had a way of tying everything in. When you sat down and talked with him and you discussed something with him, he would tie in a story of something that had gone through or he had done. He related those things to you and then made them so that you could understand them from practical experience, so you knew that he had already experienced this you know what I’m saying? His knowledge of it wasn’t him just guessing or telling you. His knowledge was actual practical experience. I mean he had gone through these things. To me, it’s always kind of cool when somebody else that’s been there is drawing you the map.”
COVID precautions:
Washington has its four QBs and three coaches that work with him use the main team meeting room to keep them spaced out. Just the seven in them in the main room, which Rivera says holds about 75 people.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 29, 2021
Kyle Allen:
Rivera: Taylor is the starter, but if the opportunity presents itself, Kyle will play
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) December 29, 2021
Rivera on players dealing with the last few weeks: “It’s tough. I promise you it’s not just us; there r 31 other teams and you think about all the other sports and every day life. We’re a snapshot of it. I promise you in the real world they’re tired and fatigue has set in…”
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 29, 2021
“Well, the biggest thing more so anything else is, again, if the situation presents itself and allows for it, Kyle will play. And if it doesn’t, we’ll stick with Taylor [Heinicke]. It’s not necessarily about having to evaluate these guys. It is really just about giving them a chance to play if the opportunity arises. We’ll see. As I said, Taylor is the starter and he’ll play. If the situation calls for it, we’ll give Kyle the opportunity to play as well.”
Taylor Heinicke:
“Taylor’s fine with it. Taylor and I have had the conversation a long time ago and several times. I think he understands me; I understand him. I think that’s what’s important is that he knows what I’m talking about.”
Dyami Brown:
Rivera said there are some players he would like to get a closer look at in these last two games. Mentioned Dyami Brown specifically. He liked the big play Brown had against the Cowboys, and he’s hoping to see more of that.
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) December 29, 2021
Terry McLaurin:
Rivera said Terry McLaurin doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve. You don’t really see the emotions come out unless something big happens for the team. It’s part of what makes him “the ultimate pro.”
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) December 29, 2021
“No, he isn’t. He’s doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve. That’s what’s impressive about him is he goes about his business. He works hard at his business. He may say something, but if he does it probably privately. I have not seen him wear any of his emotions on his sleeve, other than the excitement of when something big happens. When he does something big or the team does something big, then you really do see the emotions come out. To me, he is the ultimate pro. He’s one of those few guys that handled themselves the right way.”
Is how McLaurin handles himself unusual for a receiver?:
“I’ll say it is good for any position the way he handles it because a lot of guys do wear their emotions on their sleeves. A lot of guys do show their desire for certain things. With Terry, I believe he’s the guy that handles it the way that you’d like most guys too. And I get it. With those guys that do outwardly express themselves because they all wanna win. Everybody wants to win. This is an emotional game. It’s a game that you can really get caught up in the moment and yet you watch a guy like him who can really control it. That to me is impressive.”
Player fatigue:
Rivera on players dealing with the last few weeks: “It’s tough. I promise you it’s not just us; there r 31 other teams and you think about all the other sports and every day life. We’re a snapshot of it. I promise you in the real world they’re tired and fatigue has set in…”
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 29, 2021
“Well, you know, in some guys you kind of see a little bit of a gaze every now and then, and that’s when you go over and you start a conversation. Just something very simple, so very basic and just kind of see how they react and see if they pop right out of it. It’s like I said, it is hard, and it is tough. And I promise you, it’s not just us. There’s 31 other teams in the NFL, and then you think about all the other sports and, and all the other levels of sports, and then in everyday life. I mean we’re just a microcosm of society itself, we’re a snapshot of it. Because I promise you that there’s people in the real world that are tired, there’s fatigue that sets in and we all just can’t wait for it to hopefully some point end or for us to get control of it.”
Importance of seeing Curtis Samuel on the field for the last few games:
“It would be important especially if he’s ready to roll and we can get the ball to him and really start to see what he is capable of because that’ll really help. I think as far as going forward, you set kind of a tone as to what we can expect from him.”
Taylor Heinicke
LIVE: QB Taylor Heinicke speaks to the media https://t.co/2aR8VwNrSz
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) December 29, 2021
Cowboys:
Taylor Heinicke on the Cowboys: “They beat our ass twice.” He thinks the Cowboys have one of, if not the, best D-lines in the league and also credits their DBs and offense too. That talent + poor gameflow for Washington = two ugly losses versus Dallas pic.twitter.com/bItc8kjHAa
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) December 29, 2021
Also from Heinicke on struggling vs. Dallas: “That defense isn’t just doing it to us. They’re doing it to almost every team they play. When you play a team like that and get down quick and have to throw the ball, it’s tough.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 29, 2021
Depleted roster:
Taylor Heinicke: “Anybody can say it hurts when you don’t have your All-Pro guard & you’re going on your 4-5th string center & you don’t have Logan Thomas. At the same time it’s a 53-man roster…As players u try not to let it affect us, but the reality is it might affect us…”
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 29, 2021
Terry McLaurin
LIVE: WR Terry McLaurin speaks to the media https://t.co/4bDEAeK3tC
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) December 29, 2021
Focusing on his game:
Terry McLaurin’s primary focus is to hone in solely on what’s under his control — preparation, how hard he runs his routes, etc. He doesn’t want to waste time on other stuff — the playcall, his targets — and that’s something he learned the importance of when finishing up at OSU pic.twitter.com/jAD57ajYwo
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) December 29, 2021
Dyami Brown
Capitalizing on opportunities:
Dyami Brown at the podium. The season has been a process for him, he said. He wants to capitalize on every opportunity he can get, and the catch he made against the Cowboys was an example of that.
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) December 29, 2021
Rookie wall:
Dyami Brown calls this season a “process.” “The rookie wall is real” he adds pic.twitter.com/7ozHZq5B1S
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) December 29, 2021
Dyami Brown: “The rookie wall is real. I definitely felt it.”
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) December 29, 2021
Working on route-running:
Brown said he’s been working on being more decisive in his routes. He’s seen moments on film where he’s hesitated a bit, and he wants to make himself an easier target for the quarterback.
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) December 29, 2021
Tim Settle
COVID-19 quarantine:
When Tim Settle was in COVID protocols recently, he was working on his get-off in his room, doing whatever he could to pass the time. He also smiled when talking about his private jet ride up to Philly last Tuesday pic.twitter.com/Q3beGU1mao
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) December 29, 2021
Jonathan Allen/Daron Payne fight:
Settle on the Allen/Payne fight during the game: “Something that was minor and it got cleared up. Brothers fight. It’s a physical game; we play with certain mindsets. things get out of hand sometimes. We look at that as little stuff. We got past that. Everybody’s good.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 29, 2021
Originally posted on Hogs Haven
