McCoy on Rivera: "One of the greatest men I've ever been around."

Heaping praise on someone in sports is not exactly new. However, I haven't seen a person or spoke to anybody that has even one negative word about new Redskins head coach, Ron Rivera.

© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Gerald McCoy, a six-time Pro Bowler, played for  new Redskins head coach Ron Rivera for less than a year. McCoy wasn't shy with what he thought about his brief time with "Riverboat Ron."

What would Gerald McCoy tell players who are about to play for Ron Rivera?

"One of the best things to ever happen in your career is about to happen. One of the greatest men I've ever been around. One of the greatest coaches I've been around." pic.twitter.com/7D402XNM1a

— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) December 30, 2019

At the end of the lavish praise of a man he competed fiercely against for many years in the NFC South before joining his team, McCoy said of the Redskins and Rivera: "He's gonna turn that place around. I guarantee it."

A teammate of McCoy's, who shall go nameless for now (until permission is granted) and someone who played under Rivera for several years, texted Redskins Maven/SI.com to say "Ron is an incredible man, one of the most loyal and respectful men, I've been around. I could go on and on about how great of a man Coach Rivera is without even scratching the surface about how good he is as a coach and a leader of men."  

Josh Norman, who finished up a miserable year for the Redskins and left Carolina four years ago, told reporters about his former and for now current head coach: "He gets the best out of a player, simple as that. Cut and dry, short answer – other than watching the games – he gets the best out of players, Norman said.  

"Not just the players, but men. He builds men and guys that also build character. Not just for football, but in life. I think that’s the first thing you want to see in anybody – they actually care about you instead of the game itself. That’s what builds that family and that bond, guys can’t break that," Norman thoughtfully mentioned. 

Three former and/or current players under Rivera's wing. That's just the beginning. 

For the Redskins, new beginnings are always a thing. Now they have to make this work. 

Chris Russell is the Publisher of Maven & Sports Illustrated's Washington Redskins channel. He can be heard on 106.7 The FAN in the Washington D.C. area and world-wide on Radio.com. Chris also hosts the "Locked on Redskins" Podcast and can be read via subscription to Warpath Magazine. You can e-mail Chris at russellmania09@Gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @Russellmania621.