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ESPN.com: Washington's Ron Rivera 'not apologizing for winning' in wake of Jalen Hurts benching

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https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30651119/washington-ron-rivera-not-apologizing-winning-wake-jalen-hurts-benching

 

 

Washington's Ron Rivera 'not apologizing for winning' in wake of Jalen Hurts benching

By John Keim
ESPN
 

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera has a short message for anyone upset that Philadelphia benched quarterback Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter of a close game: Tough.

 

While some have said the move helped Washington beat the Eagles 20-14 on Sunday night to clinch the NFC East and prevent the New York Giants from winning the division, Rivera said he doesn't want to hear any such talk.

 

"You play who's out there," he said. "I'm not apologizing for winning."

 

Washington won the division with a 7-9 record, finishing a game ahead of the Giants. The Eagles, already playing without 10 starters for various reasons, took out Hurts to play seldom-used Nate Sudfeld with Washington ahead 17-14.

 

After the game, Eagles coach Doug Pederson said, "That was my decision solely. Nate has been here for four years and I felt he deserved an opportunity to get some snaps. If there's anything out there that thinks I was not trying to win the game ... [Zach] Ertz is out there, Brandon Graham is out there, Darius Slay is out there. All of our top guys are still on the field at the end."

 

The move led to others criticizing Pederson. But Rivera does not want Pederson's decision to detract from what Washington accomplished, needing to win five of its last seven games to earn the title.

 

"Nobody complained when Pittsburgh did what they did against Cleveland," Rivera said, referring to the Steelers' decision to rest starters, including Ben Roethlisberger, in a game that had playoff implications for others. "It's been a hard road for us and nobody seems to care about that. Nobody cared two weeks ago when we didn't have some of our best players. Nobody cared last week when we didn't have them, so why should we be concerned if a coach decides to do something that's best for his team?"

 

Washington quarterback Alex Smith had to miss two games because of a strained right calf, leading to consecutive losses. Rivera benched Dwayne Haskins vs. Carolina in Week 16, turning to Taylor Heinicke, who last played in 2018 and was out of the league until Washington signed him on Dec. 8. Receiver Terry McLaurin missed the Panthers game with a sprained ankle. Rivera endured seven weeks of cancer treatments during the season, leaving him fatigued and often needing to leave the facility several hours earlier than usual.

 

Sunday, Hurts wasn't having a good game throwing the ball. He completed just 7 of 20 passes for 72 yards. He was 2-of-8 in the third quarter for 8 yards. Hurts did run for 34 yards and two touchdowns.

 

Sudfeld completed 5 of 12 passes for 32 yards and was sacked twice. A fumble led to a Washington field goal.

 

Hurts' mobility allowed him to escape bad situations, often leading to throwaways. He was sacked once. But he was intercepted, also leading to a field goal.

 

"A lot of people are happy about [the move] , a lot of people aren't happy about it and that's just tough," Rivera said. "So many things have happened in this world that are tough, that are hard. This is just a game that we're playing, and we play the game as it comes to us. And I'm not going to apologize.

 

"You apologize for losing in the playoffs, but you don't apologize for getting in."

 

After the game, Washington defensive end Montez Sweat said "no comment" when first asked about the move. He later explained the obvious differences between the two passers.

 

"It's definitely a difference when a less mobile quarterback comes in the game," Sweat said. "A quarterback with legs is more dynamic and harder to rush. Jalen's a dynamic guy, but we feel we would have finished the job with either one."

 

 


 

 

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GoDeep81

GoDeep81

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I think it's funny so many talking heads just assume we're toast if Hurts stayed in the game. They hardly ran all over us or anything. We played just about every game just like that. Plus he had 4 shots inside the 5 and came up empty.

What's the quote that dumb ass UFC fighter said? "I'd like to apologize... For absolutely nothing! The Champ does what the **** he wants!!" 😂

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Warhead36

Warhead36

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29 minutes ago, GoDeep81 said:

I think it's funny so many talking heads just assume we're toast if Hurts stayed in the game. They hardly ran all over us or anything. We played just about every game just like that. Plus he had 4 shots inside the 5 and came up empty.

What's the quote that dumb ass UFC fighter said? "I'd like to apologize... For absolutely nothing! The Champ does what the **** he wants!!" 😂

Yeah its ridiculous. Hurts was 7/20 for 70 yards and a pick. Sure he led two TD drives, but one was gifted by something like three defensive penalties. He made a couple nice plays with his legs, but that's it. People acting like Pederson benched Aaron Rodgers or something. Good grief.

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PartyPosse

PartyPosse

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49 minutes ago, GoDeep81 said:

I think it's funny so many talking heads just assume we're toast if Hurts stayed in the game. They hardly ran all over us or anything. We played just about every game just like that. Plus he had 4 shots inside the 5 and came up empty.

What's the quote that dumb ass UFC fighter said? "I'd like to apologize... For absolutely nothing! The Champ does what the **** he wants!!" 😂

I honestly think we would have lost had he stayed in. Didn't Smith throw two INTs after that?

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FootballZombie

FootballZombie

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1 hour ago, GoDeep81 said:

I think it's funny so many talking heads just assume we're toast if Hurts stayed in the game.

 

50 minutes ago, Warhead36 said:

Yeah its ridiculous. Hurts was 7/20 for 70 yards and a pick.

 

They we losing when hurts was pulled. Its not even like he had any kind momentum. They had the ball on their own 25. Hurts would have had to put up his entire passing yard total for the game in that drive just to score there. Not very likely. If the game continues along the same path, we likely increase our lead if anything.

 

The idea that we are a lock to lose a game if they continue to play the guy completing 35% of his passes and absolutely gashing the opposing team on the ground for a grand total of 34 yds thru 3 Qtrs is silly.

 

If you tell me that is the QB I have to play the 4th Qtr against, I'll take it every day of the week and 1000 times on Sunday. He gave Philly some feeling of hope, but his statline was pure butt-cheek. Sub Tebow cheek at that.

 

I really didn't understand the instant hate they got for pulling a guy who is giving you next to nothing for three Qs. It looks like a horrible call in hindsight, but dang he was just looking for a spark.

 

We all pretty much universally agree that our O was horrible vs Philly. At the end of the day, Smith threw for almost 100yds more than hurts. That should be a glaring red flag to the ineptitude of the young QBs play yesterday.

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joeken24

joeken24

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The media is making a nice positive distraction for WFT. We apparently got gifted a playoff berth and we're no match with TB. **** 'em all. Its always been WFT against the NFL. All this team needs to do is keep going and play championship football. Can't wait to see this defense pull out a can this saturday in the offs

Guarantee the NFL will make an excuse for that **** too.

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dyst

dyst

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OK NFL...

 

1. Our starting QB is no longer on the team.

2. Our backup QB is out for the year.

3. Our current starting QB has one leg.

4. Our starting RB is coming off injury.

5. Our starting #1 WR is coming off injury.

6. Our #2 WR has been out all year.

7. We have also shuffled linemen on offense.

8. Our starting safety is out for the year.

9. Our other safety is also out for the year

10. Our backup, yet highly disruptive DT is out for the year. 

We faced just as much hardship as any team in this league on just our QB situation alone. Want to make the playoffs, then win the division.

 

 

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PartyPosse

PartyPosse

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18 minutes ago, dyst said:

OK NFL...

 

1. Our starting QB is no longer on the team.

2. Our backup QB is out for the year.

3. Our current starting QB has one leg.

4. Our starting RB is coming off injury.

5. Our starting #1 WR is coming off injury.

6. Our #2 WR has been out all year.

7. We have also shuffled linemen on offense.

8. Our starting safety is out for the year.

9. Our other safety is also out for the year

10. Our backup, yet highly disruptive DT is out for the year. 

We faced just as much hardship as any team in this league on just our QB situation alone. Want to make the playoffs, then win the division.

 

 

Eh. You can make excuses for a lot of teams. We had bad luck but so did a lot of teams. I don't think any team got screwed more than SF to be honest.

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petey hodge

petey hodge

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2 hours ago, GoDeep81 said:

I think it's funny so many talking heads just assume we're toast if Hurts stayed in the game. They hardly ran all over us or anything. We played just about every game just like that. Plus he had 4 shots inside the 5 and came up empty.

 

 

I'm pretty sure we were watching the same game last night... but when Hurts was pulled, I felt immediate relief... Just like the North Vietnamese felt when we canceled Operation Linebacker II (strategic bombing campaign).

 

Based on our collective relaxation of fans/people who actually cared about the outcome, I agree with the media's assertion that Hurts was the better-equipped man to beat us.

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