NFL fans are going in on Ron Rivera following the Washington Commanders head coach’s comments on quarterback Sam Howell this week.
Howell entered the NFL with a burgeoning reputation, having thrown for 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions at North Carolina in 2019 before firing them to an Orange Bowl spot and becoming the third-leading passer in ACC history the following year.
Still, his own head coach had no idea how good he was when the Commanders unsurprisingly missed the playoffs in 2022.
Speaking to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated on Monday, Rivera admitted he would have played Howell sooner had he known how effective he could be.
“You can ask [my wife] Stephanie, all we F-inf talked about was the quarterback, what the quarterback did, who he was,” Rivera said. “I kept saying, ‘F, if I would have known this, I would have played him sooner.’”
Fans are roasting him, and rightfully so.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Rivera played veterans Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke at QB last season. The rookie would have to wait until January 8 to get a real shot and smothered the Dallas Cowboys, passing for 169 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 26-6 victory.
“When you only have so much time to show it, it’s hard. I kept thinking, ‘God’ … but after that game, everything told me this kid, give him the opportunity and see what he does with it,” Rivera added.
Howell is going into 2023 as the team’s starter. Better late than never, right?
