Bulldog
The All-Time Great
We don't know the internal dynamics.
If there was a rift perhaps Rivera and Smith got along initially through the draft but over the summer started to have differences over roster composition and the handling of certain players, etc.
Because this was a front office dynamic and didn't involve an assistant coach or players there haven't been the leaks so typical of this organization in the past.
We can see though through the release of Dwayne Haskins that Rivera has a fairly short rope once someone steps over a 'line' that Rivera feels shouldn't be crossed.
Personally, I like Smith's record. It's not unique but it's good.
Perhaps as a 58 year old coach that paid long dues to get an NFL head coaching job, Rivera felt Smith at 36 could stand 2 or 3 years in the VP of Player Personnel role and Smith disagreed and was more ambitious and asked Ron to promote him or let him go to another team.
If there was a rift perhaps Rivera and Smith got along initially through the draft but over the summer started to have differences over roster composition and the handling of certain players, etc.
Because this was a front office dynamic and didn't involve an assistant coach or players there haven't been the leaks so typical of this organization in the past.
We can see though through the release of Dwayne Haskins that Rivera has a fairly short rope once someone steps over a 'line' that Rivera feels shouldn't be crossed.
Personally, I like Smith's record. It's not unique but it's good.
Perhaps as a 58 year old coach that paid long dues to get an NFL head coaching job, Rivera felt Smith at 36 could stand 2 or 3 years in the VP of Player Personnel role and Smith disagreed and was more ambitious and asked Ron to promote him or let him go to another team.