Former San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera has agreed to become the Carolina Panthers' next head coach, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The Panthers are now putting the "finishing touches" on their agreement with Rivera. The Panthers have called a 5 p.m. ET news conference, presumably to announce the hiring of Rivera. Rivera is interested in talking with former University of Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt, who wants to become an assistant head coach, about the Panthers' defensive coordinator's job, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Schefter. Rivera, a former linebacker with the Bears and a member of Chicago's Super Bowl-winning team in 1985, has been with the Chargers since midway through the 2008 season. Source: ESPN
Rivera has been long overdue for this opportunity......I'm sure he'll do great things for the Panthers.
Article updated..... The Panthers have announced a press conference at 5 p.m. and Rivera is interested in talking with Dave Wannstedt.
Wouldn't surprise me at all if Rivera took Blaine Gabbert No. 1 overall. I don't think it will take him long to find out that Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore and Tony Pike is not the answer.
I don't think anyone thinks they are the answer. Just watch any game any of them have played in. lol It will be interesting to see what Ron Rivera does with his first pick. .
Matthew Stafford wasn't viewed as the No. 1 pick until Sam Bradford went back to Oklahoma in 2009. Gabbert could move into consideration with a strong offseason of workouts and interviews. He has prototypical size in a franchise passer (6-5, 235).
4 possibilities. 1. cam newton 2. richard quinn 3. julio jones outside chance of mark ingram if deangello williams leaves. rivera may need to draft a linebacker, because the panthers ended the season with several linebackers on injured reserve
Why on earth would you want Cam Newton? And if he's taken with the first overall pick RR should be fired and removed from the war room.
This is hilarious. Honestly, if any of those guys go number one then it'd probably be the most stunning number one pick of all time. Jeez. On paper Newton is a nice prospect: very good size, very athletic, good arm strength, a leader and successful in college. But as I presume you would point out, he's only a one year starter playing in an offence that bares absolutely no resemblance to one in the NFL, and like most dual threat guys, has issues with footwork/mechanics and struggles at times with his accuracy. But comparing him to Tebow, he's more athletic, much better mechanics and has a slightly better arm and he still went in the first round, so it probably wouldn't shock me if he went ahead of at least one of the top three QB's in this class (Gabbert/Mallett/Locker).
Newton severely injured his back last night. To the point his post game presser was cut short so they could get him to the hospital. I wouldn't take a chance on him especially after that type of injury. Not early at least.
Not to derail this but was anyone else interviewed for this job or was it just Rivera pretty much from the start?
Who in the world is Richard Quinn? And good choich with Rivera. He has the backround to be something good.
