Looks like there's bad blood between Rivera and Lovie Smith

[rayzor]

Rivera said it was personal, not Lovie

context is king...

Most NFL coaches and players tend to downplay the significance of returning to the place where they once worked. Not Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera.

Rivera returns Sunday to Chicago where he spent nine seasons playing linebacker for the Bears and another five as a defensive coach. He makes it clear winning this game means a great deal to him.

"I'm not going to downplay it,'' Rivera said. "Some people would say it's just another game; no it's not. They're all big, but this has a little personal meaning for me because it's Chicago. It's a great city with a great organization.''

Rivera and his wife raised their kids in Chicago and lived there for 18 years.

"I love the city,'' he said.

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"I'm really looking forward to going there, and I'd love to win this football game,'' Rivera said. "Coach Smith used to say when he'd play against coach (Tony) Dungy that it was like playing against your brother; you want to beat them, but you just don't want to hurt anybody.''

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/wires/09/27/2020.ap.fbn.panthers.rivera.returns.1st.ld.writethru.1023/index.html#ixzz1ZMUMzvic

for him it's personal in the sense that it's a going back home and showing them that you've done alright. not in the sense of sticking it to anybody.

if you had seen the presser where he talked about it, you would see a pleasant smile on his face. he's got good feelings going back there.

[monstercat]

context is king...

for him it's personal in the sense that it's a going back home and showing them that you've done alright. not in the sense of sticking it to anybody.

if you had seen the presser where he talked about it, you would see a pleasant smile on his face. he's got good feelings going back there.

So what's the difference? He wants to "stick it" to Chicago whether he has a personal beef with Lovie or not. That much is pretty clear. It's always that way when a coach or player faces their former team for the first time, whether they downplay it publicly or not. It's just human nature.

[rayzor]

So what's the difference? He wants to "stick it" to Chicago whether he has a personal beef with Lovie or not. That much is pretty clear. It's always that way when a coach or player faces their former team for the first time, whether they downplay it publicly or not. It's just human nature.

what's the difference? seriously?

not everyone who says "it's personal" has the same meaning behind it. he's not saying it vindictively like is being hinted at.

i don't doubt he wants to win the game and this game matters more to him than some others might, but more just because it's a milestone. it's a homecoming of sorts.

[boo7382]

what's the difference? seriously?

not everyone who says "it's personal" has the same meaning behind it. he's not saying it vindictively like is being hinted at.

i don't doubt he wants to win the game and this game matters more to him than some others might, but more just because it's a milestone. it's a homecoming of sorts.

basically the same thing....

going back to the HS reunion after being a nerd/loser/made fun of for some reason or another but now you have a baller job, good income, great lookin bod, no acne, awesome teeth, and your ass is lookin good and you know it.

[Peppers90 NC]

The NFL isn't like the rest of the world. You can absolutely say that Fox was fired by the Panthers and Rivera was fired from the Bears.

2+2=5, i can say that as well.

[Peppers90 NC]

Rivera was as "fired" as John Fox was. As in, he wasn't.

eventually, you just have to stop trying with these guys

[jtnc]

Lovie just seems like a major asshole, who tried to save his ass by not bringing back Rivera who basically outcoached him.

[PhillyB]

[rayzor]

basically the same thing....

going back to the HS reunion after being a nerd/loser/made fun of for some reason or another but now you have a baller job, good income, great lookin bod, no acne, awesome teeth, and your ass is lookin good and you know it.

don't think anyone thought of him in that regard, but whatever....

i guess people just love drama.

[monstercat]

what's the difference? seriously?

not everyone who says "it's personal" has the same meaning behind it. he's not saying it vindictively like is being hinted at.

i don't doubt he wants to win the game and this game matters more to him than some others might, but more just because it's a milestone. it's a homecoming of sorts.

You're arguing semantics. Regardless of the reason for it being personal, it is personal and he wants to stick it to the Bears. Whether you call it bad blood or say he just wants to show that he's doing well in Carolina is besides the point.

[rayzor]

You're arguing semantics. Regardless of the reason for it being personal, it is personal and he wants to stick it to the Bears. Whether you call it bad blood or say he just wants to show that he's doing well in Carolina is besides the point.

not when the whole premise of the thread is that there is bad blood between the two of them.

[csx]

Rivera said it was personal, not Lovie

Rivera said it wasn't personal.

[dimbee]

I give up with you folks

[csx]

I give up with you folks

I think they are watching soap operas, making flower bouquets, and listening to Joni Mitchell