Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Monday in a news conference he was “embarrassed” by Carolina’s 30-3 loss to Tennessee Sunday, and particularly by a couple of things. (Here's my column on what he said -- the shorter version is below).
“Oh absolutely, I was embarrassed,” Rivera said. “I really was. I was embarrassed with the penalties. I was embarrassed the last 2 ½ minutes of the game, the way it went.”
When I asked what he meant by that, Rivera said: “Well, I think all the chippiness that went on between both teams. You know when a game is in that situation, just play it out. Don’t start talking. If you’re winning, great. If you’re losing, stop being frustrated. Do your job. And it goes for both teams. And I don’t want to speak for Coach [Mike] Munchak [of Tennessee], but I think both teams got chippy at the end.
“To me, this is professional football,” Rivera continued. “Act like a professional on the football field whether you’re winning or you’re losing. And that really bothers me. It really does. Because this game is about competition and competing and being the best, it’s not about all that other stuff that goes on. That’s a bunch of bull. It really is. There should be more pride in winning and losing than I saw yesterday from both teams. And that’s just my opinion.”
The Panthers got called for three penalties in the game’s last two minutes and Tennessee was called for two. On the final penalty – a holding call against Steve Smith – a scuffle broke out that involved Smith and several other players from both teams. Rivera then pulled Smith out of the game for the final play. (Smith would later get testy with me when I asked him about this sequence in the postgame locker room).
“I just think Steve was frustrated, as was everybody else,” Rivera said. “Steve went to make a physical block, the guy reacted and they got into a little bit of a skirmish. I just wanted to alleviate the situation. I’d have done that to anybody at that point. I did that with Charles [Johnson] when Charles got his penalty [earlier in the game]. After being head-butted, the referees didn’t see the head butt [on Johnson], they got him…. We can’t have that on the football field. And I hope our guys understand why I asked them to come off the field.”
The Panthers were penalized 12 times for 99 yards in the game and remain among the league leaders in the major “most-penalized” categories.
We're moving!
9 years ago
Posts
20 comments:
It's a different world now Ron. Athletes think they have to do a dance,run around, act like superman, etc...everytime they make a play.
that game reminded me of why i don't buy psl's or season tickets.
Ron, please tell your players when they're trailing in a game and getting a beat down to not act like a clown and dance around when they actually make a play. I'm sick of this chest pounding for
"doing your job" particularly when losing handily in a game. Just get the game back in hand. Jumping around beating your chest is embarrassing when you're getting it handed to you.
I was embarrassed for him. His players were acting like little brats . . . even worse, little brats that can't play. We need our mature players back... like Beason and Davis - to set the right tone on the field and in the locker room.
they acted like what they are
Scott - i think you should have ignored Steve Smith yesterday. I think this paper writes too much negative stuff - maybe the paper should just not report anything but the facts after a loss. No stupid grades or commentary - just they lost here was the score.
The lack of attention might actually motivate the team more since it would imply "we have given up on you" and you losing isn't news... and guess what - it isn't.
Making more excuses for Steve Smith. This is the kid who dances when he catches a pass out of bounds and acts like complete baby when things don't go his way.
Panthers will win two more games - Colts and TB at home. They should lose to the Lions, Texans, Falcons, Saints, and Bucs on the road. Panthers only played five games against teams that are not strong playoff contenders - Colts, Vikings, Cards, Jags and Redskins.
Panthers should end up with the 3rd or 4th pick in the draft and should get a solid DT in the first round and a solid CB in the second. Rebuilding takes more than one draft and I really think this team wins nine games in 2012. Edwards and Beason back along with some new faces on defense will change that unit.
Beezelbub says
The 666 Newton curse is officially upon the entire Carolina Panthers franchise including BOA and all fans and associates. Some call it bad mojo or bad karma or the law of averages.
El Diablo malvado siniestra maldición en sobre todos ustedes
la devastación y destrucción serán grandes y muchos serán afectados y el única wau para quitar esta maldición sería el despido de quien forjado a todos ustedes a pesar de es culpables debido a la Asociación agreemental
"The 666 Newton curse is officially upon the entire Carolina Panthers franchise including BOA and all fans and associates. Some call it bad mojo or bad karma or the law of averages"..............................BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE!
Panthers should burn the black jerseys. Seems like every time they play in them they stink up the joint. Remember the Cardinals playoff game? Just saying....
As if overreacting Fowler's immemse hatred and disrespect of this cherished elderly gentleman great-grandfather best college coach ever who coached half the NFL players wasnt enough, they are now strickening his name from everything. Way to go. You could have started this ball rolling.
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/Big-Ten-takes-Joe-Paterno-name-off-championship-trophy-111411
Coach Cower!!!! Where are you???? Come to Carolina and save our team!!!!
The Charlotte Observer was the only major newspaper calling for Paternos head almost immediately after the story broke last week and this clearly created a chain reaction avalanche putting pressure on the Board of Trustees to do something spontaneously monumental for appeasement. Media all fall in line as usual. Hope they are proud of themselves.
Anon at 4:21, either grow up or go away.
As a Carolina Panther fan and Charlotte native, I read this rag 365 days a year while living in Virginia. Scott Fowler and the rest of the The Charlotte Observer media need to get their stuff together and realize they are part of the problem as they set a weak negative tone which strongly affects our football culture as a team & fan base. They behave like 'Charlatans', and I'll save most of you the trouble at this point so you do not miss the affective meaning of this rant. Definition: noun/ char·la·tan; a person who pretends or claims to have more knowledge or skill than he or she possesses. Be it in interviews or spectator participation at games, real football fans feel weakened because their presumed comrades cannot show enough enthusiasm or even make enough noise to support their defense in critical moments of a game. If you go to other stadiums in the same situation their fans go home with no voice and ears ringing for two days. Stop pointing fingers and get in the game! I think I'll get sick now as actually verbalizing this in my self talk as I write has made me feel ill! And yes I have family in Rock Hill, but do not pretend to be a Journalist...
Ron Rivera should shut up, leave Steve Smith alone, and focus on getting his team ready to play NFL football. That was terrible Sunday, and its his fault. Meanwhile our Jim Harbaugh is a winning coach. We should have paid him.
And yet if we had 3 or 4 more players with Steve Smith's passion and drive we could be a playoff team. Steve bring his game every week, makes no excuses, is coachable, wears his heart on his sleave, and has the full support of his teammates and coaches. Sounds like an near ideal teammate or co-worker.
Cowboy 4 life,
Rule #1: Never buy the hype.
Newton's a jive turkey. AU bought the NCAA title and Heiz and the NCAA invest was a sham.
Pull the bum and install the All Pro. Screw the big games. Meaningless. Otherwise its 2-14 repeat.
Football is a team sport. Winning is more important than a pretend superman.
Never allow the media or its minions to run anything. Hell they just "kilt" the top alltime program and coach in a rush to judgment sensationalism frenzy.
Time to break out the ole axe. They know who they are. Go sell cars at the Lake. Toyota and Nissan awaits.
Post a Comment