Answering the query as to why former Kansas Metropolis Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will need to have that title and never be a present head coach has been the story of within the NFL since Rihanna blessed us together with her presence at Tremendous Bowl LVII and Patrick Mahomes gained his second championship — with Bieniemy because the offensive coordinator. However Andy Reid will get all of the credit score, proper? It was clear after this yr’s teaching carousel that one thing wanted to alter for Bieniemy. And after being launched because the Washington Commanders’ new offensive coordinator on Thursday, the conundrum surrounding why he works for Ron Rivera and isn’t one in every of his 31 NFL head-coaching colleagues solely grew in murkiness.

Sure, his rap sheet has been reported as a potential purpose, however that hasn’t stopped different people and not using a pristine previous from being employed. Hi there City Meyer. There was additionally the bizarre, borderline-racist trope that he didn’t interview nicely. The underbelly of that reads as if he’s not nicely spoken, he can’t talk with these which can be in govt roles in franchises. What a mind-numbing load of crap that at all times was. Bear in mind Eagles’ coach Nick Sirianni’s opening press convention in Philadelphia? And he led his workforce to the Tremendous Bowl in yr No. 2. Bieniemy has been gerrymandered into turning into the poster boy (man) for the unfavorable aspect of the NFL’s hiring course of for head coaches.

The Beast of the East

Within the NFL’s offseason calendar, having an enormous splash this early normally doesn’t happen. We usually should wait till free company begins, which is March 15 this yr, for these fireworks. But Bieniemy’s entrance into the nation’s capital addresses the weakest level on the worst workforce within the NFC East. Regardless of challenges from the AFC North, Bieniemy’s addition to the NFC East confirms it’s nonetheless the strongest division within the NFL. If Washington’s offense improves even barely from final season, and with out Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke at quarterback, these chances are high excessive, it’s a playoff workforce. Honestly, one play goes otherwise in each video games in opposition to the Giants final season, the Commanders have been already a playoff workforce with a crappy quarterback.

In a struggle between the AFC North and NFC East, you possibly can name it a push between the Eagles and Bengals. Each misplaced to the Chiefs by a subject aim to finish their seasons. Dallas has a slight edge on Baltimore with out a wholesome Lamar Jackson. With him, it’s a push. The energy of a complete division normally depends on depth. And the Steelers and Browns have been each stink monsters final season. The Giants and Commanders each confirmed indicators of promising futures. If Kenny Pickett is the very best consultant of that from the underside two AFC North groups, it doesn’t communicate nicely to both’s long-term outlook.

Bieniemy was inside an offensive juggernaut in Kansas Metropolis. Too many cooks within the kitchen for all to share the spoils of a James Beard Award, particularly for these pesky line cooks. Now, Bieniemy is on an island in Washington. Ron Rivera is a defensive-minded head coach. He’s betting a renaissance for his keep atop the Commanders on the exploits of Bieniemy elevating Sam Howell to be the franchise’s first steady presence at quarterback since Mark Rypien. If you happen to depend Kirk Cousins, please shut up. He was at all times a mistake. So was Jason Campbell.

Requested a number of occasions on Thursday about whether or not his keep in Washington was solely to show whether or not he might run an offensive not round Any Reid in hopes of getting a head-coaching job, Bieniemy gave the one reply he might about how his ft have been set with the Commanders. Whereas I feel there’s some fact to having delight in your employer and he genuinely needs to information one other group of younger gamers, there’s zero shot he leaves a better job with the Chiefs if a much bigger plan isn’t at play. A elevate and extra duty come together with the transfer to the NFC East and it might be the ultimate remaining holes on his resume to the place he might lastly run his personal workforce. Then you definitely keep in mind it’s the identical schmucks hiring for head coaches they usually could transfer the goalposts for Bieniemy once more. Within the meantime, all he can do is show why the NFL is so jagged by main Washington to deeper than the divisional playoffs for the primary time in over three many years.