Eric Bieniemy ought to be in Las Vegas proper now. However on account of both an absence of self-belief, persistence, listening to dangerous recommendation, or a mix of all three, arguably the most effective offensive coordinator in soccer is ready round to see if he nonetheless has a job
Typically staying put is the best choice.
Based on a report from ProFootballTalk, the Commanders are “working by means of” Bieniemy’s state of affairs as Kliff Kingsbury has been employed because the workforce’s new offensive coordinator as they start the Dan Quinn period. The difficulty is anticipated to be addressed Monday afternoon/night.
Nearly a 12 months to the day, Bieniemy was participating in his introductory press convention as the brand new offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders. Twelve months later, he’ll be watching his previous workforce — the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs — play of their fourth Tremendous Bowl in 5 years, and their first with out him.
Hindsight isn’t simply 20/20, in Bieniemy’s case, trying again on the issues that have been stated that day is a roadmap to this second.
“Possibly this’ll be a superb factor for Eric, which I’m hoping for. We’re going to stay within the now, and that’s about successful soccer video games.”
That’s what former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera stated on the press convention when it was introduced that the person who guided Patrick Mahomes to both the AFC Championship Sport or the Tremendous Bowl in each season they labored collectively was coming to take over his offense.
Rivera was fired final month, the Commanders have a brand new teaching workers, and Bieniemy could also be out of a job.
Over time, Bieniemy has been the face of inequality in terms of how head coaches are employed within the NFL. Some pointed to the sins of his previous, however those self same individuals ignored the missteps of white job candidates. Others pointed to the truth that Andy Reid was the true offensive genius in Kansas Metropolis, however but Mahomes and the Chiefs offense had their worst 12 months since No. 15 has been the starter in the exact same season that Bieniemy wasn’t round. After which there have been the idiots who believed {that a} lateral transfer was ahead progress.
“The transfer provides Bieniemy his first probability to shine exterior of the shadow of Andy Reid and two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes,” reads an article from FOX 5 Washington DC from final February, during which it additionally mentions that Bieniemy “interviewed 16 occasions for 15 completely different NFL head teaching jobs in previous years.”
Nearly 20 occasions, house owners within the NFL had proven us that they didn’t need Bieniemy, which is a degree of rejection {that a} white coach along with his resume would by no means endure. However for some purpose, after 16 occasions, individuals — and Bieniemy — satisfied themselves that doing the identical job in Washington would result in him getting the job that he’s been denied for years.
“I’ve to be accountable to those males, so all that stuff about being a head coach, we may speak about that subsequent 12 months someday,” Bieniemy stated throughout his press convention. “Proper now, I’m centered on the job at hand.”
That job got here at a spot that thrives on dysfunction.
Washington is a franchise the place the brass nonetheless confer with the workforce as a racial slur. Washington is a spot that has been riddled with disgusting scandals and administration malpractice for many years. The Commanders are a workforce that makes use of Jason Wright (the primary Black workforce president in NFL historical past) and Magic Johnson (4 p.c possession stake) as variety props. However regardless of all that, individuals truly thought a spot like Washington was the place the place Bieniemy — with the likes of Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett at quarterback — may “do his factor” in hopes that it will result in a head teaching job elsewhere or as Rivera’s successor.
Individuals thought flawed as a result of individuals are dumb.
From the very starting, the one individuals who may probably profit from Bieniemy taking the job in Washington have been the oldsters in Washington. And when he received there, gamers complained that his requirements have been too excessive, as they didn’t like coping with a winner.
“I had numerous guys come to me and I stated, ‘Hey, simply go discuss to him(Bieniemy).’ I stated, ‘Perceive what he’s attempting to get throughout to you.’ I believe as they go they usually discuss they usually take heed to him, it’s been enlightening for lots of those guys,” stated Rivera again in August.
Now, each Rivera and Bieniemy are at house. One is gone as a result of he couldn’t hack it as a head coach. The opposite’s profession is in limbo as a result of he hasn’t been capable of show if he may or couldn’t hack it as a head coach.
As Bieniemy has endlessly interviewed over the previous few years, his loudest advocates have been at all times the individuals who labored closest with him — Mahomes and Reid. To some, it was two coworkers attempting to inform the world that he had “the products.” However in hindsight, it feels prefer it was two males who understood that Kansas Metropolis was at all times the most effective place for him.
When Jerod Mayo was introduced as Invoice Belichick’s successor in New England, we discovered that he already had it in his contract. If Bieniemy have been good, he’d name his agent and see if he may get his previous job again in Kansas Metropolis, with an identical caveat in his deal. If going again house labored for the Prodigal Son, it could work for Bieniemy.