Panthers’ Rivera returns to work with message for players

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera returned to work Monday with a message for his players.

Rivera missed the previous two days of training camp practice to attend the funeral in Reno, Nevada for his brother Mickey, who died last week following a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

The fifth-year coach said Mickey was an inspiration to him, and that players can learn a lesson from the way his brother conducted his life.

Mickey Rivera sold everything several years ago and moved his family to Reno to purchase a Little Caesars pizza franchise. There, he worked tirelessly alongside his wife to build it into a successful business.

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