After Derrius Guice was arrested on domestic violence charges Thursday, the football world's eyes were fixated on the team's response to the allegations.
Facing a critical decision before his first season as Washington's head coach, Ron Rivera ultimately released the former second-round pick. Guice then went unclaimed on waivers.
NBC Sports' Peter King was one of those individuals paying close attention to Washington's response to the allegations against Guice following a Washington Post story detailing sexual misconduct by several front-office executives. His take on Rivera's decision? It was the only decision to make.
"I think that was a good first move, and the only move, Ron Rivera," King wrote in his Football Morning in America column. "Cutting Derrius Guice when the weight of evidence suggested domestic violence by the 2018 second-round running back. With everyone looking to see how the organization would react to any domestic issues after the behavior in the organization documented by the Washington Post, the franchise did the only thing it could do when the heinous behavior Guice was accused of in Virginia was made public.
RELATED: RIVERA EXPLAINS DECISION TO CUT GUICE
"In this climate, it was impossible for Washington to allow the legal system to run its course," King said. "This was the right call."
Washington's backfield is in a tough spot following Guice's release. The hope in 2020 was for him to become a featured back after his first two seasons in the league were marred by injury. Rivera will now have to lean on an aging Adrian Peterson again and two rookies who've had limited experience at the position.
But those issues aren't the worst problems to have. Rivera and Washington were under pressure to make the right decision, and in King's eyes, they did.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TALK PODCAST
Stay connected to the team with the MyTeams app. Click here to download for comprehensive coverage of your teams.
MORE WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM NEWS:
- Career Timeline: Guice's tenure in D.C.
- RB Depth: Love, Gibson important with Guice gone
- Burning Questions: Who breaks out in 2020?
Peter King says cutting Derrius Guice was the 'right call' by Ron Rivera originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
