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Rams Rapid Reports

Sun, 13 May 2012 13:00:36 GMT

P Hekker cuts hair, donates to Locks of Love

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

P John Hekker cut off his long red hair and donated it to Locks of Love. The short-trimmed former Oregon State standout and Seattle-area native said following Friday’s rookie minicamp practice that he only grew his hair long so he could make the donation.

WR Givens says he's 'bigger and stronger' than others think

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

WR Chris Givens displayed his speed and quickness during Friday’s rookie minicamp practice. Givens said his speed and ability to run after the catch are obvious strong points of his game, but people don’t give him enough credit for his physical strength. “I am a little bigger and stronger than what people think,” said Givens.

WR Givens 'excited' about catching passes from Bradford

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

CB Janoris Jenkins said he isn’t yet thinking about being on the field with the veterans, but WR Chris Givens is looking forward to catching passes from QB Sam Bradford at next week’s OTAs. “I’m just excited to work with such a great talent like he is,” Givens said.

WR Givens: 'My mindset is just to get better every day'

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

WR Chris Givens hasn’t thought about the outside perception that the Rams' WR corps has been an area of weakness. “My mindset is just to get better every day,” Givens said Friday. “We haven’t set any goals or try to be the best in the league. We’re just trying to be the best group we can be.”

DT Brockers 'living the surrealness' of being in NFL

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

DT Michael Brockers said he “got caught up in the moment” of stepping onto an NFL practice field for the first time, but that feeling passed with the end of Friday’s first practice of rookie minicamp. “I’m still living the surrealness of just being here and being in a Rams' jersey,” he said. “It’ll be better as we go on. I’ll take this day as my learning day and the rest is just getting better.”

First-round pick Brockers feels at home with LSU teammates

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

First-round draft pick DT Michael Brockers said having former LSU teammates OL T. Bob Hebert and TE DeAngelo Peterson at rookie minicamp makes him more comfortable. “I have somebody to sit with at lunch and breakfast and don’t have to be isolated to myself,” Brockers said.

Rookies get look at supersized playbooks

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

CB Janoris Jenkins and WR Chris Givens both smirked when asked about the size of their respective playbooks. “It’s pretty thick,” Jenkins said but added that he’ll have it down before the season begins. Jenkins said many plays are similar to what he did in college, but some of the terminology is different.

CB Jenkins says Rams 'accepted me with open arms'

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

CB Janoris Jenkins said he felt accepted for who he is from the time he first met with the Rams and is comfortable in St. Louis and coach Jeff Fisher’s staff. “They accepted me with open arms, and I’m just glad I’ve got the opportunity.”

WR Quick going full bore no matter who throws ball

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

Although QB Sam Bradford wasn’t on the field and WR Brian Quick was catching passes from fellow rookies Austin Davis of Southern Mississippi and Barrett Trotter of Auburn, Quick said he didn't focus on who was throwing the ball. “Everything matters,” Quick said Friday. “You still have to go 100 miles per hour, catch balls and make plays.”

Fisher doesn't consider Rams in rebuilding mode

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

Coach Jeff Fisher doesn’t view the Rams as a rebuilding team. “We deleted last year,” said Fisher, who took over in January. “We’re putting players in place, and we’re going to go out and try to win as many games as we can.”

Fisher says Rams in no hurry to sign draft picks

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

Although some first-round draft picks have already signed with their respective teams, coach Jeff Fisher said the Rams aren’t in a hurry to put pen to paper with their 10 draft picks. “I think it’s important for us to take our time, educate them a little bit,” he said. “I don’t anticipate any problems.”

Rookie minicamp more than practice

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

Coach Jeff Fisher called the team’s rookie minicamp an “orientation” for the 39 players attending. The focus is on teaching them how things are done in the NFL. Some examples are stretching and dieting. “We got a lot done,” he said before explaining that Thursday night’s meet-and-greet was followed by Friday morning meetings before the afternoon’s two-hour practice.

Fisher pleased with first rookie practice

by Ron Clements, CBSSports.com

Coach Jeff Fisher was pleased with Friday’s first practice of rookie minicamp. He said the players are picking up the playbook quickly and was particularly pleased there wasn’t a single “quarterback-center exchange on the ground.” Fisher said that was a first in his 27-year NFL coaching career.

Rookies Begin Minicamp �Orientation�

Sun, 13 May 2012 12:56:13 GMT

by Nick Wagoner

- The Rams began their rookie minicamp on Friday though coach Jeff Fisher is thinking of it more as an “orientation” than anything. It’s a chance for the rookies to get acclimated to how practices will go and get familiar with their surroundings in addition to getting a first look at their playbooks and meet teammates and coaches.

- The group is 39 players deep with one returning player from last year in practice squad center Tim Barnes, four tryout players, 24 undrafted rookie free agents and the 10 drafted players from April’s NFL Draft.

- The setup for this weekend allows the group to come in, get an idea of how things will go and then dive into OTAs and the final minicamp uninterrupted. That setup should make for a more smooth transition for the rookie group.

- On Friday, the group went through a walk through in the morning and a practice in the afternoon. Here’s a quick breakdown of how the rookies are lining up and working:

QB: Austin Davis, Barrett Trotter (tryout)

RB: Isaiah Pead, Daryl Richardson, Calvin Middleton, Nick Schwieger

FB: Todd Anderson

WR: Brian Quick, Nick Johnson, Mike Campbell (tryout)

WR: Chris Givens, Tony Logan (tryout), Travis Simpson (tryout)

TE: Corey Harkey, DeAngelo Peterson, Jamie Childers

LT: Joe Long

LG: T-Bob Hebert

C: Tim Barnes

RG: Michael Hay

RT: Rokevious Watkins

On Defense:

DE: Jamaar Jarrett

DT: Matt Conrath

DT: Michael Brockers

DE: Scott Smith

SLB: Sammy Brown

MLB: Noah Keller, Alex Hoffman-Ellis,

WLB: Aaron Brown, Derrick Choice

CB: Trumaine Johnson

CB: Janoris Jenkins, Jeremy Caldwell

SS: Matt Daniels, Rodney McLeod

FS: Quinton Pointer

Special teams:

K: Greg Zuerlein

P: John Hekker

LS: Travis Tripucka

Of course, many will move around and work at various positions not only this weekend but especially when the veterans arrive next week.

Cheer up. It could be far worse

Sun, 13 May 2012 12:52:59 GMT

Bryan Burwell

The high cost of keeping the Rams in St. Louis is about to be presented for your viewing enjoyment. Let's hope St. Louis can stand the sticker shock.

Better yet, let's hope there are enough intelligent people who can understand the difference between a bargain and a boondoggle. Part of that hope is that when on Monday, by a judge's decree, the city's Convention and Visitors Commission releases details of the Rams counteroffer on plans to upgrade the Edward Jones Dome to a "first-tier" NFL facility, the public isn't staggered so much by the price tag that people don't understand they actually might be getting a fairly decent deal.

We're still a long way from the completion of haggling over the cost to fix the Dome, but by the time this goes through the full process, a $400 million price tag might look positively reasonable. That's pretty much the high end of what you ought to expect, according to the best intelligence I can come up with. And while it might seem crazy to think that a response to the CVC's $124 million offer to renovate the dome could jump up to as much as the $450 million asking price from the Rams counteroffer, based on the current state of NFL stadium high finance, whatever the Rams' counteroffer might be, it will be a lot more reasonable than the soaring price of building a new state-of-the-art stadium.

Some of the details are already leaking out, such as the possibility that the Rams have listed a retractable roof as part of the 15 upgrades that should bring the Dome up to that elusive "first-tier" level required by the existing lease to keep the Rams from breaking the lease and moving out of town by 2015. According to sources who are familiar with the negotiations, the Rams simply gave the CVC a laundry list of upgrades to satisfy the organization's needs. It's no different than when you're building a house and you present the builder with a punch-out list after a final walk-through. You don't list how much it's going to cost, only that these are the things that need to be completed before you're willing to move in.

Best guess on what the Rams' counteroffer will look like?

Look to a bottom line of between $200 million and $450 million.

Now before you fall off your chair and spit out your morning coffee, it's important to remember two significant things:

1. According to the terms of the existing lease, the Rams are simply doing what their signed lease agreement allows them to do: ask for "top-tier" renovations to keep the franchise in St. Louis.

2. Whatever the Rams are asking for, and whatever an arbitrator is likely to come up with as a compromise, will surely be a lot cheaper than a new stadium.

Look no further than the new most recent NFL stadium deals for the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. Both franchises are embarking on new stadium construction projects that will cost $1.2 billion and $975 million respectively. The 49ers just broke ground on a new $1.2 billion stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., 40 miles south of their current San Francisco home of Candlestick Park. The team is footing $400 million of the cost, including a $200 million loan from the NFL's new G-4 loan policy to owners.

In Minneapolis, the Vikings just received approval this week on a $975 million public-private project where ownership will pick up $477 million and the city and state will provide $498 million in financing. Ownership will also probably receive that G-4 $200 million from the league.

Understanding the intricacies of the NFL's G-4 loan program also might provide a hint as to what neighborhood both sides will ultimately settle on when the negotiations are over.

The G-4 program was set up by league owners as a way of helping to finance new stadium projects and renovation construction, too. What makes this G-4 loan so beneficial to an owner is the so-called "repayment" process, which makes the loan in essence more of a grant. Teams can repay the loan with revenues from club seat money they normally would have had to share with the league. They can also use "incremental regular ticket revenue," defined as the difference between ticket sales in the newly renovated stadium and average sales in the last three years of the old one.

Under this G-4 program, if Rams owner Stan Kroenke contributes $150 million toward a public-private renovation project costing between $250 million and $400 million, he could receive a loan worth 50 percent of his total contribution, or $75 million. However, if the total cost of the renovation is between $400 million and $450 million and Kroenke is asked to contribute $200 million towards construction, the most he could receive from the G-4 program is $50 million.

So based on those criteria, the best way for Kroenke to maximize the G-4 loan is if the final Dome proposal mandates that his share of the financial burden for renovation not exceed $150 million and that the total cost of the project costs between $200 million and $400 million.

So, remember that whatever you see Monday is just part of the overall working plan for this deal. The Rams' negotiators have given the CVC the cold-blooded punch list to turn the Dome into that "top-tier" facility with all the bells and whistles. The true art of the deal will be for both sides to put a price tag on the upgrades that works for everyone.

And the thing that works for everyone is making sure that the Rams stay right here. After seeing what it cost the good folks of Minneapolis to keep the Vikings, suddenly $400 million doesn't sound so bad.

5 Players Who Are Critical to the Rams' Turnaround

Fri, 11 May 2012 20:53:18 GMT

Danny Ame

ndola

Jeff Curry/Getty Images

Danny Amendola caught 85 passes for 689 yards and three touchdowns in 2010, and that was catching passes from then rookie QB Sam Bradford.

Amendola missed virtually the entire 2011 season after injuring his arm in the first half of the first game (pictured above, ouch!).

Bradford is a much more mature QB now, and a healthy Amendola is going to give him the kind of player that can catch the ball four to six times per game.

Amendola isn't a "field stretcher," but he works the underneath routes and picks up critical first downs. Most of all, he has sure hands and is a receiver that Bradford can trust.

Rodger Saffold

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Rodger Saffold was the first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall) back in 2010.

He had a terrific rookie season as the starting left tackle. He really thrived in the Pat Shurmur offense, which was a quick-pass offense that didn't force Saffold to have to block for a very long time.

That offense was also run-heavy, something that suited Saffold. The 2011 season brought on a coaching change, and the lockout compounded this problem. Add it up, and Saffold struggled before suffering a torn pectoral muscle late in the season.

I think Saffold will bounce back and thrive in 2012.

Bradford got beaten to a pulp last season, and Saffold is his primary protector. If Saffold has a breakout season, expect the same from Bradford.

Cortland Finnegan

Cortland Finnegan

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Cortland Finnegan had 75 tackles in 2010 and 100 tackles in 2011. That is a lot of tackles for a guy that plays corner.

Finnegan, simply put, is one of the toughest guys on any field. He has the chance to be that true No. 1 corner, a shutdown guy that the Rams defensive coaches can count on.

Also, Finnegan is a hard worker with the ability to instill some professionalism in a very young Rams secondary.

This secondary has a chance to be one of the best in the NFL, and if the Finnegan plays as I expect him to, then I think that potential will become a reality in 2012.

Robert Quinn

Robert Quinn

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Robert Quinn was the Rams' first-round pick (No. 14 overall) in 2011. He was coming off of a year at the University of North Carolina in which he missed the entire 2010 season due to NCAA problems.

So he arrived in St. Louis a little green.

Quinn improved every week, and he showed tremendous upside, as he recorded 23 tackles and five sacks from his defensive end position as a rookie.

Playing opposite Chris Long, who holds down the other defensive end spot, Quinn has a chance to form one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL.

Imagine opposing QBs trying to find an open receiver with Finnegan and Jenkins out there covering...nobody is open...Quinn and Long bearing down on him...scary!

Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford

Jay Drowns/Getty Images

In 2010, rookie Sam Bradford threw 590 passes. That's a lot.

That season, the Rams offense ranked 21st in passing and 25th in rushing. The offense was bashed for being too conservative by a lot of fans, including me, but it did keep Bradford relatively clean.

He was only sacked 34 times that season, and he played all 16 games.

In 2011, Bradford was on pace to throw about 575-580 passes, which is also a lot. However, anybody who watched the Rams play last year knows that Bradford was being asked to throw a totally different type of pass.

The new offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, brought in an offense that was very complicated, and with the lockout, no time to prepare, several new, young, inexperienced players...

It was just a mess.

Aggressive Approach to Draft Lays Strong Foundation

Wed, 2 May 2012 19:38:46 GMT

By Nick Wagoner

Soon after Jeff Fisher took the job as head coach and Les Snead was named general manager, the Rams top football decision makers turned their attention to the 2012 NFL Draft.

With only a few months to prepare, Fisher and Snead knew full well that how they played their hand in this year’s draft would set the tone for their respective tenures in St. Louis.

At the conclusion of approximately a three-month sprint through the draft, Fisher and Snead couldn’t help but feel like they accomplished their mission of laying a strong foundation in this incarnation of rebuilding the Rams.

“This is the one that we are going to be remembered for, in particular because of what we were able to do when we jumped out of the two-spot,” Fisher said. “At two, you don’t know what’s going to happen but when you get to go down to six and pick up more picks and then continue to pick up more picks, it allows us to get more good players.”

Snead agreed that the Rams’ eight picks all fill at least some kind of need but more important that those players all instantly upgrade the talent level of the roster in some way, shape or form.

“I think we accomplished some of our goals and they were with each pick: try to get them right, try to get the best available, and also help position groups,” Snead said. “I think our defensive line got help, I think our defensive backfield got help, and I think our running back position got help, and I think our wide receiver position got help. So I think that was a nice, productive day with young players and now it’s up to these players to do their part.”

As noted by Fisher and Snead, the Rams were able to approach this year’s draft in an aggressive way with little fear of taking a chance or two along the way.

The results netted them a class that includes: LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers, Appalachian State receiver Brian Quick, North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins, Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead, Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson, Wake Forest wideout Chris Givens, South Carolina offensive lineman Rokevious Watkins, Missouri Western kicker Greg Zuerlein, Hawaii linebacker Aaron Brown and Abilene Christian running back Daryl Richardson.

While it’s way too early to determine how that class will turn out, the media pundits have praised the Rams’ drafting efforts, not just in terms of the class that has been drafted but also with the future picks the team accumulated in trading down with Washington.

Of more importance, though, is the fact that teams around the league took notice of what the Rams have done. Despite what might be considered “risks” or “reaches” by media draft “experts,” teams generally view players in a much different light.

“We got numerous calls from our friends and associates around the league that said, ‘Boy, we really like that guy,’ and, ‘Wow, what a great pick that guy was, we were going to take him the very next pick,’” Fisher said. “All in all I thought it was a very, very successful draft. You look at it, I was just looking a little while ago, Abilene Christian, Hawaii, Missouri Western - there’s some talent at the small schools. We did our research and we felt like we got the best players available.”

There might be no better indicator of immediate draft performance than plaudits from other teams in the league though of course there is a lot of football to be played before any judgments can be passed out.

Still, the Rams set out to add more speed, size and athleticism, a mission that one couldn’t argue has been accomplished.

The addition of Quick as a big, physical wideout and the speedy, home run threat in Givens gives Rams quarterback Sam Bradford a pair of outside receivers capable of beating defenses in a variety of ways. Pead represents another big play threat out of the backfield.

“With their unique abilities, one guy (Givens) can really, really run and make the home-run play and then Brian’s ability just as a complete receiver- we think we’ve clearly helped (Bradford),” Fisher said. “Of course, you can’t discount what somebody like Isaiah is going to be able to do out of the backfield in a change-up role. So we felt like we helped him.”

Much like the offense got a big boost with those three play makers and a lineman with potential in Watkins, the Rams also paid high prices for impact players on the defense.

Obviously, Brockers will be expected to step in right away and provide a major boost to the run defense and develop as a pass rusher. Jenkins and Johnson will almost certainly play important roles in the pass defense, giving the Rams a plethora of options at corner to go with free-agent addition Cortland Finnegan and talented incumbents Bradley Fletcher, Jerome Murphy and Josh Gordy.

Of course, there are still some openings where players will have opportunities to play right away, namely at outside linebacker where Brown was the only addition to a group that had just four players going into the draft.

The Rams have added more than 20 undrafted free agents, including a handful of outside linebackers with the hope being that they can find a gem or two. If not, they won’t stop searching.
“We’re actually full now, considering the college free agents we just signed,” Snead said. “But like we’ve said before, we’ll continue to exhaust all avenues to try to improve this football team. I think that’s the stage we’re at. We went through free agency and got ‘real’ players, players that have started in the NFL. Then you go through this draft process and you get young prospects and you go through college free agency. Then I think at the end, we’ll sit back over the next couple of weeks and see if all of the sudden there is a whole that we really need to fill through maybe another veteran that’s still available.”

In other words, the bold, aggressive approach that saw the Rams unafraid to take players who might have a red flag or two and pull off a blockbuster trade more than a month before the draft even began, will continue to manifest itself at ContinuityX Training Center for as long as Fisher and Snead have a say in the matter.

“We’re not necessarily taking chances,” Fisher said. “I look at it more from the standpoint that we’re going to be aggressive. This team has lost more games in five years than any team in franchise history. We’re going to put a stop to that. In order to do that, you’ve got to go fill some holes, and you have to be aggressive with that.”

Right in lockstep with Fisher, Snead added.

“You can’t be scared.”

Silva Grades Rams Draft

Wed, 2 May 2012 18:57:05 GMT

St. Louis Rams

14. Michael Brockers, defensive tackle, LSU.
33. Brian Quick, receiver, Appalachian State.
39. Janoris Jenkins, cornerback, North Alabama.
50. Isaiah Pead, running back, Cincinnati.
65. Trumaine Johnson, defensive back, Montana.
96. Chris Givens, receiver, Wake Forest.
150. Rokevious Watkins, guard, South Carolina.
171. Greg Zuerlein, kicker, Missouri Western.
209. Aaron Brown, linebacker, Hawaii.
252. Daryl Richardson, running back, Abilene Christian.

Overview: Rookie GM Les Snead wanted Justin Blackmon with the sixth pick. When St. Louis was leapfrogged by Jacksonville, Snead shrewdly traded out and picked up No. 45 overall in exchange for dropping from 6 to 14. The Rams again traded down in round two, adding a fifth-rounder to drop just five spots. This was an approach needed to upgrade the league's weakest roster. The Rams had Brockers as a top-ten player and a first-round grade on Quick, so those picks provided value. Jenkins is a top-15 on-field talent. Givens has second-round tape, and Pead and Johnson offer playmaking ability at need positions. Watkins is a mauler, Zuerlein essentially saved the club $2.7 million by making Josh Brown expendable, and Brown and Richardson both possess quality physical tools. The Rams got much better over the course of the last three days.

Grade: B+

Rams travel to further evaluate WR prospects

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:22:30 GMT

With the draft fast approaching, the Rams decided to take one last look at some of the top wide receiver prospects over the weekend.

According to league sources, the team held private workouts for Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd and Baylor's Kendall Wright as the team prepares for Thursday's first round. The Rams have the No. 6 pick.

A six-member Rams contingent traveled from site to site via private jet, a contingent that included coach Jeff Fisher, general manager Les Snead and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Kevin Demoff, the Rams' executive vice president for football operations, joined them for Blackmon's workout.

Blackmon and Floyd are widely considered the top two wide receivers in the draft. The workout for Wright is interesting because he projects as a middle to late first-round pick. So he could be in play in either a trade down or trade up for the Rams.

But should Wright somehow fall out of the first round, it almost certainly indicates he won't get past the Rams at No. 33 overall. That might hold true even if the Rams take Blackmon or Floyd in the first round, given the state of the team's wide receiver corps.

All These Reporters Want to Do Is Cause Problems

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:20:33 GMT

Here we go again with reporters trying to make trouble where trouble doesn't exist.

Steven Jackson's Future with St. Louis Rams Looks Murky

Whether the St. Louis Rams draft a running back this Thursday or not, it seemed like Steven Jackson would at least be with the team until his contract expires.

That situation may be changing in light of recent reports from insiders at NFL Network and Rotoworld, as the list of those who think Jackson could be moved grows.

While on Bill Simmons' B.S. Report yesterday, NFL Network's Michael Lombardi said Jackson wants to renegotiate his contract with the Rams and that he is not happy with his current situation in St. Louis. Lombardi went on to say he expects the Rams to draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson as "quickly as they could," and theMinnesota Vikings are attempting to lure St. Louis up to the No. 3 spot in the draft.

The 29-year-old centerpiece to the Rams' offense signed a six-year contract worth up to $49 million in 2008 after holding out for several months. He initially signed a five-year, $7 million contract as a first-round pick in 2004.

Then today, Rotoworld senior NFL editor Evan Silva added to the speculation by tweeting that the Rams will shop Jackson during the draft. However, his $7 million base salary this season and next, plus his age, would only return a fourth-round pick in the best-case scenario, according to Silva.

However, Jackson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch four days ago that he would not only be fine with the Rams drafting Richardson, but he would also be willing to mentor the young running back.

Well, maybe the Rams want to trend young at the running-back position and will look to move Jackson because of that. Not so fast.

Speaking to the Post-Dispatch two weeks ago, head coach Jeff Fisher made it very clear how much he values running backs on his team. "I haven't devalued the running back position," Fisher said. "You're talking to the wrong person. I want as many of them on the roster as you can get."

Could Jackson's time in St. Louis be coming to a more abrupt halt than was expected just a few days ago? Absolutely.

Fisher and general manager Les Snead are building a winner for the future in St. Louis, and if the duo believes going young at running back and giving a rookie more carries would accelerate that goal, then moving Jackson would make sense.

But, you can't undervalue the importance of a veteran player helping shape first- and second-year guys. Especially if they are willing, which Jackson has indicated he is.

Plus, the San Francisco 49ers are the favorite to once again win the NFC West, yet the Rams could contend, depending on how the draft goes in just a couple of days. Having Jackson in addition to a young, talented rookie in the backfield could be a serious threat.

Stay tuned, though. This year's draft may be about more than just bringing guys in.

Rams Have Much to Consider as Draft Nears

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:24:38 GMT

By Nick Wagoner

It is said that each NFL Draft has its own personality. In the months leading up to each draft, the pundits and wannabe pundits decide that a certain number of players stand above the rest and they discern which positions are “deep” and which are “thin.”

The reality of the NFL Draft, though, much like recruiting in the college game, is that nobody knows anything for sure. The best each team can do is compile the tireless research and information its done on each player and take a best guess when they go on the clock.

At the end of the day, though, the key word there is still guess.

As this year’s NFL Draft approaches with a Thursday night start for the first round, the chirping and misinformation is hitting its crescendo. Smoke screens and fake smoke screens are being leaked.

Differentiating what’s real and what’s not is nearly impossible. Things that were believed to be true in January have somehow changed in the minds of those not privy to the draft boards actually being built in the teams’ draft rooms.

For the Rams, all of the work is pretty much done. The scouts, coaching staff, and personnel department have been meeting for the better part of the past two weeks and formulating a plan.

The first question is which direction the Rams will go with the sixth pick in the draft? For many weeks, the assumption has been made that there are six players in this draft that stand above the rest. Those players are presumed to be Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, Alabama running back Trent Richardson, USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne and Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon.

It’s a theory subscribed to by Charley Casserly, the NFL Network analyst and former Houston Texans general manager. He believes the Rams should begin building around quarterback Sam Bradford by adding one of those top six players.

“I think if Blackmon is there, I would take him,” Casserly said. “I think it’s important to get a receiver here. Blackmon is going to be a good receiver. But I think it’s important to get somebody for Sam Bradford to throw to that he knows: this is my guy and we are going to develop a relationship. I think it’s important to do that. I think Richardson is a Pro Bowl back, I think Claiborne is a Pro Bowl corner. If it evolves to one of those three guys and even Kalil, I would take them because even though you might move back and get another player, those are positions that can help them and these are the best players at those positions this year.”

Of course, as always seems to happen, opinions and winds seem to drastically change in the public eye as the draft gets closer. Things that seemed certain in January now are being questions. Prospects are being nitpicked and thus, public opinions change.

ESPN Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is one who doesn’t buy into the established pecking order of prospects in this class.

“You know, I think there's a group up at the top that's very much mixed opinion on,” Kiper said. “We're acting like, I think, a lot of the talk about it always goes down so far. Well, I can go down to seven and tell you people are kind of critical of some of those players and don't think they deserve to be up there.

“There are some people that have some concerns about Matt Kalil being in the top group. There are people that have concerns about Blackmon being up there. Melvin Ingram, where do you play him? Some don't think he's a defensive end, some think he's an outside linebacker, mixed opinion there. You talk about Michael Floyd, mixed opinion there, should he be up in the top ten? At the end of the day, opinions are still going to be all over the place, and I think tiering it is a dangerous way to go.”

The reality is that teams all view players in different ways because they are projecting how those players fit not only into the scheme from a talent standpoint but also into the locker room from a personality standpoint.

With so many moving parts, it’s difficult to ascertain exactly which way a team might be leaning.

Considering all of that, let’s take a closer look at the Rams’ potential options for the No. 6 pick when Thursday night rolls around. By now, many of the Rams’ needs are clear but what isn’t known is how things will fall in front of them.

In so many ways, what the Rams do at No. 6 will be the direct result of what happens in the three picks directly before them.

For the purpose of all of these scenarios, let’s operate under the assumption that Luck goes to Indianapolis first overall and Washington follows by selecting Griffin.

Scenario No. 1 – The Receiver

It’s well known that the Rams have a serious need for a wide receiver. Blackmon is the guy that sits at the top of the class and the guy that many pundits have pegged as the Rams’ selection.

The question then becomes whether Blackmon will actually be available when the Rams pick. The intrigue in the draft starts at No. 3 with Minnesota.

Many assume the Vikings will take Kalil. If that happens, then Cleveland would be staring at a choice between Richardson and Blackmon with Claiborne as a darkhorse. A good case can be made for the Browns to take Richardson or Blackmon but it is believed that Richardson would be the selection.
Tampa Bay has little to no need for a receiver and would follow suit by taking Claiborne, leaving Blackmon for the Rams.

Essentially, there are two hot points here if you are hoping the Rams land Blackmon. First, Minnesota doesn’t take him at No. 3 and then the Browns don’t take him at No. 4.

The Rams have had Blackmon in for a pre-draft visit and conducted another private workout with him last weekend. The interest is obvious. If he lasts to No. 6, he could very well be the choice barring an attractive trade down package.

Scenario No. 2 – The Corner

The Rams’ need at corner isn’t as great as receiver but pairing Claiborne with Cortland Finnegan would have some appeal and there’s a clear scenario in which it could happen.

If the Vikings pass on Claiborne, it’s unlikely he’d go No. 4 to the Browns and would be available for the Bucs at No. 5. But, let’s say the Browns grab Blackmon instead of Richardson, which leaves Richardson for Tampa Bay. The Bucs would have a tough choice between the two but there’s a strong belief Tampa prefers Richardson.

That leaves Claiborne available to the Rams at No. 6. Claiborne is a smooth cover corner who has some questions about his toughness and ability to help in run support. The Rams would probably have plenty of interest in Claiborne but it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that they’d seek a trade partner before pulling the trigger on selecting him.

Scenario No. 3 – The Back

There’s little doubt that Richardson would be an ideal long term replacement for Steven Jackson and an outstanding complement to him in the short term.

The real doubt comes in that Richardson will ever see the light of day at the Rams’ pick. Cleveland and Tampa Bay are said to be enamored with Richardson and he’s almost certain to be gone.

There are a couple of possibilities that could bump him down the list, though. In the first one, Cleveland takes Blackmon and Tampa Bay decides its need at corner and Claiborne is bigger than its need at running back where it has LeGarrette Blount.

It isn’t likely but if Richardson were to somehow slip to No. 6, the Rams would have great interest and likely make the call.

Scenario No. 4 – The Tackle

Here’s the scenario that is most difficult to read. Unlike Richardson and Claiborne, both of whom have at least two of the teams in the three through five spots interested in them, Kalil seems to only have Minnesota interested.

With Joe Thomas set in Cleveland and Donald Penn in Tampa, it’s highly unlikely either would draft Kalil should Minnesota opt for Claiborne. Cleveland could still nab Richardson in that scenario but Tampa Bay would be in a weird spot if both Richardson and Claiborne are gone when they come on the clock.

The Bucs don’t have much need for another receiver and could throw a curveball by taking Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly but would probably look to trade to a team that wants to move up for Blackmon or Kalil.

Still, this would bring into play the possibility that Kalil could be there for the Rams. The Rams like the potential of current left tackle Rodger Saffold and coach Jeff Fisher has never drafted an offensive lineman as high as No. 6 but Kalil would bolster the group and allow the Rams to reshuffle and protect Bradford.

The Rams did visit with Kalil before the draft and could snatch him but it’d more likely in this scenario that they look to find a trade partner in need of a tackle, someone like Buffalo.

Scenario No. 5 – The Surprise

Of course, as Kiper points out, not all teams view all players in the same way. It’s entirely possible that these six players won’t just fit seamlessly into these six spots.

Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill could be a surprise choice by Cleveland or perhaps a team trading up to grab him in the top six. Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, Kuechly, Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd and even South Carolina corner Stephon Gilmore have drawn speculation as possible surprise picks in the top six.

It’s unlikely the Rams would be the team to draft any of those players though they could all be in consideration if the Rams were able to get a trade down scenario.

It stands to reason that the Rams prefer the two skill position players – Richardson and Blackmon – to Claiborne and Kalil. For those looking for a curveball and a surprise pick from the Rams, it could come if somehow both Richardson and Blackmon are gone in the top five.

Scenario No. 6 – The Trade Down

The key to any trade down possibility is rooted in the idea that there’s a player worth trading up to get. As it stands, it doesn’t seem that there is a player that anyone is desperate to move up for.

The Rams could very well be hoping to move down and acquire yet another second round pick or more but much of that will depend on who falls to them in the sixth spot. A team like Buffalo could have interest in Kalil or Claiborne or maybe someone like Kansas City could want to move up for Tannehill. An even longer shot could involve Philadelphia wanting to move up for Cox.

No matter how you slice it, a second trade down option for the Rams would put them in even better shape to fill their needs and would be a strong consideration under the right circumstance.

It’s almost impossible to predict what is going to happen in the NFL Draft but it’s important to know that everything that happens is a cause and effect and one tiny ripple can change the course of the entire thing.

Rams 4–3 defensive scheme reduces field of linebackers

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:23:30 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

One snapshot from last week's Rams minicamp says all you need to know about the team's linebacker situation. With the members of the squad spread out — by position — all over the three practice fields at Rams Park, the Rams had three coaches working with just four linebackers.

Now in the ranks of academia, that would be known as an excellent student-teacher ratio. In the NFL, however, it's a sign of "We need bodies, lots of bodies.'' Somewhere between now and Sept. 9 in Detroit — the season opener — the Rams need at minimum two or three more linebackers, including a starting outside 'backer.

And that's assuming that current LBs Josh Hull and Justin Cole make the final roster.

Along with middle linebacker James Laurinaitis and projected starter Jo-Lonn Dunbar (the free-agent pickup from New Orleans), they made up the four linebackers at minicamp.

Because of the proliferation of the spread offense, and the more wide-open game in the college ranks, coach Jeff Fisher thinks it's becoming increasingly difficult to find linebacker talent in the draft.

"The big, physical, dominating linebackers are hard to find," Fisher said last month at the owners' meetings. "There are some out there, but they're not enough to go around."

Making the Rams' talent search more difficult is the fact that most of the top linebackers in this year's draft fit 3-4 schemes, not the 4-3 system that Fisher runs. Then again, that leaves less competition for the available 4-3 linebackers.

There are some legitimate options for the Rams in rounds 2-4, including Mychal Kendricks of California and Sean Spence of Miami, who paid pre-draft visits to Rams Park.

Kendricks was named Pacific-12 Conference defensive player of the year last season after racking up 107 tackles, 14½ tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions. Under defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, Cal ran a complex scheme, and Kendricks was used in a variety of ways — playing inside, outside and used as a blitzer. (He had 8½ sacks in 2010.)

"In a 4-3 defense, he's good enough to play inside or out," a veteran AFC scout said. "He plays with a lot of effort. He's a smart player. He's got good instincts for the position. He's strong. He runs well. He's got a lot of positive things going for him."

Kendricks ran a 4.47 at the NFL scouting combine, a very fast time for the position. One of the few things he lacks is size (he is 5 feet 11, 239 pounds.) Then again, Fisher has shown in the past he can live with shorter linebackers. Now with Detroit, Stephen Tulloch was a very productive starter for Fisher's last three Tennessee Titans teams at 5-11, 235.

Kendricks wasn't used much in coverage, but Spence was with the Miami Hurricanes. Athletic, instinctive, tough and very competitive, Spence also is undersized at 5-11, 231. His statistical line in 2011 was surprisingly similar to Kendricks, with 106 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and three sacks.

"He's dynamic," draft analyst Russ Lande, a former Rams scout, said. "He makes plays all over the field. He's a more athletic, more explosive version of (Nebraska's) Lavonte David."

If the Rams desire Kendricks they'll probably have to use one of their second-round picks on him. He isn't expected to make it to Round 3. If you can believe the pre-draft projections, Spence could be there in Round 3.

Speaking of Lavonte David, he and North Carolina's Zach Brown are two other early-round possibilities at outside linebacker. Neither paid a pre-draft visit to Rams Park, but that isn't necessarily an indicator that the Rams aren't interested.

Both figure to go in the second round. With a reputation as one of the fastest linebackers in college football, there was an expectation that Brown would run a sizzling 40 time at the combine, perhaps breaking 4.4 seconds. But purposely carrying extra weight at 244 pounds, he ran "only" 4.50 — still very good for the position but not supersonic.

In addition, some knock his play for not being physical enough.

"I've never seen him as an attacker off the edge," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "He's got speed. There's no question about it. He didn't test out quite as well athletically as I thought at the combine; not super instinctive.

"I just don't think he's ever defined exactly what he's going to be at the pro level. ... I've been kind of all over the place on Brown in terms of a rating, trying to figure him out, and I don't know right to this day if I have it."

David is another mighty mite: he has bulked up to reach 233 pounds on his 6-foot frame. A junior-college transfer, David entered the Nebraska program weighing 210 pounds, causing some to wonder if he was a small linebacker or a big safety. But he was extremely productive for the 'Huskers, setting a school record with 152 tackles in 2010 and following with 133 tackles, 5½ sacks and two interceptions last season.

James-Michael Johnson of Nevada and Bobby Wagner of Utah State also made pre-draft visits to Rams Park and could be good value picks in the third or fourth rounds.

Rams OT Smith back and healthy

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:32:03 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS • jthomas@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8197 | Posted: Friday, April 20, 2012 12:00 am

Jason Smith feels great. He's happy. He's excited. And he's back on the football field.

He can see clearly now, literally. He has full range of motion in his neck. He can turn fully from side to side. He can drive himself to work or the store.

That wasn't the case following a nasty concussion he suffered Oct. 23 in Dallas attempting to tackle Cowboys safety Abram Elam as Elam was returning a lost fumble by Cadillac Williams.

It was the second major concussion of Smith's three-year NFL career. He was done for the season, and some wondered if he was done for his career. At the very least, some wondered if he would be back with the Rams, who had chosen him No. 2 overall in the 2009 draft.

"The reality was, it was a freakish accident," Smith said. "But the great thing is: What is it now? It's just the past. It's something I had to go through. I'm excited to be back walking. Feeling good. Wife not having to drive me around. There's a lot of things I'm just excited about."

The entire process tested his religious faith, and at the same time strengthened that faith.

"That's what it's supposed to do," Smith said. "Affliction is supposed to make you stronger. If it makes you weaker there's something wrong with you. So it made me stronger."

So Smith is excited about the new regime at Rams Park, from general manager Les Snead, to head coach Jeff Fisher, to his new offensive line coach Paul Boudreau. He likes the positive energy of new tight end Matt Mulligan and the savvy of new center Scott Wells. He likes the leadership being shown by running back Steven Jackson and quarterback Sam Bradford.

"I'm happy they decided to keep me around," Smith said. "So I'm a new face. I'm a new type of guy here."

Who knows what the draft will bring, and what that could mean to Smith. What if Matt Kalil of Southern California drops to the Rams at No. 6 overall? What if there's an offensive tackle in a later round the team feels compelled to take?

But for now it looks likes Smith is out of the woods in terms of remaining a Ram. He's approaching this opportunity with a clear head — physically and mentally — and a new lease on life.

"I have a new outlook on life by faith," Smith said. "Write that. I'm so happy. It's hard to explain."

Smith not only wants to be a better player, he says he needs to be a better teammate.

"I want to work on my relationship with the players to become a better teammate, a better friend in some areas," Smith said. "I need to be more fluid and relaxed. I need to relax and play ball, and stop thinking. There's no reason for anyone to walk around stuck-up and scared. I can't accurately keep the quarterback clean if I'm tense. Just little things like that."

As he spoke, and he was speaking a mile a minute, Smith's 6-foot-5 frame was bouncing up and down. Call it nervous energy, or just plain energy.

For his part, veteran line coach Boudreau would like to see a more relaxed, patient Smith on the field. Boudreau can't control Smith's health. He can't coach any future concussions away. But he can improve Smith's technique and his play.

"He's a big athletic guy," Boudreau said. "What we're trying to do with him is we're going to try to change his technique a little bit. He's so intense in everything he does. He does everything in a hurry.

"I'm trying to show him some patience. And trying to get him to use his hands more than leaning into blocks. Just trying to slow him down. Trying to make the game slower by using good technique as opposed to going out and killing every guy you play.

"Because when he goes out there, if he hits (the defender), he hits him. But if he misses, it's a dead shot on the quarterback. So we're trying to get him to think a little bit more about his balance and his base, and where he is at the collision point. And not always try to go out and try to knock a guy out. Just block a guy. Don't knock him out."

The lunging, over-aggressive action by Smith to obliterate the guy in front of him gets Smith off-balance and gives the defender a free path to the quarterback. To illustrate the point, Boudreau has broken out tape of former Rams great Orlando Pace. Pace would set up in his pass-blocking stance, wait for the pass-rusher to get to him, and then lock-on. At that point it was over for the defender; he had no chance.

In post-practice remarks after Wednesday's minicamp practice, Fisher made it clear that Rodger Saffold was his left tackle and Smith was his right tackle.

Boudreau later elaborated on why Smith is best suited for the right side: "Jason is a powerful guy. You put him next to Harvey (Dahl) and you get the double-team combinations in your runs. A little more physical there. We're trying to put the guys in the best position for them to succeed."

And make no mistake, Smith wants to succeed. "I'm expecting a change in my performance," he said.

Bradford Ready to Bounce Back

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:24:44 GMT

For someone instructed to take it easy, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford sure had an eventful offseason.

On the heels of a disappointing sophomore campaign that was muddled by a debilitating ankle injury, Bradford finished the year on the bench and hoped that within weeks of the season ending, he’d be able to return to the rehab process sooner than later.

The doctors examining his ankle had other ideas.

“I went to a doctor literally two days after the season ended and he told me not to do anything really until March 1,” Bradford said. “That’s when I got back here, so I kind of shut it down for six or more weeks after the season and then got back in the training room with (Head Athletic Trainer) Reggie (Scott), and I would say it felt 10 times better then and it’s only gotten stronger since I’ve been here.”

The Rams returned to the practice field for the first time since the end of the 2011 season on Tuesday for the start of a veteran minicamp. Much has changed since the final days of that year.

While Bradford has been resting his ankle, the Rams underwent a front office makeover that included bringing in a new general manager in Les Snead and new head coach Jeff Fisher, complete with a staff that almost changed in its entirety as well.

In addition, many of Bradford’s teammates have left to sign with other teams or been released by the Rams. Likewise, there are plenty of new faces for Bradford to meet and get to know after the Rams added nearly a dozen veteran free agents.

This week’s minicamp is considered voluntary and 59 of 60 possible Rams showed up (safety Darian Stewart was absent because of an exam) to begin anew.

Perhaps none of those players come into this minicamp and began the offseason conditioning program two weeks ago with more to prove than Bradford.

Following an Offensive Rookie of the Year performance in 2010, Bradford’s numbers and the Rams’ record regressed in 2010 in no small part because of his ankle injury. But Bradford enters his third year focused on reaching his immense potential.

“Definitely,” Bradford said. “Obviously last year was very disappointing as far as the injury, my performance. It just wasn’t up to par with what I expected from myself. So there’s no doubt that I’m extremely excited to get back out there this year and prove to myself and to everyone else that I can be the type of player I think I can be.”

Not that Bradford has many doubters amongst his peers. Fisher and the Rams have continuously given the young signal caller meaningful votes of confidence, including the emphatic trade of the second overall pick – and a shot at Baylor’s Robert Griffin III – to Washington nearly two whole months before the draft.

Even after just one practice Tuesday afternoon, Fisher couldn’t help but re-state his excitement about the opportunity to work with Bradford, saying Bradford looked quite good in the workout.

“It’s his vision, release, accuracy – it’s all those things that we expected to see,” Fisher said. “He’s picking things up very, very quickly. The accuracy, I think, if you have to pick one thing, it would be that. The ball’s just in the right place every time.”

That’s a good sign for Bradford who has had to go back to the drawing board for the third time in as many years as he gets to know his third offensive coordinator in that time and along with it, yet another offensive system.

Considering the Rams and Bradford get a full offseason, this year’s transition with new coordinator Brian Schottenheimer should be much smoother.

“It’s been great,” Bradford said. “Obviously this year is much better than last year. Obviously to be here and be able to have an offseason program and to come out here in a minicamp and get to have walkthroughs, get to have 7-on-7, things that we didn’t have last year, that really helps. The more reps you get at it, the more comfortable we become. I think it’s definitely starting to pick up. There are some similarities between this offense and the offense we ran two years ago. Some of the language is the same, so it’s kind of trying to go back to two years ago and trying to re-teach myself that.”

It should only help the transition to Schottenheimer’s offense that Bradford will once again have a quarterbacks coach in 2012. Josh McDaniels, who coordinated the offense last year, also served as the quarterbacks tutor.

This year, Bradford will work with Frank Cignetti, who comes to the Rams from Rutgers where he was offensive coordinator last year.

“I like that,” Bradford said. “I’m glad that we have a quarterbacks coach now. Obviously with Josh trying to do both last year, I think it was just a lot for him to handle. I think sometimes some of the little things such as drops, footwork, throwing mechanics kind of got put aside as opposed to putting reads and everything in front. I’m really happy that we hired a quarterback coach this year. I think it’s going to be great for my development. I think Coach Cignetti is a great guy, too, and can’t wait to work with him.”

Bradford’s offseason included a trip to Kuwait with middle linebacker James Laurinaitis as well as a stop in Thailand to vacation with friends. Upon his return, though, his ankle had pretty much returned to 100 percent and Bradford resumed working out and getting back to full strength.

In this minicamp, Bradford says he is full go and has no restrictions. Teammates such as receivers Danny Amendola and Steve Smith said Bradford was putting the ball where it needed to be and looked as accurate as ever in Tuesday’s workout.

The delay in getting back to full strength may have come as a result of Bradford’s attempting to play through the ankle injury but he says he wouldn’t change anything about the way he approached things following the injury.

“Absolutely not,” Bradford said. “I would have tried to play. Obviously I want to be out there. It’s no fun watching. It’s just one of those things. I don’t think there’s really a proven method to healing other than rest, but if you can play, you can play.”

For the rest of the offseason, Bradford will make it his top priority to get as familiar with the new offensive system as possible. He has been a mainstay at Rams Park since the offseason program started and Fisher says he is picking it up at a rapid pace.

Bradford is the first to acknowledge that this season is important for him to establish himself in the hierarchy of NFL quarterbacks but to him that doesn’t mean any sort of rank or file.

Rather, Bradford is just focusing on getting better on a daily basis. All the other stuff will take care of itself.

“That’s really not up for me to decide,” Bradford said. “I’m going to go out there and try to be the best player I can be every day. That starts right now, that starts with tomorrow, being better in Day 2 of minicamp than I was today. Hopefully if my play leads people to believe that then so be it. I’m just going to continue to work to get better.”

RE:Richardson, Claiborne among latest draft visits

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:09:18 GMT

LaMichael James....now that's an intriguing name.....saw him play a lot with Oregon. He's something. Could make a good backup to SJ39.

Richardson, Claiborne among latest draft visits

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:08:20 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS |

With the pre-draft visits winding down, the Rams had some heavyweights come calling Monday. Alabama running back Trent Richardson and Louisiana State cornerback Morris Claiborne were among four players visiting Rams Park.

Richardson and Claiborne are expected to go among the first six overall picks on April 26, and both are being seriously considered by St. Louis. Also visiting Monday were Oregon running back LaMichael James, and Midwestern State (Texas) offensive guard/tackle Amini Silatolu. Silatolu is among the top small-college prospects in this year's draft.

Below is the updated list of known and confirmed Rams visits:

* Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

* Dwight Bentley, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette

* Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

* Michael Brockers, DT, Louisiana State

* Morris Claiborne, CB, Louisiana State

* Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

* Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

* Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

* Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest

* LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

* Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

* James-Michael Johnson, LB, Nevada

* Matt Kalil, OT, Southern Cal

* Mychal Kendricks, LB, California

* Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama

* Kelechi Osemele, G/T, Iowa State

* Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

* Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State

* Rueben Randle, WR, Louisiana State

*Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

* Amini Silatolu, G/T, Midwestern State

* Sean Spence, LB, Miami (Fla.)

* Alameda Ta’amu, DT, Washington

* Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State

Trent Richardson for the Rams?

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:47:20 GMT

Don't waste your breath talking to Jeff Fisher about the decline of the running back as the NFL evolves into more and more of a passing league. It will fall on deaf ears.

"I haven't devalued the running back position," Fisher said. "You're talking to the wrong person. I want as many of them on the roster as you can get."

So don't be shocked — or even surprised — if the Rams take Alabama running back Trent Richardson if he's available at No. 6 in the draft, on April 26.

"I think he's a very, very talented player," Fisher said. "He doesn't have a lot of wear-and-tear because it's been a one-year deal for him (as a feature back). But he's got great explosion and quickness in the hole and change of direction with the jump cut, and power, and ball security."

The Rams' coach is well aware of the argument against taking Richardson: with needs almost everywhere on the depth chart why take another running back when you have three-time Pro Bowler Steven Jackson?

"One could make the case that it may be one of those positions that you could consider passing up because of Steven's presence on roster," Fisher said.

But he also adds: "I don't think we can pass on any position at that pick because of our need." (Or lack of need.)

Although a lot of mock drafts have Richardson going to Cleveland at No. 4, it would not be that far-fetched to see him there at No.6 if the Browns take wide receiver Justin Blackmon. That's because Pat Shurmur is a pass-first coach and Mike Holmgren is a pass-first team president. Plus the Browns sent a delegation of eight on a private jet to check out Blackmon (and quarterback Brandon Weeden) at Oklahoma State's pro day.

Jackson, who has logged seven straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons, is entering his ninth NFL campaign and has two years left on his contract. Fisher said he learned years ago in evaluating Eddie George late in his career that there's a difference between a back getting tackled and getting hit. When you start absorbing hits that you shouldn't — it means you're starting to lose it.

And George lost it quickly with the Tennessee Titans.

From tape study, Fisher says Jackson's not at that stage.

"Steven's still getting tackled," Fisher said. "He's not just getting hit. And that's a difference. You lose a step, you lose the ability to avoid, and then all of a sudden the vision changes and then you start getting hit. Steven is still a very aggressive runner."

Even though Fisher later had great success running the football with 191-pound Chris Johnson, he says, "I'm kind of fond of big backs over the years. So I'm kind of excited to watch Steven practice and play in person."

Although Richardson isn't quite Jackson-sized, he definitely fits the big-back mold at 228 pounds. He didn't run at the NFL scouting combine because of minor knee surgery, but ran an impressive 4.48 in the 40 two weeks ago at his pro day.

Tough and durable, he put up big numbers last year as a feature back, and many consider him the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson came out in 2007.

"I don't see a huge difference between he and Adrian Peterson," ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said. "Their running style is different — I don't mean it that way. But in terms of what they can provide, they have a similar grade when I went back and looked at how I graded Peterson compared to Richardson.

"(Richardson) has lateral agility like very few guys in the 230-pound range. You give him a crease, and he can take it. He can go. He also is catching the ball, I think, naturally. He can make double moves in the open field and make things happen as a receiver after the catch. He's improved in pass protection.

"So there is no part of his game that I look at and don't like. I think he can come in and become a huge difference-maker in a league right now that is trending away from the running back position and more towards the passing attack and having these big wide receivers."

Even if Richardson goes in the top 5, the Rams still need a No. 2 back. They have shown at least some interest in tough-minded Doug Martin (Boise State) and scatback Isaiah Pead (Cincinnati). Speed merchants Lamar Miller (Miami, Fla.) and LaMichael James (Oregon) also could be on their radar.

If they don't take Richardson in Round 1, they might wait until Rounds 3 or 4 to address the position. If that's the case, Martin and perhaps Miller could be gone.

By then you're getting into the range of perhaps Pead, James, Bernard Pierce (Temple), or Robert Turbin (Utah State). All were highly productive last season, with James leading the nation in rushing average (150.4 yards per game), and gaining 1,805 yards.

Turbin was Western Athletic Conference player of the year with 1,517 yards rushing and a school-record 23 touchdowns. Pierce gained 1,481 yards for Temple, setting school records with 27 rushing TDs and nine 100-yard rushing games. Pead was Big East offensive player of the year after rushing for a league-leading 1,259 yards.

Jeff Fisher thinks Sam Bradford can become the best quarterback in the NFL

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:42:08 GMT

New Rams coach Jeff Fisher decided to keep the quarterback he inherited, Sam Bradford, rather than draft a franchise quarterback of the future, after talking to many of the people he respects most around the NFL and concluding that Bradford has the potential to be the best quarterback in football.

“There’s no doubt,” Fisher said on Mike and Mike in the Morning. “There’s a number of friends of mine in the league that know the league, and I had one of them tell me during the process that they thought Sam may be one of the better quarterbacks — or the best quarterback — in the league, he just hasn’t had a chance to prove it yet. That weighed very heavily in my opinion. Very, very impressive player. I think he has a tremendous upside.”

Bradford was the first overall pick in 2010, the final year before the new rookie wage scale was implemented, which means that if he becomes anything less than a great quarterback, the Rams are overpaying for his services. Fisher also pointed out that the rookie wage scale made the Redskins willing to give the Rams a bounty of picks — three first-rounders and a second-rounder — in order to move up to No. 2 overall, because the Redskins know they won’t have to pay Robert Griffin III the kind of monster rookie contract that Bradford got.

“We ended up, at the end of the day, with a great deal,” Fisher said. “Washington’s really excited and we’re really excited.”

Fisher also said he never would have hired Gregg Williams as his defensive coordinator if he had known that Williams was about to be indefinitely suspended, but he also said he’s open to hiring Williams in the future if Williams is ever reinstated to the NFL.

“Gregg is very, very remorseful at this point — he regrets everything that took place,” Fisher said.

That remorse came only after Williams got caught, however, and too late to save his spot on the Rams’ coaching staff.

Rams finally announce coaching staff

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:36:59 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS | Posted: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 12:25 pm

Nearly three months after he was hired as Rams head coach, Jeff Fisher has announced his coaching staff.

Actually, all but a couple of the names have been known for some time on what is a 20-member coaching staff. The only two new names are assistant special teams coach Paul Boudreau Jr. — the son of offensive line coach Paul Boudreau Sr. — and assistant linebackers coach Joe Bowden, who spent eight seasons playing linebacker for Fisher in Houston/Tennessee.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, in the midst of his indefinite "Bountygate" suspension from the NFL that will keep him out of coaching for at least the 2012 season, is not listed among the staff members.

Here's Fisher's staff:

* Assistant head coach: Dave McGinnis

* Offensive coordinator: Brian Schottenheimer

* Quarterbacks: Frank Cignetti

* Running backs: Ben Sirmans

* Wide receivers: Ray Sherman

* Tight ends: Rob Boras

* Offensive line: Paul Boudreau Sr.

* Asst. offensive line: Andy Dickerson

* Offensive quality control: Andy Sugarman

* Defensive line: Mike Waufle

* Asst. defensive line: Clyde Simmons

* Linebackers: Blake Williams

* Asst. linebackers: Joe Bowden

* Secondary: Chuck Cecil

* Asst. secondary: Brandon Fisher

* Defensive quality control: Dennard Wilson

* Special teams coordinator: John Fassel

* Asst. special teams: Paul Boudreau Jr.

* Strength and conditioning: Rock Gullickson

* Asst. strength and conditioning: Adam Bailey

Rams talking to WR Jerome Simpson

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 22:44:06 GMT

Suffice it to say the Rams are exploring all options when it comes to finding wide receiver help. That process now includes free-agent wide receiver Jerome Simpson of the Cincinnati Bengals. Simpson, 26, was scheduled to arrive Tuesday evening in St. Louis for a visit and will work out for the Rams today.

On Thursday, Simpson is scheduled to be sentenced in Covington, Ky., after pleading guilty March 1 to a marijuana possession-related charge. Simpson also may face an NFL suspension.

But Simpson, 6-2, 190, probably will end up playing for someone this year, and the Rams felt he was worth a look.

Simpson was selected by Cincinnati in the second round of the 2008 draft out of Coastal Carolina but played sparingly in his first three NFL seasons. He appeared in only 13 games with four starts from 2008 through 2010, catching only 21 passes.

He had a breakout year last season with 50 catches for 725 yards and four touchdowns, including the catch of the year in the NFL — his front flip or somersault over Arizona linebacker Daryl Washington for a score Dec. 24.

Were it not for his legal problems, Simpson would have attracted considerable interest in free agency. At the NFL owners meeting last week, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he was open to the idea of offering Simpson a new contract.

Simpson isn't the only wide receiver visiting Rams Park this week. Jerricho Cotchery, most recently with Pittsburgh, also was scheduled to arrive Tuesday for a visit that will conclude today. Cotchery, 29, averaged 67 catches for 841 yards over a five-year period with the New York Jets (2006-10), a period in which current Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer ran the Jets' offense.

Dunbar's deal

New Rams linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar signed a two-year deal worth $3.05 million. But it includes $2 million of playing time incentives, so the deal can max out at $5.05 million. Dunbar gets a $1 million signing bonus, plus base salaries of $750,000 in 2012 and $1.3 million in 2013.

Ram-blings

Nike unveiled its new uniforms throughout the league Tuesday, and for the Rams the biggest change is that the gold pants are no more. The Rams will have two jersey colors (blue and white) and two pants colors (blue and white). The throwback uniforms will remain the same.

Former Rams center Jason Brown is paying a free-agent visit to San Francisco this weekend. ... The Rams' preseason schedule will be announced today. ... Quarterback Tom Brandstater has signed a one-year deal with the team.

Bradford and 4 More Who Underperformed in 2011 and Must Step Up

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:16:13 GMT

In reviewing the abysmal 2011 St. Louis Rams 2-14 season, it was not difficult to find players who under-performed. After all, you could probably name 40 players who could have played better anytime you look at a 2-14 team, let alone five.

That said, I wanted to focus on five Rams offensive players who are clearly capable of playing better this season than last and who could be key components for any Rams resurgence that made take place in 2012.

If the five players detailed in the following slides play up to or near their potential this year, St. Louis could be much improved, especially when considering the impressive free agent additions already in tow and some additional expected fortifications and talent upgrades forthcoming via the NFL draft.

Lance Kendricks

Lance Kendricks looked like he was indeed ready for a breakout rookie season last year after being selected in the second round and catching everything in the sight during the preseason.

However, as we know all too well, preseason play can be fool's gold for both teams and individuals, and we saw last season with both the Rams and Kendricks.

St. Louis went 4-0 in the preseason, and we all know how that translated to the regular season.

Kendricks' stellar preseason play did not transfer well either.

After bursting onto the scene with 11 catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns, the second round tight end from Wisconsin didn't produce.

After looking like Bradford's go-to guy during the pretend games, Kendricks looked more like just another receiver with oil on his hands during the regular season.

Beginning in Week 1 in the home opener versus the Philadelphia Eagles when he dropped a sure touchdown pass, Kendricks (along with many other Bradford targets) had trouble catching the ball with consistency all year long.

During the last three games, though, he pulled in nine receptions and seemed to be settling in a bit.

With the expected emphasis that will likely be placed on the ground game, Kendricks could be very valuable down the seam off play-action passes.

He has the ability to double his rookie season catch total of 28 this year and make things easier for Bradford.

After signing blocking tight end Matthew Mulligan (who has a total of six receptions in three seasons) and when considering Michael Hoomanawanui, has incurred repeated injuries during his first two seasons, it is critical that Kendricks step up in 2012 and display the sure hands he showed during last year's preseason schedule and throughout his collegiate career.

Frank Wychek was a similarly sized tight end (6'3' and 253 pounds) who excelled in Jeff Fisher's offense with the Tennessee Titans. In fact, Wychek averaged 61 catches during a seven year stretch there in a run-heavy offense.

If Kendricks can step up, he could theoretically put up similar numbers and make a big impact upon the St. Louis offense and in providing a great target for Bradford.

Rodger Saffold

Rodger Saffold excelled at left tackle during his rookie season of 2010.

In fact, the Indianapolis Coltswere so impressed with Saffold's rookie year that they admittedthat they regretted passing up on the big offensive tackle from the Indiana University.

However, Saffold entered the year with a nagging back condition and battled numerous injuries throughout his sophomore season before landing on the injured reserve in November following a weight room injury.

Not surprisingly, Saffold's play declined as he battled the aforementioned injuries. Better health should help Saffold succeed this season.

The replacement of offensive line coach Steve Loney with Paul Boudreau should help Saffold (and the entire offensive line) improve as well.

All in all, I expect a renaissance campaign from Saffold in 2012, and that should help revive quarterback Sam Bradford as well.

Jason Smith

Former 2009 No. 2 pick Jason Smith has suffered two season-ending concussion related injuries in three seasons.

Largely due to the previously mentioned injury issues, Smith has played in just 29 of a possible 48 contents.

He has also struggled with inconsistent play at right tackle, especially in pass protection.

There has been talk of the Rams restructuring his contract or simply cutting the massive offensive tackle if he refuses to adjust his rookie contract.

However, a cut is looking less and less likely, and it looks as if St. Louis wants to bring him back and attempt to coach him up, according to this article from Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Although there has been much talk of the Rams drafting an offensive tackle early in the draft, that talk has sprung forth from outside the organization, not within.

The Rams may decide to go forward as is after signing versatile offensive tackle/guard Quinn Ojinnaka for depth.

Either way, if Smith can stay healthy and benefit from some expected better offensive line coaching, he could be key in 2012.

Smith has been very good and strong in the ground game but needs to improve in pass protection. He appears to have the athleticism to grow in that regard and is still just 23 years old.

If Smith can play to the expectations that made him a No. 2 pick, St. Louis could field a much better offensive line with a healthy Rodger Saffold back in proper form.

Austin Pettis

Austin Pettis
Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

St. Louis selected Austin Pettis in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft even though many had rated Greg Salas (who the Rams grabbed in round four) ahead of him.

As the season played out, those who had valued Salas higher than Pettis appeared very wise.

While Salas impressed almost everyone before enduring a season-ending injury, Pettis was generally at least a little disappointing.

If his disappointing play were not enough, he was than tagged with a suspension for the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Considering some of his struggles to consistently catch the ball and what seemed a lack of speed and explosion, some asked if that was Pettis with extra help, what would he look like without the reported extra assistance?

Joking aside, Pettis did flash some improvement late in the season. Over his final four games, Pettis pulled in 11 of his 27 total catches.

Going forward, Pettis might not be a lock in St. Louis next year.

The man who drafted him, former general manager Billy Devaney, is long gone and new GM Les Snead and head coach Fisher may not feel much loyalty to players of the former regime, even one who was drafted early in the 2011 NFL draft.

Pettis needs to impress during the offseason and training camp to have a chance to make an impact in 2012. If not, it may be possible that he does not return, especially if a couple of wide receivers and reeled in during the upcoming NFL draft.

Sam Bradford

As most of us know, Sam Bradford regressed from his 2010 Offensive Rookie of the Year form to a full-fledged sophomore slump last season.

Bradford, though, had some tough circumstances working against him last season:

The offensive line was inconsistent and performed poorly, overall, in regard to pass protection.
Several receivers dropped passes far too often throughout the season, beginning in Week 1 versus Philadelphia.
Bradford had to learn a second offense under a second offensive coordinator within the constraints of a drastically shortened offseason.
Finally, Bradford lost the steadying, reassuring guidance of quarterback coach Dick Curl, who retired.

On the other hand, Bradford has some responsibility in his depreciation of 2011.

Bradford struggled with his progressions last year and locked onto his receivers far too often. To be fair, receivers were rarely getting separation, and that could have played a role in that, theoretically.

Then again, there were many occasions when players ran open to never be seen by Bradford who was often staring down his primary read.

When watching him closely, he rarely scanned the field. At times, one might have thought that Peyton Manning was not the only NFL QB with a serious neck injury, as Bradford appeared to rarely turn his head.

In addition to improving on his progressions, Bradford needs to up his pocket awareness as he often showed a subpar feel for what was taking place around him last season.

With Danny Amendola almost assuredly returning, a hopefully healthy Steve Smith in the fold and some sure-to-come weapons via the NFL draft, Bradford should be set to improve in 2012.

As touched on in previous slides, better pass protection should undoubtedly help, too. Getting a quarterback coach back on the sidelines may aid Bradford as well. Having a full offseason surely will not hurt, either.

Of all those listed in this slideshow, Bradford's bounce back to better play in the coming campaign would help make for a stronger showing by St. Louis in the won-loss column than any other Rams offensive player.

For the sake of Rams Nation, one has to hope that occurs, especially after trading the No. 2 overall pick to the Washington Redskins for Robert Griffin III.

RE:Jeff Fisher says Rams–Browns draft deal a possibility

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:50:16 GMT

Seems stupid to me. What sense then did the trade between the Rams and Skins make?

Jeff Fisher says Rams–Browns draft deal a possibility

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:49:36 GMT

The Cleveland Browns hold the 2012 NFL Draft's No. 4 overall selection, at least for now. With many offensive needs to address, they've quickly become the first round's biggest wild card.

For help with their decision, they've already reached out twice the St. Louis Rams.

What the heck will Tom Heckert do with the No. 4 overall pick? (AP Photo)

Despite the recent reaffirmation by general manager Tom Heckert that they are satisfied with Colt McCoy as their top quarterback for 2012, the Browns made a futile inquiry into the availability of Rams starter Sam Bradford, ESPNCleveland.com reports. Bradford, coming off an injury-riddled second season, played for Browns coach Pat Shurmur, then the Rams' offensive coordinator, as a rookie in 2010.

According to the report, after the lack of mutual interest in a potential Bradford deal, the Browns then eyed moving up into No. 2 overall spot formerly held by the Rams — before St. Louis traded down to No. 6 in a blockbuster trade with the Washington Redskins.

Even though that swap didn't work out with the Browns, Rams coach Jeff Fisher told reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., not to rule out the potential of a different draft-day deal between the teams.

"They were very fruitful discussions," Fisher said, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "They are a potential trade partner with us."

The Browns, regardless of what they've said publicly about McCoy, are interested in adding a promising young quarterback. Now that Bradford, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III aren't options, they are bringing in Ryan Tannehill — the consensus third-best QB prospect — for a pre-draft visit.

Although it would be a considered a stretch for them to take Tannehill at No. 4, they are also armed with other first-round ammunition — the No. 22 overall pick which they acquired from the Atlanta Falcons.

For the Browns to force the Rams' hand into trading back up, they must make them think they would take the Rams' likely target at No. 6 — Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. It's not unreasonable given the fact Cleveland is desperate to put skilled playmakers around McCoy.

If the Browns trade down to No. 6, it will still assure them a clear shot at Tannehill if they so desired — two picks ahead of the quarterback-needy Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins' offense coordinator is Mike Sherman — Tannehill's former coach at Texas A&M.

Rams take flier on former Giants receiver Steve Smith

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 22:03:00 GMT

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatchreports that the Rams agreed to terms with two players on Monday.

Former Jets tight end Matthew Mulliganhas agreed to join St. Louis on a two-year deal. The more notable name is Steve Smith, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Giants but couldn’t get on the field last year with Philadelphia.

Smith, 27 in May, agreed to a one-year deal and will look to rehab his market value on a Rams depth chart he likely envisions as easy to climb. Once one of the NFL’s top slot receivers — Smith caught 107 balls for the Giants in 2009 — his career has spiraled since microfracture knee surgery in 2010.

Smith played in only 11 games for the Eagles last year, catching 11 passes for 124 yards and one touchdown. He was Philadelphia’s No. 5 receiver behind Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, and Riley Cooper.

Mulligan is a blocker and special teamer.

Chamberlain leaves Rams; Miller stays

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:49:43 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS •

The Rams kept a fullback and lost a linebacker Friday in free agency. Brit Miller re-signed with the team, while Chris Chamberlain signed with New Orleans.

Miller, 25, has made a surprisingly successful switch from college linebacker at Illinois to NFL fullback with the Rams. For most of the past two seasons, he has served as Steven Jackson's lead blocker while also rating as one of the Rams' top special teams performers. Touches are few and far between for Miller, but he did have five carries for 14 yards and three receptions for 41 yards last season.

Knee injuries ended both of his Rams seasons early, causing him to miss the final two games of 2010 and the final four games of 2011.

Chamberlain reunites with former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo and defensive coordinator Ken Flajole in New Orleans after signing a three-year deal with the Saints. (Spagnuolo is defensive coordinator and Flajole secondary coach for New Orleans.)

Chamberlain, 26, was a seventh-round draft pick in 2008 out of the University of Tulsa. After leading the Rams in special teams tackles in each of his first three NFL seasons, Chamberlain became a starting outside linebacker last season and played well, recording 82 tackles, two sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. The Rams had talked to Chamberlain about re-signing with the team, but he opted for New Orleans.

In varying degrees, the Rams remain in conversation with several free agents who have visited Rams Park recently: offensive guards Chilo Rachal (San Francisco) and Robert Turner (New York Jets), offensive tackle Barry Richardson (Kansas City), outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (New Orleans) and wide receiver Steve Smith (Philadelphia).

Rams contracts

The official numbers are in on the contracts of recent Rams free agent pickups Cortland Finnegan, Scott Wells, and Kendall Langford.

• Finnegan, the cornerback from Tennessee, signed a five-year, $50 million contract that can max out to $51.25 million if an escalator clause kicks in for 2016, the final year of the contract.

He gets a signing bonus of $5 million, followed by base salaries of $5 million in 2012, $9 million in 2013, $6 million in 2014, $8 million in 2015 and $7 million in 2016. Those numbers add up to $40 million, with the remaining $10 million coming in the form of roster bonuses of $5 million in 2013, $3 million in 2014 and $2 million in 2016. Finnegan's salary cap number for this coming season is a modest $6 million, but it jumps to $15 million in 2013, a season in which the Rams have loads of cap space.

• Wells, the center from Green Bay, signed a four-year, $24 million deal that can max out at $25.5 million if an escalator clause kicks in for the final three years.

Wells gets a $4 million signing bonus, followed by base salaries of $3.5 million in 2012, and then $5.5 million in each of the final three years of the contract (2013-2015). His base salaries for 2012 and '13 are guaranteed, and counting the signing bonus, that gives him $13 million of guaranteed money. He counts $4.5 million against the cap this season.

• Langford, the defensive lineman from Miami, gets $22 million over four years, which actually is a little less than originally advertised. But the contract can max out at more than $24 million if Langford qualifies for incentives and escalator clauses included in the deal.

Langford gets a $4 million signing bonus, followed by base salaries of $2 million in 2012, $5 million in both 2013 and 2014, and $6 million in 2015. His base salaries in 2012 and 2013 are guaranteed, and counting the signing bonus, that means $11 million of his deal is guaranteed. Langford counts $3 million against the cap this season.

Wells Excited for New Opportunity

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:41:17 GMT

By Nick Wagoner/Senior Writer

Growing up in Brentwood, Tenn. and playing his college football at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville afforded Scott Wells the opportunity to see up close the way Jeff Fisher handles his business.

After going a portion of his young life with no professional football in his home state, Wells saw first hand how the Titans were built in Tennessee and how Fisher was able to bring it all together and eventually make his team a legitimate contender for Super Bowls.

Those memories never faded from Wells and when he hit free agency this offseason, they came rushing back when Fisher and his new team, the Rams, called to bring him in for a visit.

Ultimately, those recollections were a piece of the puzzle that ultimately helped Wells decide to sign a lucrative four-year deal with Fisher and the Rams.

“I’ve followed Coach Fisher since I was in high school growing up in the Nashville area,” Wells said. “I really admired what he was able to do with the Titans when he was here. Really wanted to explore an opportunity to play for him some day, and through free agency, I’ve been given that opportunity.”

Upon his visit to St. Louis, Wells had the opportunity to meet Fisher and offensive line coach Paul Boudreau. Those meetings lived up to the expectations Wells had. When the Rams made Wells a generous offer to make him one of the most well-compensated pivots in the league, Wells decided he couldn’t pass even though he had strong interest from his former team, Green Bay, and his hometown Titans.

“I decided that’s where I wanted to be,” Wells said. “It felt like the right place for me and my family. I was really looking forward to playing with Coach Fisher and following his career. I’m excited about this opportunity to step into this organization and to work with another great quarterback in Sam Bradford, I’m excited about that.”

In landing Wells, the Rams signed one of the premiere offensive linemen available in this year’s free agent market.

The 31-year old Wells has just entered his prime and has graded out as the Packers’ best offensive lineman in each of the past two years, no small feat for a team that has been downright dominant offensively in that time.

Wells was finally rewarded for that production in 2011 when he earned the first Pro Bowl berth of his eight seasons. With Wells in the middle of the line, the Packers have finished in the top 10 in total yards in each of the past six seasons.

A trip to Hawaii followed by a rich free agent contract, not too shabby for a 2004 seventh-round draft choice.

“I think I’ve been a consistent player in Green Bay, really the past three or four years,” Wells said. “I think the center position definitely takes several years to break into the Pro Bowl and you have to be consistent on a year- in year-out basis to get that recognition. I was an alternate one other time and I was finally able to break in this year. A lot of it has to do with team success, having the offense that we had, as well as personal play. I feel that as the team is successful, personal accolades follow, so I think they’re directly related.”

The easy assumption about Wells is that he had a difficult decision leaving a Green Bay team that has been one of the winningest franchises in the league in the past two seasons. The Packers boast an explosive offense and a rabid fanbase.

Meanwhile, the Rams have clearly struggled in recent years and certainly haven’t played near the level of Wells’ former team.

But Wells maintains that he didn’t concern himself much with that and looked more at the big picture. He was a part of a rebuilding process in Green Bay and he has seen it turnaround, making him confident it will happen in St. Louis as well.

“Absolutely,” Wells said. “I like being a part of that. I think Coach Fisher, again, has brought in the right coaches to build something there and he’s got a great foundation with Sam, outstanding quarterback, as well as other players on the team. I’m excited about this, I’m excited to be a part of it and look forward to turning it around soon.”

From the Rams’ perspective, adding another proven winner to the roster is a key piece of the rebuilding process. Surrounded by a number of young players on offense, particularly on the offensive line, Wells can provide an example of what it takes to get a Super Bowl ring.

“Scott has played at a high level for a long time and we feel fortunate that we were able to add him to our team,” Fisher said. “He’s been a part of a program that has won a lot of football games. He’s a leader, and we’re excited about what he brings both on and off the field.”

Wells says he tries to lead by example.

“Well, I consider myself an intelligent player,” Wells said. “I really study the film and study the playbook. I’m very consistent and I think that I bring a level of professionalism that can really help other guys be true professionals on and off the field. Really just try to do everything right in practice and it will carry over into the games.”

Another benefit of adding Wells could be the guidance he can provide to quarterback Sam Bradford. Last season, Bradford was asked to handle a lot for the offense, including checks at the line and making the offensive line calls.

A revolving door in front of Bradford made his task even more difficult. But Wells brings vast experience on the line and has been as reliable as it gets, starting every game the past two seasons and 100 total in his eight-year career.

“I think with my experience in eight years in the NFL in a very complex offense, what should help as far as recognizing defensive pressures and communicating, making sure everybody’s on the right page,” Wells said. “A lot of that comes through practicing with the entire offense and it’ll carry over into the football game. So I look to draw on my experience and try to share that the best I can and be an asset to this team.”

Wells has already been in touch with Bradford via text and says he’s excited about opening holes in the running game for back Steven Jackson.

The last time the Rams signed a high dollar free agent offensive lineman from Green Bay was guard Adam Timmerman. Timmerman just so happened to be coming off a Super Bowl appearance and he also just so happened to be a key piece in helping a downtrodden Rams team turn into a contender.

That line of thinking is probably too far in advance for Wells, though. For now, he’s looking forward to playing for his new coach and helping the Rams return to glory.

“I don’t know,” Wells said. “I hadn’t really thought about that part. I’m just excited about where it’s going. I don’t think it’s important necessarily where the team has been in the past. They have a new coaching staff, they’ve got some new players and I’m excited to be a part of that and look forward to going over there and winning a lot of games.”

RE:Goodell shows no fear

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:40:24 GMT

Sean Payton should have gotten the same punishment as Williams, sorry Saints but the head coach is in charge of everything and he allowed it to happen and encouraged the other coaches to lie about it and deny it. One years suspension doesn't look harsh enough to me.

Goodell shows no fear

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:39:16 GMT

Bernie Miklasz

The Rams will be fine without defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Yes, they'd be better off with Williams working at Rams Park, but it's not as if the suspended coach is taking his defensive philosophy and playbook with him as he enters an undetermined period of exile.

The Williams defense remains in place, to be installed and taught by Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and his assistants. The Williams defense doesn't vanish now that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Williams indefinitely for his lead role in running the notorious bounty program in New Orleans.

In hitting Williams, New Orleans head coach Sean Payton, Saints GM Mickey Loomis, and Saints assistant Joe Vitt and the New Orleans franchise with severe penalties, Goodell reaffirmed his status as the finest and most powerful commissioner in professional sports.

After seeing Goodell take down the miscreants and impose penalties that will probably debilitate the Saints franchise beyond the 2012 season, do you think NFL coaches and players will take the commissioner's pro-safety initiative seriously from this point on?

Do you think that everyone in the NFL understands that Goodell is entrenched and unwavering in his serious effort to protect players from the vulnerability of dirty, cowardly, cheap-shot hits?

Goodell cleaned up the corners Wednesday.

Hopefully this will change the NFL forever, and in a positive way. There's no way to eliminate concussions, but the league can certainly reduce the number of head injuries by cracking down on gratuitous violence and intentional, premeditated attempts to injure an opponent. In particular, NFL coaches will be running scared from now on. Even the mere rumor of a bounty system could incur the wrath of an angry Goodell.

Goodell also settled two questions about his leadership:

1. We know that he hasn't hesitated to go after head-hunting players with fines and suspensions. But would the tough-guy commissioner hold coaches and executives to the same standards of conduct?

Goodell obliterated the skepticism Wednesday with a year's suspension for Payton, an eight-game suspension for Loomis, a six-game suspension for Vitt, and by kicking Williams out of the league for at least a full year.

The bounties, alone, were a serious offense. But these incredibly arrogant men compounded their misdeeds by foolishly lying to Goodell's investigators in an attempt to cover up their wrongdoing. Judge Goodell was not pleased. He demonstrated that he'll stand up to coaches and executives with even more force than he imposes on players.

2. Would Goodell bring the hammer down even at the risk of angering the wealthy individuals who own NFL franchises? Goodell works for the owners, who reportedly will pay him $20 million annually in his new contract. But keeping the owners happy didn't seem to enter the commissioner's mind when he took a bazooka to the Saints.

I don't imagine Saints owner Tom Benson is pleased to lose his head coach for a season, his GM for half the season, give up two second-round draft choices and pay a $500,000 fine. I don't think Rams owner Stan Kroenke is thrilled to lose his new defensive coordinator for at least one season.

Message: Don't mess with Goodell, no matter how powerful you think you are. (There were a couple of inconsistencies in Goodell's ruling that bother me; I'll discuss them in an upcoming blog or column.)

Let's return to Rams Park, where Fisher was braced for Williams' penalty. The head coach took the news calmly, as he should have. The Williams defense is the same attacking defense that Fisher has used for nearly two decades in the NFL. Fisher and his assistants can install it and teach it.

Though they're close friends personally, Williams only served four seasons (1997-2000) as Fisher's defensive coordinator at Tennessee. Fisher wasn't handing out any titles Wednesday, but he has an appealing in-house option in assistant head coach Dave McGinnis, a respected defensive mind.

The Rams can sort things out and work around Williams' absence. But I'm still sorting through some of Fisher's comments during Wednesday's news conference.

I was confused when Fisher said he wouldn't have hired Williams if he'd known about Williams' involvement in the New Orleans' scheme, or the looming punishment from the NFL.

If Fisher wouldn't have hired Williams had he known about these circumstances in advance — then why would Fisher consider employing Williams again, now that he DOES know what happened?

Unlike some of the fake tough-guy grandstanders out there, I don't believe the Rams should fire Williams. Fisher wants an edgy and nasty defense and brought in Williams for a reason. It wasn't because Williams could lead a really swell sing-along in team meetings.

The Rams may have not known about the New Orleans bounties — but they knew Williams was no angel. He is who they thought he was. To fire Williams now would be a phony, hypocrisy-filled move.

Why would the Rams bring Williams back if Goodell reinstates him? I can think of a few reasons.

The Fisher-Williams friendship is a factor. Williams has been a successful coordinator who cultivates the kind of defensive mindset that Fisher wants. That's also a factor.

I'm also assuming Fisher has empathy, figuring that Williams deserves a second chance if Williams cooperates with the league, helps the league educate players on this serious issue and convinces the league that he's a reformed coach.

Oh, and there's something else.

When I asked Fisher why his friend Williams had lost his way by behaving so terribly in New Orleans, the coach offered a lengthy and cryptic response:

"There's a great deal of information out there that we will never know," Fisher said. "And so I can't really comment on the specifics of that, and place blame on anybody. This was a very extensive investigation. And there's a lot out there that I would assume will not be disclosed.

"So I think I have to reserve comment on that. Because I know that never at any time as far as I've been with him (did Williams) disrespect this game, from the standpoint of you try to hurt someone on purpose.

"So I think there's a lot out there that probably will be locked up in a drawer someplace."

Well, now.

Does Coach Fisher know something that we don't?

Does Fisher believe Williams ran the bounty program at the behest of someone in a higher position in New Orleans? Do the Rams think Williams was scapegoated in some way?

We may never know what Fisher and the Rams believe about Williams' culpability in this.

Check that.

Actually, we probably will eventually know what the Rams are really thinking here.

If the NFL lifts Williams' suspension before the 2013 season, Fisher and the Rams will decide if they want Williams to work for them.

That important decision will reveal their true feelings. And we'll finally be able to decipher the message contained in Fisher's mysterious answer.

RE:Rams still have plenty of holes to fill

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:30:28 GMT

Rams should never gotten rid of Laurent Robinson

Rams still have plenty of holes to fill

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:26:40 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

The first wave is over in the free agent frenzy. With a few exceptions, most of the top-flight talent has been scooped off the shelves. Even Peyton Manning has a new home.

On to the second wave, which usually means more patience by teams and fewer dollars offered. It was an active first week for the Rams, with the team bringing in 11 players in the first four days of free agency and signing three.

Of the 11 players who were on campus last week at Rams Park, 10 of them already have new contracts. The only exception is free-agent wide receiver Steve Smith, most recently with Philadelphia, who came in for a physical and ran pass routes for the Rams last Thursday.

Otherwise:

• At quarterback, Shaun Hill re-signed with Detroit and Brady Quinn went to Kansas City. Hill seemed poised to sign with St. Louis, particularly because of his past association with Rams quarterback coach Frank Cignetti, but the Lions made a better offer.

• At offensive guard, Nate Livings signed with Dallas and Travelle Wharton went to Cincinnati. Both agreed to terms with their new teams while in the midst of their visits to Rams Park.

• At defensive tackle, Jason Jones signed with Seattle and Andre Fluellen re-signed with Detroit. Jones apparently wanted to sign only a one-year deal, and his contract with the Seahawks could earn him $5 million a year, more than the Rams were willing to pay, particularly for someone with knee issues.

• At wide receiver, Mario Manningham signed with San Francisco. The Rams were interested in signing Manningham, but only if the price was right.

The three free agents the Rams signed didn't come cheaply. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan's deal averages $10 million a year; the deals signed by center Scott Wells and defensive tackle Kendall Langford both average $6 million a year. Together the three contracts represent a potential allocation of $98 million.

Wells and Finnegan both have a Pro Bowl to their names, while Langford is considered an ascending player. The Rams consider them all "blue" or top-tier players, but signing them means they have replaced only three of the five starters released last week.

Finnegan replaces Ron Bartell, Wells replaces Jason Brown, and Langford replaces either Fred Robbins or Justin Bannan — take your pick. Meanwhile, it looks like last year's first-round pick, Robert Quinn, will replace the fifth released starter (James Hall) at defensive end.

But the Rams still need a starting defensive tackle. Currently, the only other DTs on the roster are:

• Darell Scott, who has been slowed by injury and hasn't done much since showing flashes as a rookie in 2009.

• Jermelle Cudjo, who spent the entire 2011 season on injured reserve because of back issues.

• 2011 practice squad members John Henderson and Cornell Banks.

The ranks are even thinner at defensive end, where the Rams have only Eugene Sims under contract behind starters Quinn and Chris Long.

So there's plenty of work to be done on the roster, especially at wide receiver, where the Rams have swung and missed despite what may have been the deepest and most talented class of wideouts in the 20-year history of free agency.

Listed alphabetically, Harry Douglas, Early Doucet, Pierre Garcon, Anthony Gonzalez, Vincent Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, Mario Manningham, Robert Meachem, Laurent Robinson, Eddie Royal, Donte Stallworth, and Reggie Wayne all either signed with new teams or re-signed with their current team.

There's next to nothing left on the wide receiver market: Deion Branch, who turns 33 in July; Plaxico Burress, who turns 35 in August and may not be worth the trouble; Braylon Edwards, who washed out in San Francisco; Ted Ginn, who's more return man than receiver; and Smith, who has been slowed by knee problems the past two years.

So barring a trade, it's looking more and more like the Rams must come out of the draft with two starting-caliber wide receivers. Former Rams general manager Billy Devaney frequently said that you can always find wide receivers. Former defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jim Haslett used to say the same thing.

If that's the case, why has it been so difficult since the departure of Rams greats Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt?

And there's work to be done at other positions, such as linebacker, where the Rams have only James Laurinaitis, Josh Hull and Justin Cole under contract. Linebacker is one of the few positions in free agency where there hasn't been a ton of action. Players such as Erin Henderson, Manny Lawson, Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne are still available, although Lofton and Hawthorne are inside linebackers, and Lofton probably will command a big payday.

At quarterback, only Sam Bradford is under contract for the Rams. Josh Johnson and Billy Volek could be possibilities in free agency, but Johnson is currently visiting Washington and doesn't seem interested in the Rams, and Volek turns 36 next month. When all is said and done, the Rams may turn back to one of their backups from last season in Kellen Clemens and A.J. Feeley, who are both free agents.

So the pace may slow, as the team turns more of its attention to the draft, but the Rams still need to add bodies in the second phase of free agency. They can't fill every need in the draft. Even with the extra picks from Washington in the trading of the No. 2 overall pick, the Rams have only seven picks in 2012 at this point. (Only two of the four picks acquired from Washington are for the 2012 draft.)

Fisher: NFL suspension of Williams was 'warranted'

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:57:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- When Gregg Williams was hired as St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator in January, he was answering the call from not just a longtime associate, but one of his best friends.

Coach Jeff Fisher says he had no idea Williams had been running a bounty pool in New Orleans.

Fisher delivered the news to Williams on Wednesday that the franchise would be cutting ties for at least the 2012 season, under the assistant's indefinite suspension from the NFL for the bounty payments that he handed out with the Saints.

Fisher betrayed no emotion at a news conference at which he said the punishment was "warranted."

"The severity of the suspension does not surprise us," Fisher said. "We, as best you can, have been preparing for that."

Fisher said Williams will be eligible for reinstatement after the 2012 season, but gave no guarantee that he'd want Williams back saying, "You know, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." He did, however, lavish praise on a man who consistently has produced top 10 defenses.

"I don't mean to be insensitive to this, but we have to move on," Fisher said. "Our job's to win games and Gregg's got to learn from his mistakes, and he's paying dearly for them.

"He's going to do his best to do whatever it takes to get reinstated."

In a statement issued by the Rams, Williams apologized to the NFL, to Fisher, the Rams organization and football fans in general for operating the bounty pool. The Rams said Williams would make no further public comment.

Williams did not argue with the terms of the suspension and said, "I accept full responsibility for my actions." He said pledged to cooperate with the league in its ongoing investigation, and said he would serve as an advocate for player safety and sportsmanship.

Williams added that he'll do anything he can to earn back the respect he has lost, and wants to return to coaching.

Before meeting with media, Fisher watched commissioner Roger Goodell being interviewed on TV, and began his news conference by saying: "Not an easy day for him. Not a good day for the National Football League."

Fisher seemed to offer as much support as he could when asked why he thought one of his close friends would act this way.

"There's a great deal of information out there that we will never know, so I can't really comment on the specifics of that and place blame on anybody," Fisher said. "Never, at any time, as far as I've been with him, has he disrespected this game from the standpoint of you try to hurt somebody on purpose.

"He has a passion for this game and a passion for playing hard-nosed, aggressive defense. I think there's a lot out there that will probably be locked up in a drawer some place."

Fisher said he'd be part of a committee of coaches replacing Williams and likely wouldn't hire another assistant. Fisher is a former defensive coordinator, pointing out that he's the originator of the Rams playbook and he has two other people with experience at that position on his staff, assistant head coach Dave McGinnis and defensive backs coach Chuck Cecil.

"So I have a pretty good feel for the defense," Fisher said. "At this point I'm not at liberty to say who's going to make the calls and the decisions, but it'll get done and it'll get done effectively."

Fisher was adamant that the franchise, and Williams, had been unaware of the NFL investigation.

"I know Gregg and I know him well," Fisher said. "Gregg would not have put this organization in this position, accepted this job, only to be suspended, and put us behind the 8-ball if you will."

The suspension was a jolt to Fisher's rebuilding efforts in St. Louis, which has totaled just 10 victories the last three seasons. Williams was a head coach for three years -- in Buffalo -- and a defensive coordinator for 13, regularly producing defensive numbers among the NFL's best, and was Titans defensive coordinator under Fisher when Tennessee lost to the Rams in the 2000 Super Bowl.

Williams arrived promising a culture change for a franchise that ranked near the bottom of the NFL against the run and often folded late. He remained on the job after the bounty scandal surfaced on March 2.

Said Fisher: "I would say he's somewhat surprised, shocked, disappointed, but also remorseful."

Finnegan brings edge to Rams' defense

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:21:53 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

New Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan is mild-mannered off the field but a wild man on it. So what comes over him once he steps on the field?

Blame it on Mom.

"It may be my Irish side," he said. "I don't know. My mom's a little feisty. If you ever get the chance to meet her, she's got about 400 tattoos and she's just a wild woman. She's military background, so I think just her wild side is sort of part of what it's all about for me."

His mother, Linda, served 20 years in the Army, including three years in Korea when Cortland was a youngster.

You can call Finnegan wild. You can say he plays aggressively — maybe too aggressively. Just don't call him a dirty player, says coach Jeff Fisher.

"I think his reputation is widely misunderstood out there from the standpoint of the dirty player-type thing and all that," Fisher said. "He's just a very productive player. I would say this: the only thing he does better than on the field is what he does off the field and in the community. And he'll have a tremendous impact and role in the community as well."

Finnegan is very proud of his Ark 31 Foundation, which emphasizes helping youth with special needs and disabilities.

But when it comes to football, most fans associate Finnegan with roughhouse play as a Tennessee Titan.

The Rams picked up Finnegan for $50 million over five years, making him the first free agent signing of Fisher's tenure. The Rams aren't necessarily looking for highlight-reel scuffles, such as the one Finnegan had in 2010 with Houston receiver Andre Johnson. But they do want Finnegan to bring some attitude and leadership to their defense, and make a few highlight-reel plays along the way.

"He plays with an edge, he does," Fisher said. "And he challenges and he competes. And he finishes every down."

But there's some skill to go with that Irish passion.

"He's a complete corner in that he's got great cover skills," Fisher said. "He's a run-support corner. He's got flexibility to move inside. There's always the potential to match him up on a top receiver on a game-to-game basis. He's a very, very hard worker every day. Consistent on the practice field. Consistent in the weight room. Understands preparation. We're going to have some younger players in the room, and I think he'll be a great example for them."

In his five seasons as a full-time starter for the Titans, Finnegan averaged 92 tackles, three interceptions, and 15 pass breakups a year. He also has six career sacks and four career defensive touchdowns.

He doesn't dispute the fact that there's an edge to his play.

"If there is an edge, I'm standing over it, looking over it," Finnegan said.

But for those who think he crosses the line, or even jumps over that edge ...

"Everyone has their opinion," he said. "You go out there and try to help your football team win, and I just happen to play with an edge to me. I never want to hurt the football team, but also want to make big plays."

Finnegan said he was humbled and excited after signing one of the most lucrative contracts so far in the free agency period. He has come along way from his days as a 150-pound football player at Milton (Fla.) High, or his small-college days at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. But the Titans thought enough of him to bring him in for a "top 30" pre-draft visit, and ended up taking him in the seventh round in 2006.

"Towards the end of the period prior to the draft it was recommended to me by our people in the personnel department to look at this safety and returner from Samford," Fisher said. "So we put the tape on and I said, 'Wow.' "

Entering this year's free agency period, Finnegan was considered one of the top corners on the market. But he never made any visits before agreeing to terms Tuesday with the Rams.

"It just made sense," Finnegan said. "I love Coach Fisher and the direction he's always taken the team. I respect him for everything he stands for, and I definitely wanted to come be a part of this."

Free agent update

Tennessee defensive lineman Jason Jones left St. Louis without a contract Thursday, and apparently is visiting Seattle next. Snead said he expects a decision from Jones in the next few days.

• Center Scott Wells (Green Bay), quarterback Shaun Hill (Detroit), and wide receiver Steve Smith (Philadelphia) visited Rams Park on Thursday, with their visits expected to continue today. Wide receiver Mario Manningham (New York Giants) and offensive guard Travelle Wharton (Carolina) also were scheduled to arrive Thursday night.

• Offensive tackle Eric Winston (Houston) is scheduled to arrive today, and defensive lineman Kendall Langford (Miami) might be in this weekend, if he doesn't sign with Cincinnati.

• Former Rams cornerback Ron Bartell headed for Oakland for a visit with the Raiders.

Fisher, Snead change Rams' outloook

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:09:44 GMT

Adam Schein

The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins raise their middle fingers to the NFL. In doing so, Dallas gets it right and Washington gets it wrong.

The Philadelphia Eagles finally have the right plan. What exactly is going on in Houston?

And we have an offseason winner two days into free agency.

We are all over the good, the bad and the ugly, Schein 9 style:

1. 2012 offseason champs, 2013 return to the playoffs

Is it too early to pick the St. Louis Rams to make the playoffs in 2013? We are only 48 hours into the offseason period, and we have a winner. Coach Jeff Fisher, general manager Les Snead and the Rams should take a bow. What they have done in reshaping their ballclub has been nothing short of remarkable in a few days.

It isn’t about flashy signings or high risks. The Rams are prepping to build via the draft with a bushel of top picks. And they chose their one huge free-agent move wisely.

If you are a Rams fan, here’s the beauty: You aren’t close to being done yet. And, finally, you have the right football people in place making decisions.

I loved the Rams and Redskins deal (more on Washington later) for both teams. St. Louis employs Sam Bradford. He had a majestic rookie season before slumping because of a new playbook and injuries around him last year. He is a franchise quarterback. There was no need to pluck the talented Robert Griffin III.

Snead and Fisher, as we wrote after the NFL Combine, put a "for sale" sign on the second overall pick, treating it like a trade partner would be trading for the first overall pick and a stud quarterback. It was a smart strategy. Washington, quarterback-starved, took the bait. So now, the Rams have two first-round picks this year, and three in the top 39. They have two first-round picks in 2013 and 2014. This is how you build a winner.

Talking on the SiriusXM Blitz on Wednesday, the new GM was bursting with enthusiasm about the future.

“We looked at who we could pick (with the three picks in the top 39), and we are going to get guys who will contribute this year," Snead said. "And I’m excited for the future. After cutting some veterans, we are the youngest team in the league. We are going to have these young players play together early in their careers. I’m very excited for the second half of this year and into next year.”

And Snead and the Rams have the perfect coach in Fisher, who is a teacher and gets teams to brilliantly overachieve.

St. Louis gave Cortland Finnegan a whopping $50 million for five years. When I pressed Snead if that was worthy money, he said, “In free agency, you ask yourself if you can live with a player, what it is going to be like day in and day out. Jeff had Cortland in Tennessee. We knew the answer. He is in his prime, not slowing down.”

Then Snead quipped, “He had me at Andre Johnson,” speaking of the famous brawl. Snead added:“He is tenacious. He plays hard and urgent. This is who we want to be.”

The Rams will look to add needed talent at receiver and on the interior portion of the offensive line. Snead says the key for the line is to get one that can “jell like a basketball team.”

Smart answers and intelligent thoughts from the Rams? Get used to it. St. Louis.

Mike Holmgren says Browns offered "every bit" as Redskins to move up for Robert Griffin III

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:06:25 GMT

By Tony Grossi

Browns President Mike Holmgren said he made “every bit the offer” as the Washington Redskins to move up to No. 2 in the draft to take Robert Griffin III, but believes the Browns had no chance to trade with the St. Louis Rams.

“Honestly, when it didn’t happen I think there are reasons that I can’t go into right now, but there is a very close relationship between the people getting the deal done and the people who offered. And I’m not sure anything we offered would have been good enough. We were very, very aggressive and it didn’t work,” Holmgren said.

Holmgren made those comments on a conference call with Browns season-ticket holders. The question about the Browns’ seriousness about the trade talks did not come up until the 54th minute of a 60-minute question and answer session.

“Most of the stories that I have seen – all of them I’ve seen – were incorrect in what our offer was, when we entered the process and in how we went about it,” Holmgren said.

The relationship to which Holmgren referred was the friendship between Rams coach Jeff Fisher and Redskins coach Mike Shanahan.

The Redskins moved into the No. 2 spot by shipping the Rams their first-round position at No. 6, their second-round pick this year, and first-round picks in 2013 and 2014.

Since the Browns own the No. 4 position in this year’s draft, an identical offer from the Browns should have trumped Washington’s offer. Holmgren’s comment about “a very close relationship” is the first explanation why the Rams seemingly left improved draft position on the table.

Holmgren indicated more than once on the conference call that the team’s Plan B at quarterback is to re-commit to Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace and surround them with better offensive players.

“The draft picks we were going to use to move up there, now we have again,” he said. “So the other plan we talked about was to use those draft picks to get starters for this year and to help our quarterbacks on our team better.

“So that’s what we’re doing. Time will only tell. You don’t know what kind of draft you have for 3-4 years. Rest assured we aggressively were involved in that. It didn’t happen. We didn’t pull up our tent. Now we’re doing what we have to do in that we didn’t get that done.”

Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert both indicated the Browns, at this stage of the process, intend to use their first-round picks at No. 4 and No. 22. But Holmgren would not discount the possibility of trading down, up, or anthing else.

RE:Danny Amendola spotted at Patriots facility

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:05:18 GMT

Let's hope the Rams keep Amendola, he's the best slot receiver we've had in years!

Danny Amendola spotted at Patriots facility

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:04:40 GMT

Tom Curran of Comcast SportsNet New England recently speculated that the Patriots might have interest in Rams restricted free agent receiver Danny Amendola. Amendola played for new Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in St. Louis last season.

Curran’s thinking might have some merit.

Scott Zolak of 98.5 The Sports Hub/Patriots All Access tweeted Thursday morning that Amendola was spotted at Patriots club headquarters last night.

Amendola isn’t the first former undrafted free agent slot receiver type from Texas Tech in which New England has had interest. During the 2007 offseason, the Patriots traded second- and seventh-round picks to the Dolphins to acquire Wes Welker’s rights. Like Amendola, Welker was an undrafted free agent slot receiver who played college ball for Mike Leach.

The Patriots are also scheduled to host free agent Anthony Gonzalez, another slot receiver, on Friday night.

Rams Aggressive at Start of Free Agency

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:00:17 GMT

By Nick Wagoner/Senior Writer

The Rams wasted no time diving into free agency with the rest of the league when the new league year opened on Tuesday.

By Wednesday morning, the team had already added former Tennessee cornerback Cortland Finnegan and was in the process of wooing a number of other free agents including Tennessee defensive tackle Jason Jones.

That all came on the heels of a roster purge on Monday and Tuesday that left the Rams flush with salary cap space (in excess of $30 million) and also transitioned them from one of the oldest teams in the league to the youngest.

As of Wednesday afternoon, even including the addition of Finnegan, the Rams now boast the youngest roster in the NFL. Such is life in rebuilding according to coach Jeff Fisher.

“If you are going to build, you want to build with youth and that’s one of the things that we have committed to doing weeks ago,” Fisher said. “We have got to develop players and we have got to build this thing mostly through the draft. We looked at both markets. We thought OK, here are a couple options in free agency, let’s attack these, let’s see if we can have some success here. There were some guys we expressed interest in. There were negotiations, there were talks, and some of those things didn’t work out for us.”

For the first time, the new league year began in the middle of the afternoon rather than its customary midnight shotgun start. That put even more focus on the available free agents and it bore out a flurry of activity, particularly at a few positions.

The Rams honed in on Finnegan and Jones right away, in part because of their familiarity with Fisher from their time together with the Titans but also because they just happened to be some of the most talented players to hit the market.

“We have been doing it for a long time,” Fisher said. “We didn’t sit down and say ‘Hey, let’s go get all the Titans and Falcons players we possibly can. It just so happened that two of the top guys on our list are my former players. We’ve had success with that. It’s just about getting the right people. This philosophy is all about chemistry, it’s about hard work, and it’s about putting a team together. We continue to make a conscious effort to not just go out and sign somebody without having them in the building. We need to meet people. Our preference is to bring guys in the building, get to know them and feel good about getting a visit in before making a decision.”

With Finnegan’s deal wrapped up, the Rams were in the process of trying to finalize a deal with Jones. The 6’5, 280 pound tackle was drafted and played his first three years in the league under Fisher.

In that time, Jones earned a reputation for being one of the league’s most disruptive pass rushers on the interior. He has a visit to Seattle scheduled but the Rams are hoping to get Jones to sign on before it can happen.

“We are recruiting Jason right now and we hope to have a chance to get things worked out,” Fisher said. “We also think that JJ will fill a need for us.”

Of course, it’s been nearly impossible to get all desired free agents to visit or sign in the madhouse world of the first 24 hours of free agency. The Rams made a run at bolstering a few other positions, namely wide receiver, and were rebuffed in those efforts.

Targets such as New Orleans wideout Robert Meachem (San Diego), Atlanta’s Harry Douglas (re-signed with Falcons) and Indianapolis’ Pierre Garcon (Washington) were all in some form of contact or negotiation with the Rams before settling on the mentioned destinations.

In fact, receiver was the hottest position in the league on the opening day of free agency as San Diego’s Vincent Jackson also signed a lucrative five-year contract with Tampa Bay and the likes of Josh Morgan (Washington) also closed deals.

Even on Wednesday, the value of wideouts was hammered home further as Detroit re-signed superstar wideout Calvin Johnson to a deal that includes $60 million guaranteed.

The quickly dried up wideout market has the Rams still searching for options, which Fisher says the team will explore fully. Names such as the Giants Mario Manningham, Arizona’s Early Doucet and Philadelphia’s Steve Smith remain available and could be of interest.

If not, the Rams have other avenues to acquire receiver help that they will explore.

“They did (go fast),” Fisher said. “When you start the process you look at both markets. This draft has got a lot of really talented receivers. There are still some receivers out there that we are interested in. There’s also the potential for a trade. It’s a position we are going to address and we will continue to address it and we’ll fill the need.”

Even after the addition of Finnegan, the Rams still have in excess of $20 million in cap space following the release of cornerback Ron Bartell, end James Hall, defensive tackles Justin Bannan and Fred Robbins and center Jason Brown earlier in the week.

Those moves cleared money to sign more free agents but also created more needs on the roster. The Rams still figure to at least investigate options for help all along the offensive line in addition to receiver and could also still be in the market for more help at defensive tackle or outside linebacker.

One player rumored to be of interest on the offensive line is tackle Eric Winston. Just released by Houston, Winston is considered one of the best right tackles in the game and could be a priority for the Rams should he not sign with Miami or Kansas City in previously scheduled visits. Other options on the offensive line that remain available are Baltimore guard Ben Grubbs, New England interior lineman Dan Koppen, Houston center Chris Myers, Green Bay center Scott Wells and San Francisco utility man Adam Snyder.

Linemen with connections to Fisher and general manager Les Snead still on the market include Tennessee guard Jake Scott and Atlanta center Todd McClure.

Although the Rams won’t spend money just for the sake of spending, Snead did acknowledge that the team is still in position to make some more moves should they find the right fit.

“Yes, we have got options under the cap,” Snead said. “Basically what we are trying to do is: hey, whoever we bring in here is going to be productive within our scheme. If it’s a higher paid player, so be it. If it’s a mid level paid player, so be it.”

Likewise, the Rams have 20 free agents of their own that they are still having various levels of communication with and they haven’t ruled out the possibility of bringing back some of the players they released on lesser contracts.

“There’s always that potential,” Fisher said. “That’s what we shared with them as well. At this time, when the league year opens, there are decisions you have to make and every single one of them I spoke with I understood that.”

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Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:44:02 GMT

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Peter King Salutes Rams Trade

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:40:47 GMT

Peter King ‏ @SI_PeterKing

St. Louis now has 3 picks in the top 40 this year, two ones in 2013, two ones in 2014. No team is set up better in the draft than the Rams

This deal got monumental because Wash had 4 competitors for the pick--2 serious, 2 interested but knowing they didn't have the currency.

I believe it's the biggest trade for a draft choice (not a player) in NFL history.

Cleveland was in it, but didn't want to give three ones and a 2. Miami was in it, but couldn't go nuts w/Manning still in play.

One NFL GM just told me: "If you're Washington, and you haven't had a QB in so long, you can't pay too much for Griffin.''

RE:Rams trade No. 2 pick in draft to Redskins

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:38:06 GMT

Would have liked it better had it been the Browns that offered this so we would have only lost two spots in the draft and not four. Oh well, I hope this works.

Rams trade No. 2 pick in draft to Redskins

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:37:05 GMT

Jim Thomas

While the Washington Redskins will get what they hope is their quarterback of the future in trading up with the Rams to the No. 2 spot in the draft, the Rams will get a mother lode of draft picks that could get the franchise back on its feet.

The Rams confirmed Friday night that the have agreed to trade their No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft to Washington. In exchange, the Rams get Washington's first-round pick this year (No. 6 overall), Washington's second-round pick this year plus Washington's first-round picks in 2013 and 2014.

Although both teams have agreed on the trade, it can't be made official until 3 p.m. Tuesday, when the free agency and trading period begins. The Rams confirmed the trade Friday night but declined further comment.

According to league sources, the trade actually was agreed to on Thursday evening, but both sides unsuccessfully tried to keep it quiet until Monday. Cleveland, with the No. 4 pick, competed with Washington right until the end for the No. 2 pick.

But as expected, the Redskins proved to be more aggressive in their pursuit -- and ended up with the better offer. With Stanford QB Andrew Luck expected to go No. 1 to Indianapolis, Washington will use the pick for Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Washington originally wasn't willing to give up the second-round pick this year, but ultimately relented.

Brandon Lloyd

Sat, 3 Mar 2012 13:06:40 GMT

It makes perfect sense that Rams receiver Brandon Lloyd would try to latch onto New England when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Lloyd, the seventh-ranked free agent in our receiver rankings, wouldn’t mind a reunion with his former coach in Denver, Josh McDaniels, now the Patriots offensive coordinator. But that doesn’t mean St. Louis isn’t trying to re-sign him. And that doesn't mean he'd necessarily mind returning to the Rams.

He’s still their best receiver -- he was traded from Denver (to avoid a locker room issue?) in the middle of the season, and in the final 11 games of the season, he caught 51 passes for 683 yards and five touchdowns, all of which led the team -- and as a result, the organization has begun contract talks with him.

That’s what Rams COO Kevin Demoff told Turf Show Times, saying, “We had initial discussions in Indianapolis. We plan to continue talking."

Lloyd, though, is still leaving open the option of playing for McDaniels in New England, telling CBSSports.com during Super Bowl week, “I’d like to consider myself Josh McDaniels' prized pupil. I would like to continue it.” He also said in that same interview that he was excited about the prospects of playing for new coach Jeff Fisher and new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and playing again with quarterback Sam Bradford.

The Rams could use the franchise tag to keep Lloyd, but they’ve also recently said they won’t do it.

Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints had bounty systems that paid for big hits

Sat, 3 Mar 2012 13:00:30 GMT

This is NOT what we need right now!

The Washington Redskins had a bounty system for big hits on opponents under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams that was similar to the one revealed by an NFL investigation of the New Orleans Saints, four players who played under Williams said Friday.

Three of the players described a coach who doled out thousands of dollars to Redskins defenders who measured up to Williams’s scoring system for rugged play, including “kill shots” that knocked opposing teams’stars out of a game.

“You got compensated more for a kill shot than you did other hits,” said one former player, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Of the four players interviewed, only Philip Daniels, a former defensive lineman, was willing to be quoted on the record. He defended Williams’s coaching. Daniels now serves as the team’s director of player development.

Players said compensation ranged from “hundreds to thousands of dollars,” with the biggest sum any player received believed to be about $8,000.

“I never took it for anything [but] just incentive to make good, hard plays,” said a current player, who requested anonymity. “But I’m pretty sure it did entice some guys to do more to a player than normal when it came to taking them out. I mean, that’s cash. Let’s just be honest about it.

“If you took the star player out, he’d hook you up a little bit.”

The Redskins declined to comment through team spokesman Tony Wyllie.

Daniels said he believed Williams began the program with money from fines collected from players for being late for meetings or practices. “Rather than pocket that money or whatever, he would re-distribute it to players who had good games or good practices.”

He said the most he ever received was $1,500 for a four-sack game against the Dallas Cowboys in 2005.

“I think it is wrong the way they’re trying to paint [Williams],” Daniels added. “He never told us to go out there and break a guy’s neck or break a guy’s leg. It was all in the context of a good, hard football.”

He acknowledged Williams’s system for awarding players’ cash featured more money for what Williams’ deemed “physical play.” “Sean Taylor made a lot,” he said of the hard-hitting safety who was killed in his Miami home in 2007.

The other three players interviewed portrayed Williams as a “coach who just took it a little too far,” in the words of one.

“He actually had a saying, ‘If you cut the snake’s head off, the body will die,’ that was his motto,” said the player. “It was made clear that he was talking about not just running backs who turned their heads the opposite way and how they would go down, but also about other stars on offense that were the best players on that team.”

The NFL announced Friday that the Saints operated an improper bounty program that paid players as much as $1,500 for hits that injured opposing players.

The program, administered by Williams, also a former defensive coordinator there, paid $1500 for a “knockout” hit and $1000 if an opponent was carted off the field between 2009 and 2011, the NFL said. Most of the money was contributed by players, but Williams also donated to the fund.

In a statement, Williams apologized for what he called a “pay for performance” program while he was with the Saints.

“It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it,” Williams said in the statement, which was published on nola.com. “Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role.”

The NFL’s investigation found that between 22 and 27 players participated in the bounty program. Coach Sean Payton was not a direct participant but was “aware of the allegations” and “failed to stop the bounty program,” according to the league’s announcement.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will determine what disciplinary action to take, according to the league’s announcement. According to the NFL, the sanctions could include fines, suspension and the forfeiture of draft choices by the team.

“The payments here are particularly troubling because they involved not just payments for ‘performance,’ but also for injuring opposing players,” Goodell said in a written statement released by the league. “The bounty rule promotes two key elements of NFL football: player safety and competitive integrity.

“It is our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of our game, and this type of conduct will not be tolerated. We have made significant progress in changing the culture with respect to player safety and we are not going to relent. We have more work to do and we will do it.”

Williams, now defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment.

Saints owner Tom Benson said in a written statement released by the team: “I have been made aware of the NFL’s findings relative to the “Bounty Rule” and how it relates to our club. I have offered and the NFL has received our full cooperation in their investigation. While the findings may be troubling, we look forward to putting this behind us and winning more championships in the future for our fans.”

Saints players knocked Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner out of a playoff game and injured Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback Brett Favre in another during their 2010 Super Bowl season.

Staff writers Mike Wise and Jason Reid contributed to this report.

It Makes No Sense to Trade Bradford

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:27:13 GMT

By Howard Balzer

Published: February 29, 2012 @ 2:13am

Stop. Please. My head is starting to hurt. Can’t everyone just calm down?

There are 57 days until the first day of the NFL draft, and yet heads are already exploding with talk of what the Rams can expect to receive in a trade for the second pick in the draft.

Remember those breathless statements near the end of the season that the Rams would be able to garner as many as three or four first-round picks? Haven’t heard much of that talk lately, have we?

The fact is, there is the matter of free agency that begins March 13, and what happens there might seriously affect whatever teams the Rams could be talking to.

Of course, those teams have to decide whether it makes more sense to pay big money for a veteran or invest in a rookie that will have a less expensive contract. More on that later

From the Rams’ standpoint, they need multiple teams bidding to drive up the price, but they also have to figure out how far they are willing to trade down.

Still, an ever worse part of this seemingly never-ending process will be hearing the persistent chatter that the Rams should trade Sam Bradford and select Robert Griffin III for themselves.

The reality is that it wouldn’t make sense on several levels, and most of those that advocate for it are oblivious to the financial ramifications.

First, let’s deal with the football aspect of it. Griffin is expected to be an astounding talent, as is Andrew Luck. There is no debating that. But if Griffin is so head and shoulders above Bradford, why isn’t it being said that the Colts should take him instead of Luck?

Maybe they should. Maybe there are teams that would select Griffin ahead of Luck if they had the opportunity. It’s very close. But if Bradford was in this draft, he would be right there with Luck and Griffin.

So, then, why should the Rams trade Bradford when the draft-choice compensation package for him would be likely significantly less than what they can get for the second overall pick.

I know what you’re thinking. If I believe Griffin is worth more in draft picks, that means he’s much better than Bradford. Not necessarily. This is where finances enter the picture, along with the draft mindset that exists where teams highly value draft choices not yet made. Of course, it’s that same mindset that has fans and media so enamored with Griffin.

Consider that the system which now is expected to make it attractive for teams to trade into the top of the draft is also why teams wouldn’t want to trade for Bradford and take on the remaining years of his contract.

The Rams have already invested slightly more than $30 million in Bradford, and he has shown he is capable of playing at a high level. Luck and Griffin have yet to play an NFL snap.

More important, a team trading for Bradford would be taking on $48 million in salary over the next four years, including $12 million in 2012.

Compare that to what the second pick in the draft will receive. While those figures aren’t known exactly yet, they will be fairly close to what they were in 2011.

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller’s four-year contract was worth $21 million and included a $13.773 million signing bonus. His salary-cap charge last year was $3.818 million and will increase by about $955,000 in each of the next three seasons.

What will be most intriguing is whether teams looking for quarterbacks will determine it doesn’t makes sense to invest huge dollars in an inexperienced free agent (see Kevin Kolb) when they can than take on a reasonable rookie contract, especially one later in the draft when the dollars decrease as each draft pick is made.

The total value of Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton’s contract as a second-round pick in 2011 is $5.214 million. He received a signing bonus of $2.292 million and the cap charges for the four years of his deal are $948,000; $1.185 million, $1.322 million and $1.559 million.

Once again, the probable reality is that contracts do affect the trade package. And teams will be more likely to give a lot for a draft pick as opposed to an expensive veteran.

Finally, from the Rams’ perspective, Bradford counts $15.595 million against the cap in 2012. If traded, the dead money for him against the cap would be $14.4 million. Add to that the cap charge for the second pick in the draft for a total of at least $18.2 million, $2.6 million more than Bradford’s cap charge on the roster.

We know the Rams have gone on record that they won’t be trading Bradford. The facts show they are making the right decision.

St. Louis Rams Will Reportedly Trade No. 2 Pick

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:16:21 GMT

The Indianapolis Colts may have Andrew Luck, but the St. Louis Rams have the most sought after pick in football. This is an opportunity the franchise will capitalize on with a trade.

ESPN reports via Adam Schefter that the Rams will indeed trade their first round, second-overall pick for this year's draft. Here is the tweet from SportsCenter citing information obtained by Schefter.

It comes as no surprise that the Rams would decide to deal their pick for what should be a treasure trove in returns.

The newfound need to deal their pick comes from the emerging star power of Robert Griffin III. The Baylor standout was highly coveted prior to the NFL Combine, but after his 4.41 40-yard dash time, his status is off the charts.

Schefter tweets that there are a few possibilities for the Rams and who what they may target in a trade.

It's impossible to say which team will make it out of this draft with the best talent. Such a statement can only be measured after years of seeing this talent pan out.

However, the Rams are my favorite to dominate this draft from the start with what should be an inordinate amount of picks and star players coming in to flip the switch on a faltering franchise.

The Rams need offensive line help and a big-time wide receiver, and they could actually fill both holes by relinquishing their position as the second team to pick.

The Redskins and Browns are likely candidates to move up while still giving the Rams a top-ten pick.

The more Griffin shines at the combine and his future workout at his pro day, the more rewards the Rams will be able to reap.

The sooner the better for St. Louis.

Rams seem interested in giving Smith another chance

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:28:56 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

INDIANAPOLIS • A lot can happen between now and the start of free agency, the draft, and the beginning of training camp. But at this point, it looks as if the Rams' new regime isn't ready to pull the plug on offensive tackle Jason Smith.

"We're looking forward to putting him in the program and developing him," general manager Les Snead said.

Contact with veteran players is limited this time of year. And under the new collective bargaining agreement, the start of the offseason conditioning program has been pushed back to April.

Smith, the No. 2 overall pick in 2009, has yet to live up to that lofty draft status.

Largely because of concussion problems in '09 and '11, Smith has played in only 29 of the team's 48 games over three seasons. He played in only six games last season after suffering a concussion while trying to make a tackle in Dallas after a Rams turnover.

"There's work that needs to be done, but that stuff's behind him now," coach Jeff Fisher said. "I haven't actually had a chance to speak to the medical staff specifically about his condition. But there's no doubt in my mind that he'll return and be able to play."

If the Rams truly are confident that Smith can return and stay healthy, that would lessen the need to expend a high pick — such as their No. 2 overall selection — on someone such as Southern California's Matt Kalil. Then again, counting on Smith and Rodger Saffold, who missed the last four games of 2011 because of a pectoral muscle injury, would be operating without a safety net.

"With any player we always talk about reliability," Snead said. "Because when you have a player and you prepare for games, you like to know that player's going to be there each and every week or it's going to cost you consistency. It's not just with Jason but with any player who's had some unreliability because of durability concerns. That's always a concern."

Lloyd and Bell

Read into it what you will, but Fisher and Snead gave lukewarm answers when asked about the possibility of re-signing wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and left guard Jacob Bell before the start of free agency. Both are scheduled for unrestricted free agency as of March 13.

When asked if the team was interested in re-signing Lloyd, Fisher replied: "We have a number of UFAs that we're interested in keeping, and he would be one of 'em."

And Bell?

"Yeah," Fisher said. "We've got a list of unrestricted free agents. It's long."

Not exactly ringing endorsements. But as Snead pointed out, the Rams still are working through their list of 20 unrestricted free agents and determining which ones they'll try to keep and which ones they'll let go."

"Because we've got a new coaching staff, new schemes, we're currently going through it trying to make that decision," Snead said. "Evaluate who fits the scheme, who doesn't. We're still working through that, and we've got a couple weeks to decide."

Bell spent his first four seasons playing for Fisher in Tennessee before signing with the Rams as a free agent in 2008, and would love the chance to play for him again in St. Louis.

"He did a great job for us (in Tennessee)," Fisher said. "We were sad to lose him, but we were in a position (salary) cap-wise where we had to make some decisions and we just couldn't keep him. But he's still got ability. I thought he played much better toward the end of the year (in 2011)."

Haynesworth is on Rams' radar

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:20:02 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

INDIANAPOLIS • Rams coach Jeff Fisher raised a few eyebrows Friday when asked about any potential interest in defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

"There's some unrestricted free agents out there now that are not under contract that we've been talking about," Fisher said. "He's one of them. Whether we go ahead and do something, that remains to be seen."

Haynesworth was recently released by Tampa Bay, so teams wishing to sign him don't have to wait until the start of the "league year" March 13. Street free agents such as Haynesworth can be signed right now. But don't hold your breath waiting for him to show up at Rams Park.

Discussing Haynesworth is one thing; pursuing him, quite another. There are back, knee, and weight issues to be considered. Not to mention attitude concerns. Fisher knows him better than most because Haynesworth played his first seven NFL seasons (2002 through '08) with Fisher and the Tennessee Titans.

Haynesworth had his best season in '08, a contract year that he parlayed into a seven-year, $100 million free-agent deal with Washington. For all that money, Haynesworth played in only 20 games over the 2009 and 2010 seasons before wearing out his welcome with the Redskins. His conditioning, or lack thereof, got him on the wrong side of coach Mike Shanahan, and Haynesworth balked — to put it mildly — at the prospect of playing nose tackle in a 3-4 front.

Haynesworth was traded to New England late last July and split his time between the Patriots and Tampa Bay last season.

If the Rams do anything with Haynesworth, it wouldn't be until after the draft.

What about Moss?

When asked Friday about another street free agent, wide receiver Randy Moss, Fisher didn't even say that his name had come up.

"Again, there's a number of players out there," Fisher said. "You guys know my familiarity with Randy. I thought he was great for our locker room."

Fisher had kind words for Moss last week, shortly after Moss announced he wanted to come out of retirement and play football again. But Fisher never said the Rams were interested in signing Moss, who spent the last half of the 2010 season with Fisher and Tennessee.

Staff updates

Fisher still hasn't put the finishing touches on his coaching staff, but he's getting close. He still needs a running backs coach and an assistant special teams coach. Former St. Louis Cardinals running back Stump Mitchell interviewed for the running backs coach job Monday, but Fisher has two other candidates he's considering.

Meanwhile, league sources said Clyde Simmons may join Fisher's staff as an assistant defensive line coach. Simmons spent 15 seasons as an NFL defensive end, most notably with Philadelphia, and recorded 121½ career sacks and made two Pro Bowls.

A former member of Steve Spagnuolo's Rams staff, Steve Loney, has joined Tampa Bay as an assistant offensive line coach.

Blackmon won't run

One of the few questions about Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon is his speed. But the Rams, and every other team thinking about drafting him, won't get to see him run a 40-yard dash this weekend at the NFL scouting combine.

"I had a hamstring injury last week and it's a little tender," Blackmon said Friday.

He plans to run at his pro day March 9 in Stillwater, OK.

Fisher the quipster

Although not known as a jokester in his media sessions, Fisher got off a couple of decent one-liners Friday.

• On playing New England next season in London: "If you're going to play the Patriots, it's best not to play 'em in North America."

• On the lack of concerns by scouts about Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III: "My concern with him is that we're eventually going to have to play against him."

Rams HC Jeff Fisher Speaks

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:12:38 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS -

- Rams coach Jeff Fisher took his turn on the podium at Lucas Oil Stadium a little more than an hour ago and touched on a variety of topics.

- Included in that discussion was a lot of talk about the potential of trading the No. 2 pick, Fisher’s thoughts on a couple of the top prospects as well as some potential free agents such as DT Albert Haynesworth and WR Randy Moss.

- Below is the full transcript of his 12-minute appearance on the dais.

(value of second pick and possible trade)

From the standpoint of when you are given a new opportunity and a fresh start, yeah, it’s a great opportunity. Certainly, it will define the immediate and hopefully the long term future of this franchise so we have a lot of options and we are going to be prepared to do whatever.

(impact of rookie wage scale on pick)

Yes, of course. It really depends on a team’s need, what type of need is involved there. Now that the scale is different, it may be perceived to be more attractive.

(On trading second pick)

We have options. We have the option to stay there and take the best player or listen to whoever is willing to talk.

(on trading Bradford)

That wouldn’t be an option, no.

(On Stan Kroenke’s involvement)

He’s very interested in the decisions that are ahead but Mr. Kroenke does not and most likely will not be involved as far as the selection process is concerned.

(More trade talk)

Again, there’s a lot of options. If we’re in a situation where we’ve got another member club that has expressed an interest and the deal is good, it could be done before draft day, you just don’t know.

(On the level of ownership involvement leading to his choice of the Rams over the Dolphins)

It didn’t have anything to do with it. Typically if you look around the league, coaching staffs and personnel departments are trusted to make those decisions.

(On Les Snead)

He was obviously the right guy for the job. He’s done a great job thus far. He’s very, very organized and detailed. He communicates very well so it’s a great partnership between the three of us.

(On picking this high in the draft)

In 95 we did have No. 3, that was actually my first draft as head coach. And that worked out very well for us, by the way. We are hoping to have the same success.

(on evaluating character of potential draftees)

Well hopefully all the resources have been done so we have already made those decisions. You are going to take the best player at the time that fits the needs of your football team. That’s the type of thing you do between now and draft day. It should not come up on draft day.

(On completing his coaching staff)

I have just about completed that process so we obviously will have the right guy in place. We’ll be announcing the entire staff hopefully within the next couple of days.

(On Gregg Williams)

When I joined the organization, the Oiler organization, Gregg was on the staff and he coordinated for me from 2000 and did a great job for us. The timing just kind of fell into place for us, he just so happened to be at the end of the contract and it just worked out good. His body of work speaks for itself. Philosophically, we share a lot of the same views on playing defense.

(On Brandon Lloyd)

We have a number of UFAs that we are interested in keeping and he would be one of them.

(On what he learned in his year away from the game)

I recommend it. It’s hard to do but I felt like I was able to get away for awhile which I thought was important. I took advantage of the time off, really enjoyed myself. As things kind of wound down, week 14, 15, that’s when I started getting back involved and I feel great. I am really looking forward to this new phase and this new chapter.

(Having Steven Jackson)

I think anytime you are developing a young quarterback, the key to that is to be able to hand the football off. Obviously Steven has proven he can do that year after year. The staff that’s in place now has gone back and evaluated his play and his production. He has still got a lot of carries left.

(On Sam Bradford)

I think that I stand with most of the personnel people and coaches in the league that evaluated him; he’s an outstanding person, he’s very, very talented athletically and he’s got a great future. He’s a very, very good player and we have to do whatever we can to surround him with good people.

(On the NFC West)

Obviously, the success the 49ers had was extraordinary, especially considering the circumstances where we’ve got a lockout and no time to install and you have a first year head coach who comes in and does that kind of job. It was outstanding. Seattle was very competitive and Arizona is only a few years away from being in the Super Bowl so I think this division will stand on its own for a number of years now.

(On if he’s concerned with the number of offensive coordinators Bradford has had already)

Well, no. He’s had two. Last year was difficult considering the circumstances. He was very productive I think year one. I expect him to settle in now with Brian and I think they’ll work real well together and anxious to get started. We have some restrictions and limitations and we’ll have to wait awhile but I know both of them are looking forward to getting started.

(On his approach to the combine compared to before)

It’s a different experience for me particularly because we brought Les on board two weeks ago. He met some of the scouts, I met some of the scouts for the first time two weeks ago. So there’s a lot of work that needs to get done. Under different circumstances where you’ve been an organization where things get done it becomes routine. This is not routine by any means for us right now. We have a lot of work to do.

(On USC tackle Matt Kalil)

I haven’t had an opportunity to really study him as of yet. From what I hear he is very talented and has a great career ahead of him.

(On potential interest in free agent DT Albert Haynesworth)

There’s some unrestricted free agents out there now that are not under contract that we have been talking about. He is one of them. Whether we go ahead and do something, that remains to be seen.

(On Randy Moss)

Again, there’s a number of players out there. You guys know my familiarity with Randy, I thought he was great for our locker room.

(On settling into the Rams situation)

There have been some subtle things, I think you look back over the experience and what could you have done differently here and there but the most important thing moving forward is the relationship between Les, Kevin and myself and then our ability to put together the best coaching staff we can. I think that’s the key to winning.

(On how far down he’d be willing to trade)

It really depends on your philosophy, depends on your board and depends on the players. There’s some good players that can help us in a lot of different positions well into the draft so I think you could say if you fall too low you still have the opportunity to come back up.

(On how weird it is to not be working in Tennessee anymore)

My initial press conference with the Rams was different. I’m very, very excited about the new opportunity. I think that’s when I realized I had moved on and looking forward to starting all over again.

(On never drafting an offensive lineman in the first round with the Titans)

I think Brad Hopkins was selected a couple years beforehand and coach Munchak does an outstanding job of evaluating the offensive line, as does the staff. We just felt like over the years, we could get those guys in rounds 2, 3 or 4 and develop them and we did so. We’ve got an outstanding offensive line coach with us as well and we share some of the same philosophies. That doesn’t mean we won’t take an offensive lineman that high, though.

(On if he’s seen tape of Justin Blackmon)

A couple games, yeah. I have also looked at a number of other receivers.

(More on trading the second pick)

It’s probably unlikely that we go up. So we’ve got opportunities below us. It really depends on people’s value and people’s needs.

10 Bold Predictions for Jeff Fisher's First Season

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:55:15 GMT

by Trijohn Tran of the Bleacher Report

St. Louis Rams fans have a lot to be excited for in the coming season.

A new general manager will be calling the shots for the next draft. A very reputable and experienced coaching staff has been assembled to oversee games and player development.

The team will start 2012 completely healthy. The schedule will probably be much easier to handle than last year. There will be a lot of new talent coming in through the draft and some additions in free agency.

The Rams have the foundation of a winner in place. There are still needs to be filled and problems to be fixed, but the pieces are there for Jeff Fisher and the Rams to give fans a much better year than expected. Here are some achievements and milestones that the team will accomplish this year.

Steven Jackson Will Finally Have Another 10-Plus Touchdown Year

S-Jax has been the workhorse of the offense his entire career. He has always been near the top of the league in carries, and he has made good use of his chances.

Seven straight 1,000-plus-yard seasons, incredible when you consider how defenses load up the box and focus on shutting him down. But for a variety of reasons, Jackson has only had one year with double-digit touchdowns.

That will change in 2012 as the offensive line will find some stability, and new game-breaking receivers will come in to take some of the pressure off the running game. Steven Jackson will barely break the plane with 10 touchdowns next season, but will add that to an eighth straight 1,000-yard season.

The Coaching Staff Will Be One of the Most Lauded in the League

The new assistant coaches in Dave McGinnis, Gregg Williams and Chuck Cecil have more than 50 years of NFL coaching experience between them.

Williams' blitzing schemes will find a lot of success in St. Louis, and McGinnis and Cecil are also fine defensive minds.

Jeff Fisher and the new coaches know what they're doing, and are one of the more knowledgeable staffs in the league. They will get a lot of attention and praise for the turnaround they'll cause in St. Louis next season.

Chris Long and Robert Quinn Will Turn into Top Bookend Pass-Rushers

Chris Long finally had a much-awaited breakout year with 13 sacks. And while top draft pick Robert Quinn did not reach double digits, he showed promise with five sacks in limited playing time.

Both are young players, Long coming into his prime at 26 years old, and Quinn only 21. Neither will receive many double-teams next year, as the presence of the other will preclude that possibility.

In addition, the Rams will most likely add a new defensive tackle, providing an interior complement to the two ends and allowing them to focus on chasing down the opposing quarterback. Long will turn in another 10-plus sack year, and Robert Quinn will at worst get eight sacks.

The Team Will Have a Winning Record

It's hard to believe that St.Louis will have a winning record at the end of 2012, after going 2-14 and gunning for the No. 1 pick most of the year. The team hasn't had a winning season since 2003 and the start of the Marc Bulger era.

There were games last year where, without stupid drive-killing penalties, or with a full complement of starters, the Rams could have won and easily ended the season 4-12 or 5-11. Not that much of an improvement, but still much more respectable than 2-14.

With a little luck, 9-7 isn't out of the realm of possibilities.

The Team Will Be Surprise Contenders for a Playoff Spot

The 49ers are clearly the dominant team in the NFC West, but the rest of the division is still weak. Of the Rams, Cardinals and Seahawks, none of the three could manage a winning record last season, with Arizona somehow coming the closest after squeezing out 8-8

St. Louis isn't ready to battle San Francisco for the division crown. But the Rams' 9-7 record in 2012 will be enough to make the team contenders for an NFC wild-card spot.

Jeff Fisher Will Win Coach of the Year

Fisher was historically good during his stint with the Titans, and will bring consistency to St.Louis

He adds an edge and attitude to the defense, as well as experience in the postseason. Fisher has already shown some initiative in building the staff around him. And with the talented young players the Rams have, he will be able to coach them up.

The Coach of the Year award will stay in the NFC West, as Jeff Fisher engineers a Harbaugh-esque turnaround in St. Louis.

James Laurinaitis Will Be a Pro Bowl Starter

The argument could be made that Laurinaitis should have made the Pro Bowl in 2011. Yes, the Rams had a terrible run defense. But his stats were worthy of a trip to Hawaii.

Eighth in the league in tackles, a leader in interceptions among that group, third in solo tackles. And he did all of that with the multitude of injuries on defense.

Laurinatis will only get better as the Rams add more players around him. He didn't make it to Hawaii this year. But he'll definitely be there next year.

Sam Bradford Will Be Sacked Much Less

Bradford was on the ground more often than not last season, mainly because of a porous offensive line that allowed him to be sacked an alarming 36 times.

That will change significantly for the better, as the Rams will assuredly add offensive lineman in an effort to protect their young quarterback. Instead of running for his life, Bradford will have more time to survey the field and hit his receivers...

And He Will Start to Become a Real Franchise Quarterback

Bradford regressed last season, no doubt about it. But the talk of giving up on him and starting over with Luck or Griffin earlier in the season was just absurd.

No. 8 will be much better in 2012. He will have more time to throw, and better receivers to throw to. Fans will see the guy who was Offensive Rookie of the Year, rather than the dejected quarterback on the ground.

Sam Bradford will begin to validate his status as a No. 1 draft pick and franchise quarterback starting next season.

Attendance Numbers Will Rise Significantly

The Rams ranked almost dead last in home game attendance last season, only saved by the truly abysmal attendance numbers of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Most games, there would be thousands upon thousands of empty seats in the Edward Jones Dome. Despite the 2-14 record and the team having nothing good to show to the fans, one should still expect better from the fanbase of a still-popular franchise.

Expect attendance to go up by a lot this season, as fans will be interested to see how the new coaches, fresh talent and young core players respond as a bounce back year is expected from them.

Try the Rams' Cap on for Size

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:52:41 GMT

Howard Balzar

With Monday the day when NFL teams can begin doling out franchise or transition tags, that is one decision the Rams won’t have to worry about.

The league year begins March 13 at 3 p.m. Central, not at midnight Eastern as it was for many years. By that day, all teams will have to be in compliance with the salary cap for their top 51 players under contract. Although the exact figure is being finalized, it will be very close to the $120.375 million total for 2011.

When the CBA was consummated in the chaotic summer last year, it was agreed that the cap number would basically be the same for two years. There is expected to be a significant jump in 2013, but for now, teams have to deal with the way it is.

However, the reality is that most teams will actually have a cap higher than the base number. Teams are able to roll into this year whatever cap dollars they had remaining at the end of 2011. In addition, there are other credits available.

For the Rams, what does that mean? They have carried over around $3.8 million from last year and have another $1.5 million available. Using the $120.375 million number, that will establish the Rams’ cap at about $125.675 million.

The team’s top 51 players currently account for around $110 million. However, that doesn’t include restricted free agents and exclusive-rights free agents that will receive tenders.

The Rams have 21 unrestricted free agents (UFA), a total that includes cornerback Al Harris, who has said he is retiring. The 20 UFAs are quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and A.J. Feeley, running backs Jerious Norwood and Cadillac Williams, wide receivers Mark Clayton and Brandon Lloyd, tight ends Billy Bajema and Stephen Spach, center Tony Wragge, guard Jacob Bell, tackle/guard Adam Goldberg, tackle Mark LeVoir, defensive tackle Gary Gibson, linebackers Chris Chamberlain, Bryan Kehl and Brady Poppinga, cornerbacks Rodf Hood and Justin King, safety James Butler and punter Donnie Jones.

They also have two restricted free agents (RFA) and six exclusive-rights free agents (ERFA).

Restricted are wide receiver Danny Amendola and defensive end C.J. Ah You. Last year, the lowest tender for RFAs was $1.2 million, which would result in compensation of the round the player was drafted in if he signed with a new team. There is no compensation if the player wasn’t drafted and he receives the minimum tender.

In 2011, the next tender was $1.8 million for compensation of a second-round pick and $2.6 million for a first-round pick. The highest tender, which would result in first- and third-round picks as compensation, no longer exists.

The tenders are expected to be close to the 2011 levels, although they could increase by around $100,000. Although Amendola is coming back from injury, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Rams put a second-round tender on him.

Ah You is another matter. He was a favorite of the previous coaching staff, and the current evaluation could be that his value is not at least $1.2 million. If he doesn’t receive a tender, Ah You would become a free agent. The minimum salary for a player with three credited seasons is $615,000.

Tenders for ERFAs are made at the minimum salary, based on credited seasons. In 2012, the minimum salaries are $390,000 for no credited seasons, $465,000 for one credited season and $540,000 for two credited seasons.

The Rams’ ERFAs are quarterback Tom Brandstater ($465,000), defensive tackle Jermelle Cudjo ($465,000), wide receiver Dominique Curry ($465,000), guard Bryan Mattison ($465,000), fullback Brit Miller ($540,000) and safety Darian Stewart ($540,000).

If each of those players are tendered, the total against the cap would be $2.94 million.

However, the Rams have 50 players under contract. Once they reach 51, any new player signed or tendered would then knock someone out of the top 51, thus reducing the net cap increase from the new contract. The Rams have nine players at $390,000 so an ERFA added at $465,000 for example would count only an extra $75,000 against the cap if one of those players departed the top 51.

Even if the Rams tender all eight RFAs and ERFAs, that should leave them between $12 and $13 million under their adjusted cap.

However, still to be accounted for is the rookie pool, which could be between $6.5 and $7.5 million depending on whether the Rams end up selecting at No. 2 overall in the first round or deal the pick.

What might the Rams do to create more cap space? Here are some potential options:

Center/guard Jason Brown: He has two years remaining on his contract with base salaries of $5 million and $6.2 million. This year, his cap figure is $7.2 million. If Brown were released prior to June 1, the Rams would save $5 million in salary, but $4.4 million in signing bonus proration would accelerate against the cap for a net savings of $2.8 million.

Defensive tackle Fred Robbins: He is entering the final year of his contract with a salary of $3.75 million and $250,000 of likely-to-be-earned incentives. He did not receive a signing bonus, so if released that would be a net savings of $4 million.

Tackle Jason Smith: There have been numerous reports that the Rams are trying to negotiate a pay cut for Smith, who has started just 26 of a possible 48 games since being the second overall pick in the draft in 2009. He missed the final 10 games of last season with the second serious concussion of his career. Smith’s base salary for 2011 is $10 million, $1 million of which is guaranteed. Including a signing bonus proration of $3.268 million, he counts $13.268 million against the cap.

If released on or before June 1, he would count slightly more than $10.8 million against the cap. That would save about $2.4 million, but does it make sense to give up on him? Smith has played well as a run blocker, but hasn’t been able to stay on the field for long stretches of time, except in 2010 when he started 15 games.

Would Smith agree to a pay cut to $4 or $5 million with the ability to make the lost money back based on games started? That would save the Rams between $8 and $9 million against the cap. In three years, he has been paid around $32 million for 26 starts.

Defensive end Chris Long: His contract was renegotiated last September to resolve a grievance, and that accounts for the cap dollars the Rams were able to roll into this year. The Rams saved about $4 million by reducing Long’s cap number.

Prior to the renegotiation, Long’s salary for 2011 was $11.335 million with a cap figure of $13.532 million and his salary for 2012 was $12.060 million with a cap number of $14.265. He received a $12.1 million signing bonus in September, and his 2011 base salary was lowered to $603,750 ($9.483 million cap) and his 2012 salary was lowered to $10.06 million, but his cap figure this year is $18.3 million.

This is the final year of his contract, so he’s likely to hit the bonus jackpot again. It’s possible a contract extension could occur that would lower the base salary for this year and result in some cap savings.

The reality, though, is that all the talk of a cap-room bonanza for the Rams this year simply wasn’t real.

The reality is that Long, Smith and Sam Bradford ($15.595 million) count a combined $47.17 million against the cap, which is 37.5 percent of the projected cap space. Include Steven Jackson ($8.899 million) and the total is $56.069 million/44.6 percent. Finally, the percentage for five players goes over 50 percent when Ron Bartell’s $7.663 million is factored in. Those five players have a total cap figure of $63.732 million, which is 50.7 percent of the expected cap.

4 Reasons Justin Blackmon Is Missing Piece for St. Louis Rams

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:47:45 GMT

Justin Blackmon is the answer in St. Louis.

Whether it's because he is an incredibly dynamic athlete or because wide receiver is the biggest need for the Rams, there is no denying Blackmon would be a tremendous fit in blue and gold.

The Rams have drafted well in recent years, with the exception of Jason Smith, and drafting the Oklahoma State Cowboy would be another great selection in the rebuilding process.

Here are four reasons Justin Blackmon is unquestionably the missing piece for the St. Louis Rams.

Blackmon Brings Highest Value

Justin Blackmon has the highest value for St. Louis in this year's draft.

Due to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, rookie contracts will be less expensive. With that comes the greater desire to draft a franchise quarterback.

The hoopla around Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III is taking over the draft, and there will be a team who's willing to overpay for whichever isn't picked No. 1 overall.

The Rams will be able to move down in the draft and still pick up Blackmon within the top nine picks.

Blackmon's value is raised not only because of his talent but because St. Louis doesn't have to draft him at No. 2 overall.

Rams Need a Pass-Catcher More Than Ever

Sam Bradford is supposed to be a franchise quarterback.

How is he supposed to do that with the receiving corps the Rams have had in recent years?

The addition of Brandon Lloyd via trade last year was an exceptional move for St. Louis. In 11 games, Lloyd caught 51 passes for 683 yards and reached the endzone five times, easily becoming Bradford's favorite target in the process.

The selection of Blackmon would instantly boost Bradford's corp of receivers and allow him to become a better quarterback and the leader St. Louis needs him to be.

If Lloyd is retained and St. Louis still drafts Blackmon, Bradford would then have an incredible dual threat running routes.

A Fresh Face for the Franchise

Last season, the Detroit Lions turned the corner and became one of the NFL's most electrifying teams. Calvin Johnson emerged as the league's best receiver and ignited a huge year for Detroit.

Justin Blackmon could do the same thing for St. Louis.

The selection of the 6'1" receiver could take some of the pressure off of Sam Bradford and give Rams nation something to watch in the 2012 season.

In a passing league, St. Louis needs to catch up with a lethal combo of their own. Drafting Blackmon would give the Rams a great chance at doing so.

Blackmon Is Best Option

The pool of pass-catchers in this year's draft may not be as great as in recent years, but it's very good in its own right.

Alshon Jeffery, Michael Floyd and Kendall Wright lead the class along with Blackmon, but Justin Blackmon is unquestionably the top receiver available.

The Rams need a franchise receiver and I don't believe Jeffery, Floyd or Wright have a chance to be in the elite class of wideouts.

Jeffery and Floyd will probably be first-round picks as well, but are either worth a top 10 pick, which the Rams are certain to have?

No.

Blackmon is the best option for St. Louis and St. Louis needs to do what's best.

Draft Blackmon.

Should St. Louis stick with Bradford ... or turn to RG3?

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:53:40 GMT

By Charley Casserly NFL.com
Analyst

With the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams are in a great trading position. They could keep Sam Bradford and trade the pick to a team that wants Robert Griffin III for multiple draft picks; or they could take Griffin and trade Bradford for draft choices. One way or another, the Rams have the potential to greatly improve their football team.

In thinking through this hypothetical choice, one area that has to be considered is the cost difference. Bradford has four years left on his contact which will total $48 million. Griffin will sign a four-year contract for approximately $22 million. By taking Griffin and trading Bradford, the Rams would save almost $26 million. This money could be used to bolster other areas of the team.

Then there's the most important question: Who is the better player? I liked both of these quarterbacks in college, even though they had different styles. I believe both can be very successful in the NFL, but I would rate Bradford the better QB off his college tape. He displayed superior accuracy than Griffin does at this stage, and he threw to more options in the passing game. In fact, in the previous 10 years before Bradford was drafted, the only two college quarterbacks I had rated higher were Eli Manning and Carson Palmer. Bradford, who struggled this past season, had a very good rookie year in 2010. I believe this year's drop off was caused by his injuries and surroundings factors that buried the Rams. I still would rate him ahead of Griffin.

But who would bring the most in a trade? I believe it would be Bradford, even with his higher salary. He already has two seasons in a pro-style offense in the NFL and would be ready to start and win right now. Also, some people will look at it the way I did, going back to their college evaluations and seeing Bradford rated higher.

If the Rams choose to draft Griffin and trade Bradford, they might receive two first-round draft choices plus another pick or player -- and save $26 million in the process. If they keep Bradford and trade the second pick, it is possible they could still get the same draft deal. There is also the possibility that the market could disappear if Matt Flynn and Peyton Manning sign with teams in the top 10.

If you believe in Griffin's ability to become at least as good a QB as Bradford, you trade Bradford. However, if I was making the decision, I'd stick with Bradford. I would go with the more known quantity, who already has two years experience and Pro Bowl potential.

Fisher takes careful approach to hiring staff for Rams

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:40:46 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

And you thought it took a while for the Rams to name their new general manager. It has been four weeks now since Jeff Fisher was officially introduced as Rams head coach, and he has yet to complete his coaching staff.

"I still have several vacancies I'm in the process of interviewing," Fisher said. "As I mentioned to you, I will be rewarded for patience. I'm really excited so far. It's an exhausting process but I hope to have everything done — probably before the end of next week."

Fisher is still looking for a running backs coach and a linebackers coach. Most staffs also have an assistant special teams coach as well as defensive quality control coach. So those could be two additional members depending on Fisher's preferences and his budget for coaching staff hires.

To date, the Rams have announced only the hiring of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and assistant head coach Dave McGinnis. Fisher says he will announce the rest of the staff en masse once it's completed.

"We'll introduce you to the whole basketful of coaches," Fisher joked.

Is it a big basket?

"It's not especially big, but it's talented," Fisher replied.

Besides the big three of McGinnis, Schottenheimer and Williams, about a dozen others have been added to Fisher's first staff in St. Louis.

When asked if Fisher ever will complete his staff, executive vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff replied in jest: "We're running out of office space ... so he better finish soon."

Actually, if the Rams end up with close to a 20-member coaching staff, that's par for the course these days in the NFL. And in terms of the time it's taking for Fisher to assemble the group, he has said all along that he would take his time.

"You do your research," Fisher said. "You discuss your philosophies. And then you make decisions on what you think is going to be a perfect fit. You'll never hear a coach say anything other than this is the best staff in the NFL. All coaches are going to stay that.

"I'm a little different from the standpoint that I think it's hard to hire the best staff in the NFL over a two- or three-week period. I don't think you do that. I think you take your time."

As an example, Fisher cited the hiring of the late Mike Heimerdinger as his offensive coordinator in Tennessee.

"I hired 'Dinger' at the combine in 2000," Fisher said.

The NFL scouting combine doesn't take place until the end of February, and normally most coaching staffs are complete by then.

But more than Fisher's patient approach has led to the lengthy hiring process. When the offseason started for the Rams, they were the only team in the NFL looking for both a general manager and a head coach at the same time.

For a while, the GM search was all but on hold while the Rams finalized the Fisher hiring and while Fisher got an immediate start on assembling the staff.

Similarly, Fisher had less time to spend on the staff search in late January and early February while the Rams zeroed in on their new general manager. Fisher took part in all the GM interviews leading to the hiring of Les Snead on Saturday.

"There's a sense of relief that we've got a general manager in place, and I'm really excited about that," Fisher said. "Now I can go ahead and just finish up the staff."

Besides Fisher, the staff includes two others with head-coaching experience: McGinnis for 3½ seasons (2000-03) in Arizona, and Williams for three seasons (2001-03) in Buffalo.

The staff is also replete with sons of head coaches, from Brandon Fisher and Blake Williams — sons of the head coach and defensive coordinator, respectively — to John Fassel and Frank Cignetti.

Fassel, the Rams' new special teams coach, is the son of former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel. Cignetti, the team's quarterback coach, is the son of Frank Cignetti Sr., former head coach at West Virginia and Indiana University-Pennsylvania.

Jeff Fisher returns to NFL competition committee

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:15:06 GMT

By Associated Press, Published: February 14

NEW YORK — Jeff Fisher is back in the NFL as a coach, and back on the prestigious NFL competition committee.

Fisher was hired last month by the St. Louis Rams after sitting out the 2011 season. While coaching the Tennessee Titans, he was co-chairman from 2002-2010 of the committee that reviews rules and makes recommendations on changes.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of the committee,” Fisher said. “I’ve been on it since 2000. I was a non-voting member last year and participated to a certain extent with them. I was just thrilled that the Commissioner and the rest of the committee welcomed me back.”

Also joining the committee are Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy. All are former players in the league.

“It’s an honor, obviously,” Whisenhunt said. “The integrity of play in the NFL as well as the quality of play is always extremely important to us, to fans, coaches and players. One of the main priorities of the committee is to see that stays at a high level. I am flattered. It’s a privilege and certainly comes with a great deal of responsibility.”

Whisenhunt also serves on the coaches subcommittee, which makes recommendations to the competition committee.

Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay chairs the competition committee, which also includes Giants owner John Mara, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones, Texans GM Rick Smith and Bengals coach Marvin Lewis.

“I was excited and honored,” Murphy said of being added to the committee. “It will be a new experience for me, and I am looking forward to representing the Packers in this capacity on a league level.”

Murphy also played an active role in labor negotiations with the union last year during the lockout.

The committee consists of club personnel only, but other key NFL personnel serve as liaisons, including executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has been appointed to the general managers’ advisory committee, and Danny Morrison of the Carolina Panthers has become chairman of the subcommittee on college relations.

Also on the GM’s committee are Pittsburgh’s Kevin Colbert, Arizona’s Rod Graves, Cleveland’s Tom Heckert, Carolina’s Marty Hurney, New Orleans’ Mickey Loomis, Detroit’s Martin Mayhew, Kansas City’s Scott Pioli, Jacksonville’s Gene Smith, Jerry Reese of the Giants and Mike Tannenbaum of the Jets.

Rams Need Falcons–like Success in the Draft

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:16:01 GMT

By Howard Balzer

In the next month, in advance of the start of the NFL league year on March 13, there will be countless words written and said about free agency.

There will be numerous lists of top players available and breathless analysis of what the Rams and all teams should do when the signing period begins.

However, one thing is known: teams like the Packers will avoid free agency as if it was a communicative disease and other teams like the Redskins will likely go all in and eventually regret the money they spent.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from numerous years of the process it’s that free agency isn’t the be-all and end-all of building a team.

That’s not to say that all teams should avoid like the Packers. But, it’s important to understand value and not overpay for questionable talent.

The reality is that the draft remains the lifeblood for teams trying to build a foundation as well as depth on a roster.

We all know generally how miserably the Rams have failed in the draft in recent years. Certainly, some of the issues have been injuries.

However, the key for teams is having a corps of players that they have developed that are in their fifth through eighth years in the NFL. That means hitting on picks as well as some undrafted players and then ensuring that they return for their second contract.

The latter is truly where the Rams bottomed out prior to the arrival of Billy Devaney and Steve Spagnuolo.

The team’s 2006 draft will forever go down as perhaps one of the worst in franchise history, especially considering the Rams ended up with five choices in the first three rounds and none are even in the NFL, much less with the Rams.

Those five were cornerback Tye Hill (first round), tight end Joe Klopfenstein (second) and three third-round picks, defensive tackle Claude Wroten, linebacker Jon Alston and tight end Dominique Byrd. Remarkably, the Rams actually traded up to get Byrd. After those picks, the Rams drafted defensive end Victor Adeyanju, wide receiver Marques Hagans, linebacker Tim McGarigle and guards Mark Setterstrom and Tony Palmer.

Six years later, none of those players is on an NFL roster.

The Rams also have no players on their roster from the 2007 draft. Two, first-round defensive lineman Adam Carriker (Redskins) and second-round running back Brian Leonard (Bengals) are in the league. The other six are out of the league.

In 2011, the Rams had two of their own players on the roster that were in their second contracts: running back Steven Jackson and cornerback Ron Bartell. And Bartell missed most of the season because of a neck injury.

With Les Snead about to be the team’s new general manager, his goal will be to add to the base of talent that does exist, and finding a way to hit on late-round picks.

It’s noteworthy to compare the Atlanta Falcons’ draft record over the last five years to the Rams.

The Falcons had 43 choices from 2007-2011, and 12 are starters with 17 backups. That’s 29 of 43 draft picks on the roster. Four are with other teams and 10 are out of the NFL.

By contrast, the Rams had 42 picks with just eight starters and 10 backups for a total of 18 on the roster. Ten are with other teams and 14 are out of the NFL.

It’s also eye-opening to compare the last three years. Those coincide with Devaney being named general manager and Snead becoming Atlanta’s director of player personnel.

The Falcons had 21 picks from 2009-2011 and a whopping 19 remain on the roster (seven starters, 12 backups). One pick is with another team and one is out of the NFL.

The Rams had 26 choices in those three years, but just six start and nine are backups. Five are with other teams and six weren’t on a roster at the end of the 2011 season.

It will be Snead’s job to reverse those trends and have the Rams start experiencing Falcons-like success.

Six Breakout Players for 2012

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:49:48 GMT

6. Greg Salas: Wide Receiver

In six games last season, Salas caught 27 passes (including 12 in the final two games of his rookie season) before landing on injured reserve.

The fourth-round pick of the 2011 NFL Draft showed the ability to produce both in the slot and split outside, making impressive plays lined up in either spot.

His versatility could be important going forward as he could, at the very least, provide solid, capable depth lining up wherever needed at wideout.

Last season, Salas displayed terrific hands plus adept run after catch skills and seems to have a knack for getting open. He is not a blazer (4.5 in the 40 yard dash) but possesses a decent burst with the football in his possession.

It is difficult to accurately assess Salas' potential impact to the potential of dramatic changes at the position.

Although Fisher is predominately known as a defensive-minded coach, he is also known as a smart one, and recognizes that 12 points per game will not get it done in the NFL, regardless of how dominant one would hope a defensive could become.

Considering the top defense in terms of points per game (Pittsburgh) gave up 14.2 points per game in 2011, it is painfully obvious that 12 points a game will not enable St. Louis (or any team) to win very many games.

Thus, look for Fisher and the Rams to aggressively attempt to upgrade the wide receiver corps in one manner or another (NFL Draft, free agency or trade).

So it is hard to say what role Salas will play in the upcoming season, but it is likely that he will have a chance to at least get some time as a backup outside and in some three and four receiver sets.

5. Jerome Murphy: Defensive Back

Jerome Murphy mirrors Jeff Fisher in a trio of important ways: he is tough, feisty and aggressive.

Murphy possesses outstanding athleticism with ideal height (6'0'') and size (200 pounds) for the position.

Murphy has a toughness and competitiveness about him like Cortland Finnegan, who played and excelled for Fisher with the Tennessee Titans. In fact, Finnegan earned first team All-Pro honors playing for Fisher in 2008.

Words like tough, physical, aggressive and strong are commonly used to describe Murphy.

With the health of would-be starting corner Bradley Fletcher in doubt, it is not incomprehensible that Murphy could battle for a starting spot in training camp, depending in part to what the Rams does in the draft and free agency.

Speaking of free agency, the aforementioned Finnegan has stated that reuniting with Fisher in St. Louis is a consideration.

For much more on Murphy, please take a look at my feature piece from last week as found here.

4. Lance Kendricks: Tight End

Lance Kendricks flashed brightly onto the scene as a rookie in 2011 looking like a possible star in the making during preseason play. Of course, St. Louis finished the preseason 4-0, proving that the games that do not count can equate to fool's gold in relation to attaining a barometer of the outlook of both teams and individual players.

Such was largely the case with second-round rookie tight end Lance Kendricks, who finished the season with just 28 receptions on the year and far too many drops.

Considering that Kendricks is the Rams' top returning tight end and that St. Louis has several holes to fill, look for Kendricks to have every opportunity to lock down the starting tight end slot, at least on passing downs, which is his forte.

Fellow Rams tight end Mike Hoomanawanui is built like former Tennessee Titans and Fisher tight end Frank Wycheck, who excelled under Fisher for several seasons. Wycheck, like Hoomanawaui, owned the size and skills to make strong contributions as a receiver and blocker.

Unfortunately for Hoomanawanui and St. Louis, though, "Illinois Mike" appears to be the type of player who is on borrowed time with each play he contributes without suffering an injury, and the other options on the roster at the position lack the talent that Kendricks possesses.

Kendricks is more of a receiving tight end at this stage and is in the general mold of an Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots, who has a similar stature and skill set as Kendricks.

The Rams hope Kendricks can have a Hernandez-like year in 2012, as he pulled in 79 receptions and seven touchdowns in 2011.

Fisher always liked throwing to the tight end, even in the pre-tight end era that the NFL is currently in. The previously discussed Wycheck averaged 61 catches and 3.5 touchdowns as a starter for the Titans over a seven-year stretch.

Unless St. Louis surprises with an unexpected acquisition through some avenue in the offseason, Kendricks will more than likely be the primary passing target of Sam Bradford in the upcoming season.

With that, expect Kendricks to have every opportunity to have a breakout season. Assuming he can shake off the rookie jitters (or whatever it was that caused him to drop far too many passes last year), Kendricks should nearly double his catch total in the approaching campaign.

3. Roger Saffold: Offensive Tackle

Rodger Saffold, a 2010 second round selection, had a terrific rookie season at left tackle. So good, in fact, that theIndianapolis Colts publicly admitted regret in passing on Saffold in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Saffold played well enough to rank as the thirteenth most efficient pass blocker in 2010, according to this. However, the 2011 season was a different story as Saffold struggled with both injuries and diminished play, which was perhaps interrelated.

Not only should Saffold break out with a much better year in 2012 at either left or right tackle (depending on what the Rams do in the draft and free agency), he will have a new offensive line coach, Paul Boudreau, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons.

Boudreau comes with an impressive reputation and replaced the departed Steve Loney.

The Rams brought in several expensive, highly accomplished and regarded offensive linemen under Loney's watch (Jacob Bell, Jason Brown, Harvey Dahl) most have failed to play as well as they did at previous stops (Bell and Brown) and none improved under his tutelage (including Dahl).

Furthermore, the 2009 number 2 overall draft pick has largely disappointed, although part of his issues have admittedly been recurring concussion problems. However, even when healthy, Smith has not performed at the level that would be anticipated for a player selected of his draft slot.

Many, including yours truly, expect that the play of the offensive line as a whole will improve under Boudreau, including that of Saffold's.

The combination of good health and good coaching should place Saffold in prime position to breakout in 2012.

2. Robert Quinn: Defensive End

2011 NFL Draft first-round pick Robert Quinn had a strong rookie showing, despite a sometimes bewildering lack of playing time, include an inactive status on Opening Day.

Even under those circumstances, the defensive end managed to produce five sacks, tally 23 tackles and officially block two punts (although he got his hands on three of them).

New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams once helped produce a bonafide stud in Jevon Kearse.

Kearse, known as "The Freak," excelled under the guidance and coaching of Fisher and Williams. Kearse racked up 14.5 sacks during his rookie year and averaged 12 sacks over a three year period under the previously mentioned coaches.

Quinn and Kearse were similar athletically and in terms of build (both listed at 6'4", 265 lbs.). Quinn came and strong of late and looks to be the real deal as a pass rusher and should move into the starting lineup in the upcoming season.

With more time and in the aggressive scheme of Williams, Quinn should flourish, especially on passing downs. He still has room to improve as a run defender but held up better than many had expected during his rookie year.

It looks that the Rams have their bookends in place defensively with Chris Long and Quinn. Williams system excels when he is equipped with good pass rushing ends. In 2000, for example, his Tennessee defense led the NFL in total defense.

With more playing time, Quinn could double his sack total (five in 2011) in the coming campaign and have a legitimate breakout season in 2012.

1. Sam Bradford: Quarterback

After winning the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2010 after being selected first overall in the NFL Draft, Bradford regressed in his sophomore season.

Bradford excelled as a rookie in 2010 with the aid of quarterback coach Dick Curl (who retired after that season) in the offensive system of then offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, now the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Bradford will now play in a third offensive system in as many years following the departure of last season's offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Brian Schottenheimer, formerly of the New York Jets, will orchestrate the offense in 2012. Luckily for Bradford, he is a disciple of the Don Coryell system, which has many similarities to the offense he thrived in at the University of Oklahoma.

That, and a full offseason to work with his new offensive coordinator (along with the return of a quarterback coach, Frank Cignetti of Rutgers) should make for a relatively smooth transition.

For Bradford to grow and develop into the franchise quarterback that his raw skills and many talent evaluators suggest, he must show greater pocket presence and improve his recognition skills. Bradford struggled to progress through his reads, locking onto receivers consistently last year.

On the other hand, he needs more help.

Bradford must get better pass protection and look for the Rams to address those issues in the upcoming free agency and/or the 2012 NFL Draft. Again, with new offensive line coach Paul Boudreau in place, the coaching should be upgraded, too.

Secondly, Bradford needs enhanced weapons through the air. Look for the Rams to provide better options at wide receiver by vigorously pursuing options at wide receiver in the draft and free agency period.

With a more familiar system, a full offseason, the return of a QB coach, better pass protection and a strong likelihood of better pass targets (including the return of Danny Amendola, who hauled in 85 catches in 2010), Bradford is primed more than any other St. Louis player to have a breakout year in 2012.

Ten Players on the Bubble

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:30:36 GMT

With a new regime comes a new face lift, and at this point the St. Louis Rams are completely out of butt fat and have been shot up with enough Botox to put even the most artificial Hollywood stars to shame.

After a historically inept five-year stretch between 2007 and 2011, resulting in a combined 15-65 record, there's no doubt that the team must get it right this time around, hence the hiring of an experienced coach like Jeff Fisher.

With a veteran coach, the Rams figure they'll be a consistent .500 team at worst, which is still light-years ahead of the current team and will certainly be enough to appease a starving fanbase that was positively thrilled with the team's 7-9 losing record in 2010.

But in order to complete that satisfying step from hopelessness to mediocrity, the front office must identify the dead weight and eliminate it.

Over the next month and beyond, expect multiple cuts and restructured contracts as Fisher begins to mold the team in his own image.

Think of Fisher as the surgeon while the Rams are the overweight patient getting lard sucked out before swimsuit season (which comes much quicker than we ever expect).

There are some obvious cuts waiting to happen, such as the blocking-specialist tight end who can't block (Billy Bajema). But there are also a number of borderline players who will force the coaches to make some difficult decisions.

This article will focus on those "on the bubble" players and decide who's worth keeping and who needs to hit the road.

Ron Bartell, Cornerback

Ron Bartell has arguably been the Rams' best defensive player over the last five or six years, which is why the team felt he was worth a four-year, $25 million contract in 2009.

However, Bartell missed basically the entire 2011 season with a fractured neck which he obtained in Week 1 against Philadelphia.

Bartell has supposedly beencleared to play again, but even before the neck injury, he was already in a constant battle with various injuries, resulting in 19 missed starts over the last three seasons.

While Bartell certainly has a lot to offer on the field, it might not be financially feasible to pay him the $6.2 million that he's due in 2012, especially since he'll not likely stay healthy for all 16 games.

It would be ideal to keep Bartell and sign free agent Cortland Finnegan, but if the team can afford only one of the two corners, then it has to be Finnegan.

Verdict: Simple... If the team signs Finnegan, then Bartell is gone. But if the team doesn't, then Bartell stays.

Jacob Bell, Left Guard

The Rams signed Jacob Bell away from the Tennessee Titans in 2008 as a high-priced free agent, but he has been nothing but a disappointment in a Rams uniform.

Unfortunately for Rams fans, Bell has a history with Fisher from their time together in Tennessee from 2004 to 2007, which could result in Fisher showing some sympathy towards Bell and his struggles.

However, Bell is now a free agent and won't be nearly as pricey as he was in the recent past, which will probably be the only reason that he's brought back in 2012.

Verdict: If Fisher feels he can force Bell to elevate his game, then the Rams will re-sign him to a contract that will be merely a fraction of the $36 million contract he signed in 2008.

Jason Brown, Center

Jason Brown had a phenomenal 2009 season with the Rams after signing a $37.5 million contract with the team as a free agent.

However, his level of performance was merely adequate in 2010 and then simply awful in 2011.

Brown is a bit of a mystery. He was great for Baltimore to start his career and was solid during his first year in St. Louis, so it's hard to determine if the problem is actually with Brown, or rather the unqualified coaching staff he played under.

Bell, Brown and Jason Smith are the three most problematic offensive linemen on the roster, but since there are no capable replacements waiting on deck, it's probably unrealistic to expect the team to let go of all three.

If just one of the three remains with the team in 2012, then it will probably be Brown, simply because he's the only one capable of staying healthy.

Verdict: Brown missed two games in 2011 due to injury, but he was able to start 64 consecutive games between 2007 and 2010. So if the Rams are going to keep one of their under-performing linemen, then it might as well be the only one capable of staying on the field. Not to mention, he's probably the one most likely to revive his game.

Fred Robbins, Defensive Tackle

Defensive tackle Fred Robbins came over in 2010 as a free agent and was a terrific addition who single-handedly helped the defense grow by leaps and bounds.

However, Robbins experienced a decrease in production in 2011 and his chances of rebounding in 2012 are slim due to the fact that he'll turn 35 years old in March.

Robbins had a special connection with former head coach Steve Spagnuolo stemming from their shared history together with the New York Giants, but that favoritism vanished as soon as Spagnuolo walked out the door.

Fisher has no special bond with Robbins and will only retain him if he's deemed worthy, which is a hard case to argue considering the $3.75 million he'll make in 2012.

Fisher's defense-minded philosophy will likely call for a new defensive tackle, as he values that position greatly, but there's a chance Robbins will retire before Fisher has a chance to cut him.

Verdict: Now that Spagnuolo is gone, Robbins will likely retire.

Jason Smith, Offensive Tackle

Former No. 2 overall pick Jason Smith is running out of opportunities to live up to his lofty draft status.

Unfortunately, Smith has been the victim of multiple concussions, which is spreading doubt that he'll ever be capable of a lengthy career in the NFL.

Even without the concussions, Smith has still been a major disappointment on the field, which could hurt his chances in 2012 considering the team will save millions in cap space by cutting him.

There's a chance Smith can revive his career at left guard not unlike Robert Gallery during his time in Oakland, but since Smith is due $10 million next year, it's probably too expensive to even consider that experiment.

Verdict: There's a chance the team will bring Smith back if he's willing to restructure his enormous $61.7 million contract, but the team will ultimately cut him if he refuses.

A.J. Feeley, Quarterback

A.J. Feeley was signed in 2010 as a likely backup quarterback, but since there was no guarantee thatSam Bradford would be drafted or even be ready to start Week 1, Feeley was partially treated as a starter.

Since starting games was in the realm of possibility, the Rams were forced to reflect that in Feeley's contract, which is why they inked him to a two-year deal worth $6 million. It was a bit pricey considering he had only started two games since 2004 at the time.

Now that Feeley is a free agent and Bradford is locked in as the starter, the team could probably bring him back at a reduced rate.

However, Feeley was considered a valuable backup due to his familiarity with Pat Shurmur's offensive scheme. But now that Shurmur is long gone as the team's offensive coordinator, there is really no reason to keep Feeley.

Third-string quarterback Kellen Clemens had an admirable game against San Francisco during the team's 2011 finale and is six years younger than the 34-year-old Feeley.

Coincidentally, Clemens played the first five years of his career with the New York Jets under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who is now the Rams' new coordinator.

Verdict: Clemens flashed some potential in 2011 and is very familiar with Schottenheimer's scheme, which makes him the perfect backup. There is no reason to re-sign Feeley.

Mike Hoomanawanui, Tight End

Mike Hoomanawanui was the team's fifth-round draft pick in 2010 and flashed plenty of potential during his rookie season.

Right from the start, even during the preseason, it was obvious that Hoomanawanui (Illini Mike) and Bradford had some chemistry together in the passing game, but he was unable to compile a respectable rookie season after missing eight games due to a high ankle sprain.

While his injury-plagued rookie season was alarming, people still held out hope that he'd bounce back in 2011 and continue to grow as an offensive weapon.

However, it became painfully clear that his rookie injury was not an isolated incident after he again missed eight games in 2011.

Even while healthy, he still only had seven catches for 83 yards in eight games.

The Rams could use a weapon like Hoomanawanui on the field, but he clearly does not have a body capable of absorbing a regular beating.

Verdict: There's basically no chance that Hoomanawanui can stay healthy for 16 games. And while his potential is alluring, it would be foolish to waste the roster spot. He will likely be cut at some point, either in the upcoming months or during training camp.

James Hall, Defensive End

In 2010, Chris Long was the defensive lineman who received the most praise, but it was actually James Hall who led the team in sacks that year with 10.5.

While Hall still managed to stay relevant in 2011 with six sacks and 50 tackles, it's fair to say that he experienced an overall decline.

Hall still has something to offer, but with 2011 first-round pick Robert Quinn ready to replace him as the full-time starter at right defensive end, it doesn't make a lot of sense to keep the 35-year-old Hall.

Also, Hall is due $2.75 million in 2012, so his departure would save the team some money, which could go towards a younger and more productive free agent.

Verdict: There's a chance Hall will retire due to his age, but if he decides to play, then he'll likely force the team to cut him in order to save money.

Josh Brown, Kicker

Some teams take their kicker for granted, so they go out an find a new one only to find that the replacement is not as reliable, which results in them playing musical chairs with the position until they can finally find the right guy.

For that reason, it might be wise for the Rams to stick with an experienced veteran like Josh Brown who, at his worst, is still somewhat reliable.

However, Brown made only 75 percent of his field goals in 2011 and his longest was just a modest 49-yard kick.

Brown has not been a total disaster, but he is hardly reliable enough to justify the $14.2 million contract he signed in 2008.

Verdict: Brown is entering the final year of his contract, so the team might wait it out for one more year. However, he is set to make $2.7 million in 2012. And with his accuracy beginning to come into question, the Rams could get equal production for a quarter of the price.

Austin Pettis, Wide Receiver

Austin Pettis was the Rams' third-round draft pick in 2011 out of Boise State, but he was basically a ghost throughout his rookie year.

The team was weak at the receiver position, which gave Pettis every opportunity in the world to show his stuff, but he still managed to produce only 27 catches and 256 yards.

Assuming the team enters 2012 with Brandon Lloyd, Justin Blackmon (or any other drafted receiver), Danny Amendola, Greg Salas, Danario Alexander and Dominique Curry (special teams), that doesn't leave a lot of room on the roster for Pettis, who was a questionable draft pick to begin with.

Not to mention, Pettis was suspended for four games for using steroids. The suspension caused him to miss the final two games of the 2011 season and will force him to miss the first two games of 2012, which makes it that much easier to cut him.

Verdict: Expect Pettis to make it to training camp. However, he'll be cut before the season begins.

RE:Rams must build a program, not just a team

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 20:09:24 GMT

Now, that's the kind of stuff I like to hear about a head coach!

Rams must build a program, not just a team

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 20:06:18 GMT

BY JEFF GORDON

New Rams coach Jeff Fisher is working through his extensive and ambitious “to do” list.

Building a better roster piece by piece is a big part of his job. So is assembling a better coaching staff.

But his overriding goal is necessarily broad. He is trying to build a strong program — a way of doing things that everybody working at Rams Park can believe in.

The challenge is enormous. This is a downtrodden operation, arguably the NFL's worst before the latest round of firings commenced.

The Rams haven’t posted a winning season since 2003. The decline started on “Mad Mike” Martz’s watch and continued through two overmatched first-time head coaches (Scott Linehan and Steve Spagnuolo) and two handcuffed interim coaches (Joe Vitt and Jim Haslett).

Fisher must start over almost from scratch, building around the handful of cornerstone players already in place.

The task will be daunting, but Fisher inspires confidence within the football industry. This is why top assistant coaches are lining up to join this project.

New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams left his post with the Saints, a perennial Super Bowl contender, to rejoin Fisher. They developed a strong bond working together in Tennessee.

New offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer had myriad opportunities after leaving the Jets, but he eagerly signed on as well after an extensive visit with the new Rams coach.

New assistant head coach Dave McGinnis worked under a one-year deal with the Titans this season while hoping to follow Fisher to his next gig.

The call came and he jumped at the opportunity to help Fisher build a program from the ground up.

“I really, really wanted to stay with Jeff,” McGinnis said during a conference call with St. Louis reporters Wednesday. “I love the way he does things. He just gets it on every level in this league. There are a lot of levels you have to be spot on with.”

McGinnis has been around the coaching block. Like many NFL coaches, his career was launched back at the University of Missouri — an unlikely coaching cradle, given its lengthy drought between gridiron glory days.

Along the trail, he notes he was “head coach of the Bears for six hours, and knew it for three” back in 1999, when that team called a news conference to announce his hiring before he agreed to terms. That blunder convinced him not to work for that organization.

(Had McGinnis actually taken the Chicago job, he would have hired Martz as offensive coordinator — thus preventing the birth of the “Greatest Show on Turf.” Funny how the world works.)

McGinnis became head coach of the Cardinals, first on an interim basis, then with more permanent status. But working for Bill Bidwill in those days had its drawbacks and he never got the Gridbirds on track.

His happier times in Tennessee under Fisher illustrated the difference between a team and a program. He quickly came to appreciate Fisher’s method of operation. The Titans worked hard and adhered to high standards but still had fun.

When Fisher stepped down as coach and took a year off from the NFL, McGinnis hoped Jeff would find a new challenge and bring him along.

And here they are. Although this team has yet to settle on its new general manager, Fisher has quickly established himself as the new face of the franchise.

“He has a confidence about him,” McGinnis said. “That is very, very evident when you are around him.”

That confidence must spread to every aspect of the Rams organization, given the transformation that must occur. Last season the Rams kept finding new ways to lose during their 2-14 campaign.

Fisher must replace the stagger with swagger. His confidence must become contagious and spread to every corner of the operation.

“People in the building like the atmosphere he creates,” McGinnis said. “Players love playing for him.

“You know you will always have a chance. You will always be prepared on Sunday. The environment is conducive to doing very, very good things.”

Free Agency, Wide Receivers: Ranking the Best Options

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 19:41:17 GMT

The St. Louis Rams finished last in the NFL in points per game and third down conversion percentage. Both statistics indicate the need for better play makers, particularly at wide receiver, where Sam Bradford clearly needs better weapons.

Jeff Fisher and the Rams front office will likely add at least two, perhaps three, wide receivers through the 2012 Free Agency and NFL Draft, especially when considering that Fisher's Tennessee Titans often carried six or even seven wide receivers on his roster, and that the Rams only have a couple of likely locks at wide receiver (Danny Amendola and Greg Salas).

The roster makeup of Fisher's Rams will likely be similar to his Titans, so one would also expect St. Louis to carry six or seven wide receivers on the roster just as Tennessee typically did.

When considering the Rams offensive struggles as well as the likelihood of adding multiple new wide outs to the team, the wide receiver position may arguably be the most important to adequately address in the offseason (or at least as important as the offensive line).

Fortunately for St. Louis, the free agent talent at wide receiver, both in regard to quantity and quality, is outstanding. There will be some terrific wide receivers available for the Rams to target in free agency.

The following is a rundown of the St. Louis Rams wide receivers and their contracts, the 2012 free agent wide receivers and the five I feel the Rams should ultimately target.

St. Louis Rams Wide Receivers

Danny Amendola-

Age: 26

Contract: Restricted Free Agent

Best Season: 2010- 85 catches, 8.1 yards/reception, 3 TD's

Prognosis: Very likely to return in 2012 and play in the slot.

Danario Alexander-

Age: 23

Contract: 2 Years/$1.825 million remaining on 4-year deal

Best Season: 2011- 26 catches, 16.6 yards/reception, 2 TD's

Prognosis: Should have a rare offseason without surgery and will have several months to get stronger and work on his game. Should get a chance to make team in training camp based on his size, potential andflashes of production.

Mark Clayton-

Age: 29

Contract: Free Agent

Best Season: 2006- 67 catches, 14 yards/reception, 5 TD's

Prognosis: Clayton will be 30 and is injury prone. Although he developed a terrific chemistry with Bradford, his return is certainly a question mark.

Dominique Curry-

Age: 24

Contract: Exclusive Rights Free Agent

Best Season: 2010-2011- Special Teams Ace

Prognosis: Could certainly return as a strong special teams performer; unlikely to contribute at wide receiver, however.

Brandon Gibson-

Age: 24

Contract: 1 year/$1 million remaining on 4-year deal

Best Season: 2010- 53 catches, 11.7 yards/reception, 2 TD's

Prognosis: Gibson could remain as a fifth or sixth receiver due to his low salary, but could be cut just as easily, in part for the same reason.

Brandon Lloyd-

Age: 30

Contract: Free Agent

Best Season: 2010- 77 catches, 18.8 yards/reception, 11 TD's

Prognosis: St. Louis will likely make a solid run at retaining Lloyd for 2012 and beyond.

Austin Pettis-

Age: 23

Contract: 3 years/$1.74 million remaining on 4-year deal

Best Season: 2011- (12 games) 27 catches, 9.5 yards/reception, 0 TD's

Prognosis: Pettis was coming on before his suspension. On the other hand, the general manager (Billy Devaney) who drafted him and the coaching staff who brought him in are long gone. Due to his low salary, if the new GM does not like Pettis, he could be shown the door, depending on what the Rams do in the aforementioned free agency period as well as the 2012 NFL Draft. Pettis likely showed enough to at least make it to training camp and get a shot at sticking around.

Greg Salas-

Age: 23

Contract: 3 years/$1.65 million remaining on 4-year deal

Best Season: 2011- (6 games) 27 catches, 9.8 yards/reception, 0 TD's

Prognosis: Salas will return and should contribute in the slot and backup at the outside spots. He was looking very good before his season ending injury and looks like a solid player going forward.

Complete List of Notable Free Agent Wide Receivers

Marques Colston- Saints

Age/Experience: 28; 6 seasons

Career Averages: 75 catches, 1,040 yards, 8 TD's, 13.9 yards/reception

Dwayne Bowe- Chiefs

Age/Experience: 27; 5 seasons

Career Averages: 71 catches, 985 yards, 7 TD's, 13.8 yards/reception

Vincent Jackson- Chargers

Age/Experience: 29; 7 seasons

Career Averages: (5 full seasons) 51 receptions, 889 yards, 7 TD's, 17.2 yards/reception

DeSean Jackson- Eagles

Age/Experience: 25; 4 seasons

Career Averages: 57 catches, 1,021 yards, 5 TD's, 17.8 yards/reception

Stevie Johnson- Bills

Age/Experience: 25; 4 seasons

Career Averages: (2 full seasons) 79 catches, 1,039 yards, 8.5 TD's, 13.2 yards/reception

Pierre Garcon- Colts

Age/Experience: 25; 4 seasons

Career Averages: (3 full seasons) 61 catches, 832 yards, 5 TD's, 14.0 yards/reception

Reggie Wayne- Colts

Age/Experience: 33; 11 seasons

Career Averages: 78 catches, 1,064 yards, 7 TD's, 13.6 yards/reception

Robert Meachem- Saints

Age/Experience: 27; 5 seasons

Career Averages: 28 catches, 454 yards, 5 TD's, 16 yards/reception

Mario Manningham- Giants

Age/Experience: 25; 4 seasons

Career Averages: (3 full seasons) 52 catches, 6 TD's, 14.5 yards/reception

Plaxico Burress- Jets

Age/Experience: 34; 10 seasons

Career Averages: 55 catches, 6 TD's, 15.4 yards/reception

Brandon Lloyd- Rams

Age/Experience: 30; 9 seasons

Career Averages: (7 full seasons) 43 catches, 4.5 TD's, 15 yards/reception

Mike Wallace (Steelers) and Wes Welker (Patriots) are restricted free agents and likely to be retained by their respective teams.

Who Should the St. Louis Rams Target?

The Rams need both explosion (speed) and production. With Fisher running the show, look for the Rams to pass on high-dollar potential malcontents DeSean Jackson and Vincent Jackson. I would also expect that, coming off a 2-14 season and probably being a year or more away, that the Rams pass on Reggie Wayne, who is 33.

With that, let us take a look at who I feel the Rams should/could target in free agency:

1, Brandon Lloyd, 6'0:

Lloyd has been on record saying that he likes the Fisher hire and noted that Fisher can adapt to emphasizing either a running or passing offense, based on personnel. Furthermore, Lloyd developed a good rapport quickly in 2011 with Sam Bradford, so he has already proven to be able to develop some chemistry here, which sets him apart from the rest of the pack.

Lloyd will be 31 this fall, however, he is built similar to Isaac Bruce who maintained a high-level of play into his middle 30's. I believe Lloyd has several good years left, too.

In addition, Lloyd has had two seasons where he played a half year or left, so he has fewer miles on him than many receivers do at the same age.

2. Stevie Johnson, 6'2:

Johnson has averaged 79 receptions over the past two seasons in Buffalo at 13 yards per catch the last and almost 9 touchdowns. As we know too well, the Rams have struggled in the red zone and have struggled to score touchdowns in general.

Johnson has 4.45 speed and good size at 6'2. He can get deep but is also a good route runner. His production is obviously there, making him a potentially outstanding building block for St. Louis and a legitimate number one target for Bradford for the next seven or eight seasons.

Although Johnson and the Bills have stated a desire to work it out, Johnson is open to hitting the free agent market, saying:

Of course I'm hoping Buffalo will step up, but if not and I hit the market in free agency, then Buffalo is in the picture no matter what. But to be in free agency to see what other teams are saying, that's also good.

3. Pierre Garcon, 6'0:

Garcon, like Johnson, is just 25 and would be a foundation piece for the St. Louis offense for many years to come. Even without Peyton Manning in 2011, Garcon managed to pull down 70 catches and six touchdowns at 13.5 yards per reception.

Like Johnson also, Garcon will likely be tough to pry away from his current team, the Colts, but would be a great addition and a number one receiver in St. Louis.

Garcon has run a sub-4.4 second 40 yard dash and has the type of speed the Rams so desperately need. With a good running game sure to be in place, having deep threats at wide receiver will make it very tricky for defensive coordinators who would like to sneak safeties up but would think twice with a player like Garcon on the outside.

4. Robert Meachem, 6'2:

The 27-year-old Meachem, playing on a roster with a very deep receiving corps, posted 40 catches for the Saints at 15.5 yards per reception and six touchdowns in 2011.

Meachem is not a better player than my number five target below, however, he would come cheaper and he could be a second free agent wide receiver addition because of that, theoretically. At 6'2 and with 4.4 speed, Meachem brings the size and deep speed that St. Louis needs.

5. Dwayne Bowe, 6'2:

Bowe's resume boasts good height, great size and outstanding production while never playing with a quarterback as talented as Sam Bradford.

Bowe, 27, managed 81 catches at over 14 yards per reception and five touchdowns in 2011, playing with a variety of average quarterbacks.

Bowe has a penchant for tough, highlight reel catches and can go up high for the ball, while also showing good toughness and a willingness to go across the middle. He is good after the catch as well, and excels on crossing routes and slants, passes that seem to suit Bradford well.

Brandon Fisher leaving Detroit to work for his dad in St. Louis

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 14:18:02 GMT

The Lions said after the season that all of their assistant coaches for 2011 would return for 2012, but it turns out that’s not the case.

The Detroit Free Press reports that Brandon Fisher, a defensive assistant in Detroit, is leaving to become an assistant to his dad, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz, a friend of the Fishers and former assistant to Jeff Fisher, has apparently decided to let Brandon leave. Teams have sometimes blocked their assistants from leaving even to join family members’ staffs.

The 2011 Lions’ staff was the first that Brandon Fisher was a part of, although he did spend some time working with the Titans in 2010. Jeff Fisher’s desire to add Brandon Fisher as a full-time staff member in 2011 — and Titans owner Bud Adams’ resistance to that — was reportedly one of the reasons that Jeff Fisher left the Titans a year ago.

Officials present $124 million plan to keep Rams in St. Louis

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 14:04:37 GMT

BY MATTHEW HATHAWAY

ST. LOUIS • The public agency that manages the Edward Jones Dome proposed a $124 million overhaul of the 16-year-old facility, while St. Louis city and county officials stressed that no new public money would go to the team without voter approval.

The St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission delivered the plan to the St. Louis Rams, meeting a deadline of today and detailing improvements officials argue would make the stadium one of the best in pro football. The proposal asks the Rams to pay for slightly more than half the cost.

If accepted by the Rams, the CVC plan would:

• Hang a 96-foot wide and 26-foot high scoreboard over midfield that should give fans clear views of replays, scores and stats and not interfere with game play.

• Build a new, three-story structure on Baer Plaza that would be connected to the Dome via a bridge over Broadway. It would include a 20,000 square-foot lobby, a rooftop beer garden and a new entrance for fans headed to Dome's club seats and luxury suites.

• Install large glazed window panels that would allow more natural light inside the Dome, which critics have complained is too dark.

• Replace about 1,800 existing seats and four suites with 1,500 new club seats.

• Put retractable bollards on Broadway that would let CVC shut down the street to vehicle traffic and making it safer for fans to enter and leave the Dome. The CVC said this change also would address NFL concerns that the milling crowds outside of the Dome could be a terrorist target.

Also in the plan are aesthetic improvements to entrances, stairwells and corridors; updated locker rooms for cheerleaders and officials; and replacing the Dome's outdoor smoking area with a plaza that CVC President Kathleen "Kitty" Ratcliffe described as "kind of a tailgate area without the cars."

Officials with the St. Louis Rams could not immediately be reached for reaction to the proposal.

As the deadline for new negotiations approached, many have speculated that the Rams could relocate back to Los Angeles, where an effort to build a football stadium is well under way. Those worries were heightened again by recent news that Rams owner Stan Kroenke put in a bid to buy baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers.

A Missouri native, Kroenke made his fortune as a real estate developer. His wife, Ann Walton Kroenke, is the daughter of James "Bud" Walton, a co-founder of Wal-Mart. In addition to the Rams, Kroenke's sports holdings include professional basketball, hockey and soccer teams in Denver, as well as an English soccer team, the London-based Arsenal Football Club.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay endorsed the plan this afternoon, but said he has no plans to lobby Kroenke personally. He said he believes the proposal satisfies requirements in the lease that the stadium meets the "first-tier" standard in 15 listed categories.

"I've seen it. I've read it I think it's a very strong proposal that meets the requirements of the lease, which are to bring the components of the stadium that are listed in the lease up to top tier," Slay said. "We're just waiting to hear back from the Rams."

Mike Jones, a senior policy advisor for St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, said: "We're meeting our first requirement in the lease in a credible way."

Under the plan, the Rams would fund about 52 percent of the improvements. Ratcliffe said that figure wasn't picked at random — it is the average contribution by NFL teams in recent new stadium construction and renovation projects.

The plan doesn't identify the source of the rest of money, nearly $60 million. Ratcliffe indicated that her agency would likely turn to the Dome's owner — the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority — or the three so-called government "sponsors" that paid to build the Dome.

The CVC did not make public a financial plan that the lease required it give to the Rams today.

Jeff Rainford, Slay's chief of staff, and Mike Jones, a senior policy advisor for St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, said their bosses won't direct any new public money to the Dome without voter approval. Rainford said a vote of the people also would be needed to direct city amusement tax generated at the Dome — about $1.5 million per season — towards paying for the improvements.

The Dome originally was financed with $256 million in revenue bonds, and the repayment of that 30-year debt will be $720 million. Every year, Missouri spends $12 million to pay off the debt, and St. Louis and St. Louis County each pay $6 million annually.

Ratcliffe, who discussed the plan during a 45-minute interview this afternoon, stressed that the CVC has made a variety of improvements to the Dome over the years, and that many of the building's features already are "first tier," a standard that the Rams' lease of the Dome defines as being superior to three-quarters of all NFL venues.

The 30-year lease keep the Rams at the Dome through 2025, but it contains an escape clause that would let the team terminate the agreement if the Dome isn't a "first-tier" facility in 2015. Today was the deadline for the CVC to present the Rams with an improvement plan for how it intends to meet that standard.

Ratcliffe said the first-tier standard is not impossible to achieve, in part because CVC already has spent millions on improvements to the playing field, scoreboards, lighting and concession areas. "If we were starting with a 1995 building that hadn't been updated, first tier would have been a monumental task," she said. "But we start with a building that has been well maintained and improved over the last 16 years."

The Rams have until March 1 to accept or reject the CVC proposal, and until May 1 to make a counteroffer. The two sides would go into arbitration if a deal isn't struck by June 15. Without an agreement, the Rams would be free to relocate after March 1, 2015.

"We hope they're going to turn around in 30 days and say they love it," Ratcliffe said. "But we expect there to be changes."

Ratcliffe said there are logistical problems with some improvements fans might want, such as the popular notion that the Dome's roof should be removed or replaced with a retractable one.

"The players would be swimming, not running," Ratcliffe said, noting that the Dome was not built to drain rainwater.

Special teams coach Fassel leaves Raiders for Rams

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 23:30:39 GMT

John Fassel, who has overseen the Raiders' record-setting special teams unit as its coordinator the past three years, is leaving Oakland for a similar position with St. Louis under new Rams coach Jeff Fisher, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Fassel is the third member of last year's staff to depart the Raiders, joining defensive line coach Mike Waufle in St. Louis and receivers coach Sanjay Lal, who accepted the same position with the New York Jets.

Offensive coordinator Al Saunders is the lone holdover from former coach Hue Jackson's staff still under contract, though new coach Dennis Allen was non-committal on Monday about Saunders' future with the team.

In fact, general manager Reggie McKenzie said Monday that Allen was "close" to having his staff ready, which could include some holdovers.

"There's a couple of guys he wants to keep, yes," McKenzie said. "But a wholesale of them? He's going to work through that. He's going to see who he can get and who he can't."

Raiders assistants still unaccounted for: defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan, linebackers coach Greg Biekert, tight ends coach Adam Henry, assistant linebackers coach Ricky Hunley, safeties coach Kevin Ross, running backs coach Kelly Skipper, assistant offensive line coach Steve Wisniewski, cornerbacks coach Rod Woodson and offensive line coach Bob Wylie.

"Here's what I want," Allen said, "I want a group of guys who are obviously smart and intelligent, great communicators. But more than anything else, I wants guys who are going to be loyal, committed guys to the cause. I think honesty and integrity go a long way."

Fassel, known as "Bones" for his skinny frame, initially came to the Raiders in 2008 in a special teams quality control role in 2008 from Baltimore. And this past weekend three of his charges in placekicker Sebastian Janikowski, who tied the NFL record with a 63-yard field goal in the season opener at Denver, punter Shane Lechler, who had a franchise-record 80-yard punt against Chicago, and long-snapper Jon Condo all played in the Pro Bowl.

Rams are looking for backfield help

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:04:45 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

Here we go again on the search for backup help to Steven Jackson in the Rams' backfield. The free-agent additions of Cadillac Williams and Jerious Norwood looked good on paper last summer at the start of training camp.

But Williams was so-so, with some notable problems on swing passes early in the season. Norwood barely played. Both are free agents this offseason and aren't expected back.

As usual there were plenty of potential running back options on display this week at the Senior Bowl, with the headliners being Chris Polk of Washington and Doug Martin of Boise State. Both project as second- or third-round draft picks.

There are few backs in the country, or in the history of the Pacific 12 Conference, as productive as Polk with the Huskies. He posted back-to-back seasons of 1,400-plus yards rushing, and with 4,049 career rushing yards is only the seventh rusher in Pac-12 history to top 4,000.

At 5-10½ and 224 pounds, Polk is a strong physical inside runner. He's not going to make you miss, but he will run through arm tackles and rarely gets caught in the backfield for a loss.

"He's so strong in the lower body," said one veteran AFC scout. "He gets a lot of yardage after contact. He breaks tackles with his legs because he's strong."

Polk is an erect runner, meaning he takes a lot of hits. And some scouts question his speed, to which Polk takes offense.

"I've been fast my whole life," Polk said. "It's just a matter of showing it. I think they think I'm slow because of my running style. I'm real patient. If I see a crease, I'm gonna hit it 100 mile per hour."

There are faster backs in today's Senior Bowl game than Polk, but it's doubtful any have better hands. Although he never caught more than 31 passes in any one season at Washington, he did have four touchdown receptions in 2011.

When it was suggested that St. Louis wouldn't be a bad spot, complementing Jackson, Polk replied: "No, it wouldn't. I'm actually going to work with him, too. I'm looking forward to making that happen."

Jackson and Polk are represented by the same agent, so Polk will be working out with Jackson in Las Vegas later this offseason, following Jackson's South American vacation.

Martin, meanwhile, plays bigger than his size (5-9, 219), and he's not afraid to tell you so.

"I look at myself on film and I feel like I play 6-3," he said. "I play as a big back. I'm a powerful guy, and yes, I take pride in that, also."

He certainly runs that way. Although he has a quick sidestep or jump-cut, one of the things scouts like best about Martin is that he hits the hole hard. No dancing around here.

"He'll lower his shoulder," the scout said. "He's not quite as strong in the lower body as Polk, but he's another guy that can get yardage after contact. He protects the ball a little bit better (than Polk)."

Martin also has good hands as a receiver, but not as good as Polk. And both backs will pick up blitzes; Martin was particularly impressive in pass protection drills earlier in the week in Mobile, Ala.

Martin rushed for more than 1,200 yards in each of his last two seasons at Boise and scored 43 rushing touchdowns over his college career. Over his final two seasons, he caught 56 passes for 593 yards and four TDs.

"Coming from one of the smaller schools, I want to show that I can play with these big boys," Martin said. "That I can be put in any system and be able to play in the games."

Boise State showed it could play with the big dogs, small dogs, and medium dogs during Martin's career. He's part of a senior class there that posted a 50-3 won-loss record.

Among some of the other Senior Bowl backs, Baylor's Terrance Ganaway had a disappointing practice week. He looked like a straight-line runner without explosiveness.

Mississippi State's Vick Ballard may not be a starter at the next level but showed good hands in the passing game and a better burst than expected.

And then there's Florida mighty mite Chris Rainey, who measures in at 5-8 and weighed 178. Raw, fast, but unpredictable, he could be one of those "Swiss army knife" types in the NFL, playing a little wide receiver, a little running back and returning kicks. From Percy Harvin to Dexter McCluster, some of those guys have worked out — and some haven't — in the NFL lately.

"Running back's going to always be my favorite position," Rainey said, but he added, "Wherever they put me, I'm ready. Don't care as long as I help the team win."

Rainey plans to run at the NFL scouting combine and says he wants to post a 4.1-second time in the 40-yard dash (which would be only slightly slower than the speed of light).

"Set a record that nobody can beat," Rainey said.

Rams' defensive coordinator brings intensity

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:53:14 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

MOBILE, ALA. • There's a new sheriff in town when it comes to the Rams' defense, and Gregg Williams is more than willing to tell you all about it.

"There will be a culture change here," Williams said Tuesday during an introductory conference call. "I think the world of 'Spags,' but don't mistake me for that. I'm not him. And there will be some differences here on some of the things that I expect."

Steve Spagnuolo was the Rams' head coach, but he was very hands-on when it came to the defense. Williams, the Rams' new defensive coordinator, plans to put his own bold, indelible stamp on that unit.

"I'm not saying it's the right way to do things, but it's been a successful, valid way that I have been able to do things and make an impact at other places," Williams said.

Williams is no one-hit wonder when it comes to coaching and developing elite defenses.

"What you'll see is that everywhere I've gone, I've been able to get a top five defense during the time I'm there," he said. "Anywhere from one to four, one to five, in all of the stops I've made."

Williams says that's as much a result of his approach and his adaptability, rather than some magic act performed in front of a greaseboard.

"I get way too much credit for the Xs and Os," he said. "But my specialty is handling people, especially difficult people."

He'll learn the idiosyncrasies of each player and adjust the defense to them — not vice versa. He'll expend a lot of time and energy learning their strengths and weaknesses and try to highlight the strengths and hide the weaknesses in games.

Williams isn't too deep into studying game film but he already sees some things he likes.

"I think Steve Spagnuolo did a really good job," Williams said. "They played very hard. That's a huge part of changing any culture. ... It looks like they've got a good nucleus of that."

There are several defensive players on the roster that Williams would've liked to have drafted, be it with New Orleans (2009-11), Jacksonville (2008) or even in Washington (2004-07). Williams was coordinator in all three spots, and had the added title of assistant head coach with the Redskins.

But on Tuesday he didn't want to talk about specific players, not even a Chris Long or James Laurinaitis. As much as he may have liked some of the Rams when they came out of college, they now must prove themselves all over again to Williams.

"Everybody's going to be interviewing for a position," he said. "There's nothing given here. You'll find that out from Jeff Fisher and me also is that every day is an interview. And if you interview well today, you get to play. You don't interview well today, then you don't play."

Williams cautioned that practices will be loud and intense on his side of the ball.

"I'm going to do everything in the world to put as much external stress on the staff and the players as I can," he said. "You'll hear a lot of hollering and screaming, and a lot of intensity come out of me. But on game day you'll never see that because those players and those coaches that are working in those stressful conditions, they don't need any more external stress.

"How you get comfortable with that (on game day) is go through it every single day in the practice setting. So our practices will be lively, and they'll be very in-tune to all the special situations that go on within a ballgame. Jeff is marvelous at that."

Williams meant that Fisher is very calm under stress; Williams wants his defensive players to be that way as well. Even with the intense approach, Williams says he tries to breed confidence — in players, in coaches, even in the fans. The best way to do that is to win. But it goes well beyond that.

"... I've got to try to get them not afraid of making a mistake, improve their decision (making) process, speed up their decision process, and also speed up or improve their aggressiveness," Williams said. "They'll probably have a hard time ever playing for anybody that's more aggressive in nature, more aggressive in play-calling, more aggressive in any aspect of playing defensive football than me.

"This will be a fun thing. It'll be a fun time for the players here because they're going to get a chance to use their strengths and play as aggressive as possible."

What Can the Rams Learn from the 49ers?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:24:03 GMT

Coming into the 2011 NFL season, the St. Louis Rams were a trendy pick to win the NFC West. Coming off of a 7-9 record, with a promising young QB in place and a talented young defense, the Rams appeared to be a team on the rise.

Steve Spagnulo had supposedly changed the losing culture at Rams Park, and to top it off, he added offensive guru Josh McDaniels to his staff. Sure, the 2011 schedule was brutal, but with a little luck, the Rams would surely win their division, the lowly NFC West, right?

As the old saying goes, "That's why they play the games."

The NFC West looked very weak on paper. Pete Carrol was about to enter the season with Tavaris Jackson as his starting QB in Seattle, and the Seahawks were coming off of a very questionable draft. Arizona had traded for Kevin Kolb, the QB from Philly, but they had numerous roster holes.

Then there was San Francisco, the team with the rookie head coach, Jim Harbaugh, and the embattled starting QB, former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith.

The Niners had talent on both sides of the ball, but the lack of a quality QB had most fans talking about the chances of Harbaugh reuniting with his former QB, Stanford's Andrew Luck, more than they talked about the Niners chances of making the playoffs.

The Niners just came within an eyelash of making it to the Super Bowl.

How did this team turn things around so quickly? Did we just underestimate the Niners? Was there hidden talent on this team all along? Did Harbaugh make that much difference in the way this team played?

Today, I want to take a look at the Niners turnaround, and apply those same principles to the Rams moving forward. What can the Rams learn from the Niners?

1. Old School Football Still Works

The Niners didn't beat themselves. They ran the ball, they stopped the run, they protected their quarterback, and they were solid on special teams. In an era of "video game offenses," the Niners reminded us that football is still a game won in the trenches.

The Rams tried to win using this approach, spending high draft picks and free agent dollars on offensive linemen (Jason Smith, Jacob Bell, Harvey Dahl, Roger Saffold, and Jason Brown) and defensive linemen (Chris Long, Robert Quinn, Justin Bannan, and Fred Robbins).

The problem is, the Rams swung and missed on too many of these players. The Niners' additions along the offensive and defensive line (Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, wow!) paid off.

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

2. A Coaching Change Can Make a Huge Difference

Harbaugh breathed life into this football team. He took the aforementioned talent along the lines and got them to play nasty, physical, hard hitting football. He got Alex Smith to play winning football, something nobody saw coming.

Jeff Fisher has a similar "tough guy" mentality, and he will mold these Rams to play the same type of football. Expect the Rams' D to hit you in the mouth from the first snap to the final buzzer, and expect Fisher to put Bradford in situations where he can finally show his potential.

3. You don't need elite wide receivers or video game stats to win in the NFL

The Niners' best receiver is Michael Crabtree, and he is flanked by guys like Tedd Ginn, Jr. If the Rams can resign Brandon Lloyd, the argument could be made that Lloyd would be better than any receiver on the Niners roster.

But we all know that the Niners' most dangerous offensive player is Vernon Davis, the ultra talented tight end out of Maryland. I've said numerous times that every good QB in the NFL has a good tight end to throw to, and Bradford needs a good tight end more than he needs a No. 1 wide receiver.

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

If Lance Kendricks can step up in 2012, he could help Bradford take his game to the next level.

The Niners had the best turnaround in the NFL this season. Can the Rams' make the same type of improvement next season? I think even the most biased Rams' fan would say the NFC Championship game is out of reach next season, but I do think the Rams could be a dark horse playoff team.

After all, the Rams were supposed to be a playoff team this year, right? If they get healthy, add a few players via the draft and free agency, and with a new coach and a new attitude...

I'm just saying, it's possible, right? I mean, if the Niners can go from "Suck 4 Luck" to "NFC Championship Game," then anything is possible, right?

That's why they play the games.

5 Draft Moves That Set the Rams Back 5 Years

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:12:28 GMT

The St. Louis Rams haven't had much success in the NFL Draft during the last five years. I know hindsight is 20/20, but I think a blindfolded guy trying to hit a piñata could have had a better chance at hitting his target than the Rams had of finding a good player in their recent draft classes.

Yes Rams' fans, it has been that bad.

Every team misses on players in the draft, but good football teams like the Packers,Ravens and 49ers' roster is loaded with players drafted and developed by those franchises. To compound the Rams' draft misses, they were usually picking very high in the draft—under the old CBA, which means that some of their draft misses cost a lot of money.

When there is a lot of money tied up in bad players that is a recipe for disaster.

Here are five moves the Rams could have made in the last five years that would have changed the course of the franchise:

1. 2007: Second Round, the St. Louis Rams select Brian Leonard (FB, Rutgers).

The Rams drafted Leonard and he spent three seasons in the NFL—mostly as a backup. This is one of the biggest reaches I can remember the Rams making in the last five years.

Instead of reaching for Leonard, the Rams could have drafted Ryan Kalil (C, USC), who was taken seven picks later. Kalil, the older brother of current USC left tackle Matt Kalil and a consensus top five pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, has been a Pro Bowl center for the Carolina Panthers. If the Rams drafted Kalil, they wouldn't have wasted money on underachieving Jason Brown in free agency.

Elsa/Getty Images

Most of all, if they had drafted Kalil, then Rams' fans wouldn't have had to endure the Brian Leonard experiment.

2. 2008: Second Round, the St. Louis Rams select Donnie Avery (WR, Houston).

Avery was the first receiver taken in the 2008 draft. He was a burner out of Houston. He showed some promise in St. Louis, but was eventually cut prior to the 2011 season.

Instead of drafting Avery, the Rams could have picked Jordy Nelson (WR, Kansas State), a receiver taken three picks later. Avery is struggling to hang onto his NFL career, while Nelson has developed into one of the best receivers on the World Champion Green Bay Packers.

More importantly, the Avery pick was the first in a long line of wasted picks on receivers. If the Rams had nailed this pick by selecting Nelson instead of Avery, maybe they wouldn't have wasted picks on Mardy Gilyard, Keenan Burton, Austin Pettis, Greg Salas, etc.

3. 2009: First Round, the St. Louis Rams select Jason Smith (OT, Baylor).

Smith is one of the biggest disappointments ever drafted by the Rams. He was supposed to protect the "blind side" for the next decade, but was immediately moved to right tackle—in what was almost a sign of Rams' management second guessing themselves.

You could argue the Rams should have picked B.J. Raji, Clay Matthews or Brian Orakpo here, but I'm not going to do that. None of those players were being discussed as potential top-three picks. However, the Rams could have taken Aaron Curry (LB, Wake Forrest), a player some have touted as the best overall talent in the draft.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Curry was a bust for Seattle, but has turned his career around withOakland. However, there is no denying Curry's talent at outside linebacker. If you teamed him up with the Rams' 2009 second-round pick, James Laurinaitis (MLB, Ohio State), the Rams would have two-thirds of their linebacking corps in place—sparing Rams' fans the debacle that was Brady Poppinga.

In any scenario, the Rams would have been better off picking any player other than Jason Smith.

4. 2010: Fourth Round, the St. Louis Rams select Mardy Gilyard (WR,Cincinnati).

This pick probably makes Rams' fans angrier than any other pick on this list, and I honestly can't pinpoint why.

Maybe it's because Gilyard had talent?

Maybe it's because he appeared lazy?

Maybe it's because Rams' fans know how much of an impact Gilyard could have had on QB Sam Bradford?

Whatever the reason, Gilyard was a very unpopular player in St. Louis.

Instead of taking a player that only lasted one season in a Rams' uniform, this pick could have been used to snag Aaron Hernandez (TE, Florida)—a player picked 14 spots later. By picking Hernandez, the Rams would have had their tight end of the future. They could have used the "Lance Kendricks' pick" on somebody else.

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

5. 2011: Second Round, the St. Louis Rams select Lance Kendricks (TE, Wisconsin).

Kendricks has tremendous physical ability. He might turn into a great pro. However, after one season, Kendricks has more "bust potential" than "star potential".

Instead of reaching for Kendricks, the Rams could have taken their pick of three good wide receivers—Torrey Smith (WR, Maryland), Greg Little (WR, North Carolina) or my favorite Randall Cobb (WR, Green Bay). Cobb would have been an impact receiver. He also would have filled the punt/kick returner void the Rams have on special teams.

And I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but if the Rams would have drafted Cobb, they surely wouldn't have drafted receivers in the third round (Pettis) and fourth round (Salas). Those picks could have been used to fill other roster holes.

So what do you think?

Would you rather have a Rams' roster with Brian Leonard, Donnie Avery, Jason Smith, Mardy Gilyard, and Lance Kendricks or a Rams' roster with Ryan Kalil, Jordy Nelson, Aaron Curry, Aaron Hernandez, and Randall Cobb?

Try not to think too hard about that one, okay?

Again, hindsight is 20/20. It's easy to second guess these picks now. With the Rams' holding the second pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, let's just hope that history doesn't repeat itself.

RE:Demoff faces the music from St. Louis fans on London

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:25:57 GMT

I don't think the fans in St. Louis are happy unless they have something to complain about. Whine, whine, whine.

Demoff faces the music from St. Louis fans on London

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:23:02 GMT

Posted by Mike Florio on January 21, 2012, 10:38 PM EST

On Friday morning, seemingly out of the blue, the NFL announced that the Rams will play a home game in each of the next three seasons in London.

It wasn’t a surprise only for the fans in St. Louis. In an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show coming less than an hour after word of the three-year deal broke, new coach Jeff Fisher said he found out about the potential move the prior day.

“I had discussions with [COO] Kevin Demoff late yesterday,” Fisher said, in response to the question of when he first learned about the arrangement. “[Demoff] said it might be a possibility. I guess they firmed things up in the last 24 hours.”

The development has ruffled feathers in St. Louis, for multiple reasons. First, the team has given up what would have been one of the more compelling contests on the 2012 slate of home games. Second, the city will lose one of the 10 annual occasions (preseason and regular season) on which revenue spikes for hotels, restaurants, bars, and related game-day/game-weekend services. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the three-year deal coincides with the three remaining years before the team can abandon its current lease, if the Edward Jones Dome isn’t among the top 25 percent of all NFL stadiums.

To his credit, Kevin Demoff applied a thick layer of skin and absorbed the slings and arrows from the St. Louis fan base in a chat that was conducted Friday afternoon by the team’s official website. And Demoff wasn’t bashful about responding to aggressive fans. Here’s the verbatim content of one of the first questions posted, even though it was more of a statement: “Tired of the constant F-you’s by your organization. You guys have successfully alienated your entire fanbase over and over again. You guys are the laughingstock of the league, congrats.”

Conceding in his first response that the Rams knew the announcement would trigger a “mixed bag” of responses, Demoff subsequently summarized the benefits of the move: “1. The league is placing its faith in the St. Louis Rams and now has a vested interest in our success. That means potentially a better schedule, a possible primetime game, things like that. 2. This is a unique opportunity to showcase St. Louis globally and especially in the UK. For multinational businesses like AB, Monsanto, Enterprise, Emerson, Purina, etc, this provides a platform that combines their local roots with international reach. 3. The bigger we can make our brand nationally and globally, the bigger it makes our ‘effective market size’. If you look at Buffalo playing yearly in Toronto, they are applying the same concept to grow their fan base while still being a regional and local team.”

The second point makes plenty of sense. The third point becomes relevant only if folks from St. Louis will be traveling to the London games, and vice-versa. As to the first point, the notion that the Rams would get a “better schedule” has, in our view, no link to the willingness to play a home game each year in London. The league doesn’t select prime-time games based on the potential ratings boost in other countries; the games are picked based on how the league believes those games will perform in the U.S. For American viewers, the fact that the Rams will play seven games domestically and one internationally in each of the next three years simply doesn’t matter. Moreover, the actual slate of games is based on a formula tied to whether the team finishes in first, second, third, or fourth place in its division; where those gave have been or will be played simply doesn’t matter when determining the opponents.

Demoff provided a somewhat more persuasive answer as to the possible on-field edge to be derived from three years of playing in London: “We actually hope that we can gain a competitive advantage by playing abroad and knowing exactly how to adapt to the conditions versus a team traveling to the UK for the first time. Additionally, with Arsenal’s facilities, we should have the opportunity to have a normal practice schedule in the UK should we want it. Finally this will allow us to have a bye in early November for the next few years which is highly important to the overall health of our team down the stretch. And let’s face it, we haven’t played any better at home the past few years than on the road.”

That said, there are a few flaws in the logic. The Patriots played a London game in 2009; thus, the organization and plenty of players will have an edge over the Rams in the 2012 game. The fact that Stan Kroenke owns Arsenal would make it far cheaper to have a “normal practice schedule” in London; any NFL team that goes to London could have a “normal practice schedule” if it so chooses, as the Bucs did in 2011. Also, any potential free agents with relatively equal offers from the Rams and another team may choose the other team in order to avoid having to go to London during the season for each of the next three years. This could make it more expensive to sign free agents.

Demoff provided some insights into the manner in which the deal came together, which could make Fisher wonder why he wasn’t told about the possibility of playing games in London before Thursday. “[T]he league approved an initiative in October allowing teams to apply to play for up to five years,” Demoff said. “The majority of teams applied for three years because that was enough time for the league to consider the request but also not committing for the long term. There is some connection to the lease timing, but that wasn’t the driving force in the years. The driving force was our desire to partner with the league in putting on these games and knowing we had to show a commitment to the league. On the flipside, people want to say that once the games expire we can leave, but what if we also look at it as once the improvements take place we want to return back to a refurbished building for good?”

That’s a potent paragraph. Demoff admits “some connection” to an arrangement to play in London through 2014 and a St. Louis lease that can be escaped after 2014. The last sentence strongly implies dissatisfaction with the current building in St. Louis, along with an expression of hope that, after 2014, the stadium would be properly “refurbished.”

Thus, it’s fair to characterize this move by the Rams as a deliberate, calculated, and shrewd business decision. Though Demoff’s contention that playing three games in London creates a “chance to become the next Dallas Cowboys or Pittsburgh Steelers” represents the kind of stretch that could shatter a rubber band, the decision to take away one home game per year forces the powers-that-be in St. Louis to make the commitment sooner rather than later to properly upgrade the stadium — or confront the possibility that the team will leave.

Making the tactic even more brilliant from a business perspective is the fact that the Rams, and in turn the NFL, will now be able to pit Los Angeles against London in the hopes of getting the best possible deal for the relocation of the Rams, if it comes to that.

Still, our friends in St. Louis shouldn’t abandon hope, yet. The team’s tactic will bring the situation to a head. And if the outcome becomes that the Rams will be moving out in three years, the folks in the Show Me State can hope that the Jaguars will be able to show three straight years of financial losses in Jacksonville, which would allow new owner Shad Khan to break the lease at Everbank Field and move the team to St. Louis.

Quarterbacks Coach Will Be Huge Hire for Fisher

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:33:33 GMT

By Howard Balzer

Aside from an offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, the most important hire Jeff Fisher will make as coach of the Rams will be a quarterbacks coach.

And it’s not only so Sam Bradford has someone by his side on a daily basis, making sure his mechanics stay consistent. That part, of course, is important.

Consider that in Bradford’s rookie season, he had Dick Curl and Pat Shurmur watching his every move and creating an offense that protected him. When Shurmur was hired as Cleveland’s head coach one year ago, Josh McDaniels was hired as the coordinator and Curl mysteriously retired and disappeared into the night, never to be heard from again. It was if he never existed.

We all know what happened next. No quarterbacks coach was hired. The lockout happened. And the Rams’ offense, helped along by injuries, deteriorated into one of the worst units in the league.

This year there will no lockout and there will be a quarterbacks coach. Fisher joked Tuesday that he was going to let Bradford do the hiring, but all kidding aside, that coach will be crucial to the Rams’ -– and Bradford’s -- success.

Most important, that coach has to also be groomed in the offensive system so that there will be a seamless transition if the coordinator eventually leaves. Paramount for Bradford over the next few years is that he becomes comfortable with a system and experience a level of continuity that is foreign to him right now.

Hot offensive coordinators quickly become candidates for head coaching jobs. Broncos coordinator Mike McCoy had a second interview with Miami Thursday, and could end up with that job. Carolina offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, after one season with the Panthers and rookie quarterback Cam Newton, was interviewed by the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Rams for their head coaching positions. Had Fisher gone to Miami, Chudzinski might have become the favorite for the Rams’ job.

Cincinnati coordinator Jay Gruden, after one season with the Bengals, had the chance to be interviewed for several jobs, but decided early in the process to stay in Cincinnati. If he had left, the Bengals would have needed a replacement after the job he did with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton.

It isn’t much of a stretch to imagine the Rams’ coordinator coming in, helping to significantly improve the offense, and then be on teams’ interview lists next year at this time.

That’s why having a quarterbacks coach capable of taking over as coordinator without having to go outside the organization should be a priority for Fisher.

Filling the staff: Fisher is being very deliberate in the way he goes about hiring his coaches.

Thus far, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is the only confirmed hire, and little is known about position coaches that might be on his radar. Fisher interviewed Hue Jackson in Cincinnati Wednesday night for the offensive coordinator job, and in an interview with Jim Rome Thursday, Fisher said he hopes to have that job filled in two or three days.

When that is completed, he will turn his attention to the rest of the staff, with Dave McGinnis expected to be a senior assistant and possibly linebackers coach. McGinnis’ contract with Tennessee is expiring, but the rest of the Titans’ coaches are under contract for 2012.

Fisher was denied permission to interview Tennessee’s strength and conditioning coach Steve Watterson, who has been with the organization since 1986.

Fisher has said part of the process will be talking to assistants that were on coach Steve Spagnuolo’s staff. Some have already moved on.

In addition to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who is with the Patriots, defensive line coach Brendan Daly was hired for the same job with the Minnesota Vikings; receivers coach Nolan Cromwell will be a senior offensive assistant on Pat Shurmur’s Cleveland staff; and defensive quality control coach Matt House will be the secondary coach at the University of Pittsburgh. Running backs coach Sylvester Croom interviewed with new Jacksonville Jaguars coach mike Mularkey.

Meanwhile, the Rams aren’t expected to interview additional general manager candidates until next week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile.

It will be interesting to see whether NFL teams will allow their personnel executives to interview with the Rams.

While the issue of who has final say can be overstated because of the collaborative effort needed to make more good decisions than bad, the reality is that someone has to have it. Teams don’t have to allow permission for another team to talk to a personnel executive under contract unless the new job is one that includes authority in decision-making. Contracts for those in personnel departments don’t end until sometime after the draft.

The Rams aren’t acknowledging how much authority Fisher has in his contract, but teams easily can find out because the contract is filed with the league office.

For these purposes, the league defines general manager “as an individual who has (1) the authority over all (my emphasis) personnel decisions related to the signing of free agents, the selection of players in the College Draft, trades, terminations, and related decisions.”

At the end of the day, the key for success will be the dynamic that has to develop between Fisher and the personnel staff. But we’ll see if the short-term plan to add a general manager will be affected, assuming Fisher has some level of authority in the roster-building process.

Getting to know you: Rams running back Steven Jackson met with Fisher Thursday and tweeted afterward: "It went really well & I'm excited about the future for the franchise."

Dan Dierdorf Provides Insight On Rams' Stability In St. Louis

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:24:20 GMT

More than 50% of insideSTL voters said they were more concerned about the stability of the Rams after hearing Stan Kroenke's comments at the Jeff Fisher press conference about "we'll see" how things work out to decide whether or not he'll be in St. Louis for another 20 years.

I'm not sure I expected a whole lot more...but I definitely didn't expect what he said. Even if he's playing the leverage game, I'm not sure how saying that he is committed to making the Rams a winning team for the City of St. Louis and looking forward to working with the CVC on the lease would be a dishonest statement---even if he plans to move the team in three years.

Just something would've been better than "we'll see." Hell, it would've been better if he didn't show up than that.

Personally, I thought these paragraphs in Jim Thomas' Post-Dispatch story were even more concerning than Kroenke's answer:

Although it didn't prove to be a deal breaker, two league sources told the Post-Dispatch over the weekend of Jan. 7-8 that Fisher came out of his Jan. 5 meeting with Kroenke and Rams officials in Denver concerned about a possible move of the team to Los Angeles.

One of the reasons for Fisher's concern, one of those sources said, is that the Rams asked Fisher several questions about what the experience was like when the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee in 1997. Fisher was head coach of the Oilers at the time.

Asked Tuesday about concerns over franchise relocation coming out of that interview in Denver, Fisher sidestepped the question like Titans quarterback Steve McNair eluded the Rams' pass rush in Super Bowl XXXIV.

"You know, there were a lot of things that were discussed going forward," Fisher said. "I'm not going to go into specific areas right now."

Based on Kroenke's comments at the press conference and those paragraphs in Thomas' story, I've received numerous emails/texts from those who currently own season tickets and say they don't feel good about spending money on a product they're not sure will be around in three years.

As Frank Cusumano put it on The Pressbox yesterday, "If I know my wife is going to leave me in three years for another man, I'm not going to buy her a diamond on our anniversary."

Dan Dierdorf joined us on The ITD Morning After to discuss this whole issue, the future of the Rams on and off the field, Los Angeles, London...and, of course, Jeff Fisher. To listen to the interview, clickHERE. Or, courtesy of Intern Zac, you can read the transcription below:

Tim McKernan: Your thoughts on the Fisher hire in St. Louis?

Dan Dierdorf: The first in a long line of St. Louis trying to get used to a guy with Fisher’s credibility to talk about their football team. Nothing but positives in Fisher’s hire. I’ve known Jeff for a long time, and for a franchise in desperate need for some buzz, they got a lot of it.

Jimmy "The Cat" Hayes: Do you think people’s emotions might be misplaced if they’re concerned about the Rams moving based on Kroenke saying “We’ll see” instead of saying that they will fight the good fight to keep them here?

DD: Stan Kroenke is a business man, and he’s right that there is a process underway between the Rams and the CVC here where they are trying to work out the provisions of the lease. I don’t blame him for saying something disingenuous rather than him saying the truth which is what he said. Yesterday was all about Jeff Fisher and I know it is a rare opportunity to ask questions of Stan Kroenke, and the questions had to be asked, but I did anyone expect a different answer?

Doug Vaughn: Is there anything the CVC can do to improve the stadium? And who gets to decide if the stadium is in the top 8 stadiums in the league?

DD: It’s going to begin as a negotiation of sort; the CVC is going to make a proposal by February 1. They will fulfill their obligations. They will submit a proposal to the Rams telling them what they would do and what they are going to spend to improve the stadium. The Rams have a certain amount of time to review the proposal, digest it, and if they don’t approve the proposal, which they won’t, they will respond with a proposal of their own.

The Cat: Do you think it is feasible that the improvements can bring that stadium up to the top eight stadiums in the NFL?

DD: It depends on what the definition is on being in the top 25%, and that is a grey area. That is something that up for interpretation and if it comes down to arbitration, it will be an arbiter who decides that. And, where I’m hopeful of, over the course of this negotiation going on between the two sides, it will probably be the CDC and this region doing more than they would like and the Rams probably taking less than what they are entitled to by the structure of the lease. That’s what I’m hopeful for, that the two sides can work something out that will keep the Rams here for a long time. I really do think Stan Kroenke wants to stay here. He seemed proud of the fact that he has been involved here for 20 years. I do not think Stan is sitting around saying ‘I wonder what I can do here to get out of St. Louis.

Doug: Have you heard any rumblings about whether Kroenke would develop anything in St. Charles, Chesterfield or the old Chrysler plant?

DD: I think there have been lots of proposals kicked around. I’m not ready to take dynamite to the Dome. Didn’t that building open in 1995? Are we building disposable stadiums now? I think it is crazy that a stadium that is 17 years old is being thrown in the scrap yard. I haven’t been there in awhile, but I did a game there late in the season this year, I was kind of saying to myself that this place isn’t bad; it’s not a bad place to watch a game.

Tim: In all of your travels and discussions with people across the country, what are the talks about Los Angeles possibly getting a stadium out there?

DD: There’s a lot of talk about them having a stadium ready to go out there. There are still two groups out there trying to build stadiums there. Lost in all of this is that these two groups want to be involved in ownership of the team that would play in their stadium. I think you have to understand something else, Los Angeles has gone a long time without a pro football team. Let’s just say that the NFL came out and said they wanted a team in LA. The Rams are not the only team that is being thrown out as moving to LA. San Diego is in a year-to-year situation in San Diego. They just came out and said that they will play 2012 in San Diego, they won’t beyond that. Keep in mind that they are just down the road, and that the Chargers started in Los Angeles. And then, just last week, Mark Davis, the son of Al Davis just talked about them (the Raiders) possibly moving back to Los Angeles. Even if the Rams are dying to go back to Los Angeles, and I’m not saying they are and I don’t think they are, there’s real competition to see who’s going to get there first.

Doug: You don’t sound near as discouraged that we are going to lose this team as the three of us are right now.

DD: I think there are two things in play. I think one is that we have to deal with the stadium and the lease. It was a bad lease from the get-go in thinking that the Rams would be here for 30 years. It was a 30 year lease, but the way it was structured, 20 years was the most you could ever hope to get out that lease. You’ve got to negotiate some long-term deal that is appealing to the Rams in keeping them here. The second part is, if you’re going to move, you have to have some place to go. The age of cities lining up to snatch teams and move them to different cities is long gone. With the economy and the way things are right now, it’s just not happening. Do the Rams or any other team right now have anywhere to go? And the answer right now in my mind is no.

Tim: The league has had a few games played overseas in London at Wembley Stadium, what do you think of the possibility of a team moving over there and playing their games in London?

DD: I know the NFL has floated that idea on a couple of occasions. Personally, I think it is lunacy. You are asking a lot from NFL players to try and incorporate a team in Europe into the schedule. Travel is bad enough now, it’s tough to tell the 49ers ‘You’re playing in London on Sunday’. I’m all in favor of going over there and playing one game over there once a year, rotating teams in and out. But to actually place a team in London, wow, what a nightmare that would be for me.

Tim: We’ll move away from the re-location topic for a bit after this last question. Do you see any other teams besides the Chargers, Raiders and Rams that are in a bad situation in their markets?

DD: Well certainly Jacksonville, it’s a struggle for them to sell tickets. The Buffalo Bills are in an interesting situation, they are in a small market and they struggle to sell tickets in one of the oldest stadiums. Tampa Bay struggles to sell tickets. You wonder if the state of Florida can support three NFL teams. I don’t think the situation in Minnesota is finally resolved yet.

Tim: Moving on to Fisher, give us an idea of what kind of coach Fisher is and what he brings to the team?

DD: I think everyone has to stop and commend the Rams on playing ball in the big leagues when it came to hiring a coach. I’m not sure that we would’ve always assumed that when they was a bidding war between teams for a coach that the Rams would’ve won. I think Kroenke, Demoff and the whole team deserve some congratulations. The NFL world is talking about St. Louis right now, and that hasn’t happened since The Greatest Show on Turf, so kudos to them for that. Now Jeff Fisher, I’ve known Jeff for over 20 years and I can tell you his players love him, he has discipline, but at the same time he knows how to get them to do what’s hard, and that is practice well, train hard. And Jeff Fisher’s teams play hard, play to the whistle. I’m a fan of the hire, it’s a major, major step forward for the franchise.

Doug: What does he have to do in terms of acquiring personnel to make the Rams competitive as quickly as possible?

DD: Well, I think he has to draft well. That sounds incredibly simple, but over the past decade, the Rams haven’t drafted well. You can any head coach, have the best stadium, you could put a $2 billion stadium on top of the arch that rotates with lights on it, but it’s not going to make any difference if the Rams don’t draft better. That will take some time to put solid drafts back-to-back. The Rams draft record if you put pen to paper, it has not been anywhere near where it needs to be for this franchise to win.

Tim: What should the Rams do in this draft with the second overall pick? Everyone loves Blackmon, but if Smith is gone, there is a whole on the offensive line and you could go with the tackle out of USC. How would you handle this situation?

DD: It would be insane for me to sit at my desk in January and tell the Rams how to draft in April. I don’t know if they’d be willing to go again for an offensive lineman that high in the draft. They need a playmaker at wide receiver. I think it’s all going to boil down to them identifying a need a maybe dropping down a couple of spots and still get the guy they want. If that’s something that works for the Rams, and I think suspect that might be a direction that they go, well then you could get a few extra picks for just dropping down a few spots. And to say that Blackmon will be there at number four or number five, then you dump it and move down a little bit. There is so much that can happen between now and when the draft happens in April.

Doug: They do have a lot of room under the salary cap, you’d expect them to spend some of that money on free agents, proven guys that can sure up that offensive line?

DD: You can plug in one guy. Offensive line play requires continuity. You can aid it greatly in free agency. And, that is something that might have been appealing to Fisher was that they had money to spend and he may have gotten a commitment to spend some of that money. This team has so many holes to fill. First, they need to get guys healthy again. There’s no pie in the sky cure here, it’s going to take some time.

Tim: Your thoughts on how well the Patriots are playing and whether or not the Ravens can go in take them down.

DD: Yes, the Ravens are good enough to go in there and take them down, if they can get going offensively. They are an up and down team. This is a team that beat the Pittsburgh Steelers this season by Joe Flacco taking his team 92 yards in the last two minutes of the game without any timeouts and beat Pittsburgh. I did the game on Sunday where they had no rhythm, couldn’t get anything going. Their offense at some times is so anemic it puts a lot of stress on their defense. …Joe Flacco has started eight playoffs games, and in those playoffs games he has only thrown over 200 yards once.

Tim: It seems like over the last few years with Saints in 2009 and the Packers in 2010, it seems like the team that is on fire in December takes that into January and finds themselves in a position to win, and that looks like the New York Giants.

D: It could be, although this is some deal they have to go to Candlestick and beat the 49ers. I can’t be the only guy in America that is impressed with 49ers. Not just the scoring, but the passion that Jim Harbaugh has that team playing with, its fun to see. It’s old fashioned, in-your-face football.

What to Expect from Steven Jackson Under Jeff Fisher

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:16:56 GMT

Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams mirrors former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, the featured back for the Titans under Jeff Fisher for eight seasons, in many ways.

Both are multiple time Pro Bowlers. Eddie George made the AFC Pro Bowl four times while Jackson, thus far, has earned three NFL Pro Bowl berths.

Each have been known as big, physical, bruising runners of very similar stature. George checked in at 6'3" and 235 pounds; Jackson also stands 6'3" and tips the scales at 229 pounds (although he certainly played heavier than that in 2010).

Perhaps most pertinent to this discussion, however, is that both George and Jackson have been featured in old-fashioned running attacks where week in and week out they carried the load almost exclusively at running back.

In eight featured seasons as a starter in Tennessee, George had 2,733 carries. In eight seasons in St. Louis, seven as a starter, Jackson has had 2,138 carries—595 fewer than George.

George averaged 3.7 yards per carry in Tennessee. Jackson, by comparison, has averaged 4.3 per attempt.

Fisher featured George in Tennessee through 2003, George's final year there, where he rushed for over 1,000 yards at the age of 30.

Jackson will be 29 when the season opens in 2012.

Considering he has about two seasons worth of carries (595) to catch George— two birthdays until arriving at the same age when George was phased out with the Titans and that Jackson has averaged over a half yard more per rush than George—it makes sense, then, to expect a couple more years of Jackson as the primary back in St. Louis.

Eddie George
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

When going further and considering that age 30 tends to be the dreaded age where many running backs hit the wall, two years away, that idea merits even more legitimacy.

Comparing the two further, George averaged 21.4 carries per game and a whopping 342 carries per year in Tennessee in 128 games there—all as the Titans starting halfback.

The heavily used Jackson has "only" averaged 18.8 carries per game in his career and 286 carries in his seven seasons as the Rams featured back (excluding his rookie season where he backed up Marshall Faulk). He has 115 games under his belt in St. Louis, starting 103 of those (twenty-five fewer than George).

What is all the more impressive about George's career workload is two-fold:

One, he started every game for the Titans during his eight seasons there. Secondly, he averaged 342 carries over that time-frame while playing his entire career with anotherrunning back in quarterback Steve McNair, who rushed 548 times himself in their shared seasons, averaging 69 carries and 5.5 yards per rush.

In the passing game, however, Jackson holds the reception advantage, 46 per year versus George's 32.4 per season.

Jackson seems excited about playing for Fisher, saying that Fisher "brings credibility" to the Rams.

Jackson has spoken several times regarding Fisher since the time the Rams attained the experienced, proven head coach, including an interview with the NFL Network where he said that he expects to be used like, you guessed it, Eddie George, in a downhill rushing attack.

Jeff Fisher
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Jackson has reached the stage in his career where, although he can still carry the load and play at an elite level, his trade value has diminished significantly as he approaches the (expected) final stages of his career.

Jackson, however, may surprise us all and play at a high level for several more years. Several feature backs like John Riggins, Warrick Dunn, Fred Taylor; Thomas Jones, Tiki Barber, Curtis Martin; Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith, among others, continued to produce solid numbers well past the age of thirty.

When considering the dedication Jackson shows towards his diet, workout regimen and the overall manner in which he takes care of his body, it would be foolish to rule him out as a player who could produce big numbers into his thirties, just as the players listed above did.

However, St. Louis cannot bank on that.

The 2012 NFL Draft could be the time that the Rams look to find his eventual successor, especially with the run-loving Fisher at the helm.

Fisher was on board when the Titans drafted speedy Chris Johnson so it makes sense to conclude that Fisher's Rams could go either way by looking towards adding a power back in the mold of George or Jackson, or a smaller speed back like Johnson.

This year's draft features some impressive talent at running back. If the Rams do select a top rated prospect in this year's draft, he could serve as Jackson's backup for a season (or two), as Jackson did for Faulk in 2004.

Potential franchise type backs include Trent Richardson of Alabama, Lamar Miller ofMiami, Chris Polk of Washington; David Wilson of Virginia Tech and the speedy LaMichael James of Oregon, all of whom are featured here.

Regardless of whether St. Louis selects the heir apparent to Jackson this season, expect the three-time Pro Bowl back to again carry a major share of the load, at least for a couple more seasons, a la Eddie George.

What Titans' moves mean for Rams

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:12:21 GMT

By Mike Sando

The likelihood of the St. Louis Rams hiring Ruston Webster or Lake Dawson from the Tennessee Titans diminished Wednesday.

The Titans promoted Webster to general manager and Dawson to vice president of player personnel. Those moves suggest both men are likely to stay with the organization.

Under NFL rules, the Titans could deny other teams permission to speak with "high-level club employees" (presidents, GMs and persons with equivalent responsibilities and authority). The Rams could conceivably come after Dawson, but I would take the Titans' moves to suggest all parties plan to move forward under terms outlined in the announcement.

Tennessee also promoted Mike Reinfeldt from GM to senior executive vice president/chief operating officer. These moves come off as a concerted effort to keep the Titans' management team together.

Dawson interviewed with the Rams for their GM opening. Webster was also considered a candidate. Both worked with new Rams coach Jeff Fisher in Tennessee.

Fisher's presence could influence Lloyd to stay in St. Louis

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:10:24 GMT

Hiring Jeff Fisher as head coach could help the St. Louis Rams keep wide receiver Brandon Lloyd.

Speaking to ESPN 101 in St. Louis, Lloyd said re-signing with the Rams was a more attractive option with Fisher in the fold, joining quarterback Sam Bradford.

Brandon Lloyd's next move? It could be signing to stay the Rams. (AP Photo)

Lloyd caught 51 passes in 11 games for the Rams last season, after being acquired from the Denver Broncos.

A free agent, Lloyd hinted earlier that he might follow former Rams offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to the New England Patriots. However, the Patriots already have a wide receiver getting ready to become a free agent, Wes Welker, who will command a hefty contract. Lloyd might reach the conclusion that his best move in free agency is to stay with the Rams.

“He’s always a coach that I admired in my career,” Lloyd said. “It’s one of those things that comes down to, ‘How do I fit into the scheme, though.’ ”

Money, of course, will also be a factor.

Fisher takes charge of Rams

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:56:09 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

If there were an annual draft for head-coaching candidates, Jeff Fisher was far and away the consensus No. 1 overall "prospect" in 2012. For a franchise beaten down by years of losing, the Rams will score no bigger victory this offseason than the hiring of Fisher, which became official Tuesday.

Why St. Louis?

"Why not?" Fisher replied.

As he set about the process of returning to the NFL after spending 2011 out of coaching, Fisher quickly identified two main factors that would lead him to his next job.

"One was a good owner, and the other was a quarterback," Fisher said just a few minutes after signing a five-year deal. "I'm very excited about the opportunity."

For Fisher, that opportunity includes a chance to work with a potential franchise quarterback in Sam Bradford. And the chance to work with a veteran owner in Stan Kroenke, who has owned and overseen winning franchises in the NBA, NHL and soccer's English Premier League.

"My decision was very, very simple," Fisher said. "It was based on the vision, the collective vision shared by Stan and Kevin (Demoff) as far as the future of the franchise. And more specifically, it's restoring this franchise to a place of significance. Significance, by that I mean, it's an opportunity to take another trip as champions to the White House."

(Which is where the World Series-champion Cardinals spent their Tuesday.)

"This is a tremendous opportunity for this franchise, for our fan base, to get the football team back on the map and once again get back on the winning track," Fisher said.

No doubt it will be a daunting task. The Rams have won only 15 of 80 games over the past five seasons, including a 2-14 mark this season under Fisher's predecessor, Steve Spagnuolo.

Fisher made no bold predictions on what to expect from the 2012 Rams. In terms of evaluating the roster he inherits, Fisher was purposefully understated.

"This team's got a chance to win some games," Fisher said. "This team played very, very hard all year for Coach Spags. It played hard every single game. They didn't win the number of games that they would've liked to, but they played hard and it's a talented team. It's a team that, obviously, has some holes and I'm looking forward to filling those voids and moving forward."

Sitting at a table at the front of the Rams Park team auditorium, Fisher was flanked by Kroenke to his right and executive vice president of football operations Demoff to his left. For those familiar with Fisher, it was a typical performance. He exuded confidence but not cockiness. And he exhibited the been-there, done-that presence of someone who has been in the league for a while.

Now that he's back in the league, Fisher is the third-winningest active coach in the NFL, his 142 regular-season victories trailing only Bill Belichick (175) and Mike Shanahan (157).

In his nearly two decades of professional sports ownership, starting in 1995 as Rams' minority owner, Kroenke said: "We've kind of come to some conclusions. Some lessons were harder to learn than others but we developed a model that we have a lot of confidence in. And at its center is an experienced, confident head coach, who has been in a lot of different situations, has dealt with and seen most things that the world can throw at him in the world of sports."

Which explains why in a year when Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden once again chose to stay in the TV booth or studio instead of returning to the sidelines, Fisher was Rams option No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3.

From Fisher's point of view, he heard lots of good things about Bradford in talking to friends and associates throughout the league. Before he met with Bradford two Sundays ago at Rams Park, Fisher looked at a lot of Rams tape from both the 2010 and '11 seasons to get a gauge on his new quarterback.

As for Kroenke, Fisher said he hit it off with the Rams' owner during a visit and interview in Denver on Jan. 5.

"It's his philosophy," Fisher said. "I think you can see it through the Nuggets. You can see it through the Avalanche. His philosophy is to put a winning product year after year after year out there.

"That's obviously very attractive to me. It's about doing whatever it takes. ... Even though he's not here (at Rams Park) every day, he knows what's going on on a day-to-day basis, and that was very important to me."

Beyond clicking with the owner and the quarterback, Fisher liked how the Rams responded to his checklist of non-economic items that were important to him. Some were major items; some were not.

Fisher repeated Tuesday that the non-economic issues were more important than his salary (believed to be about $7 million a year) in making his decision between Miami and St. Louis.

"Despite reports, never was there a situation where one club was leveraged against another," Fisher said. "That was not true. It was the non-economic issues ... what we're going to do with the coaching staffs and front office staffs and those type of things."

Fisher wanted to make sure what he was getting in his new organization. The Rams already know what they're getting in their new head coach.

"His teams play with a passion that is uniquely Jeff Fisher," Demoff said. "They're tough, they're competitive. You know when you've played a Jeff Fisher team, and that's exactly what we were looking for."

Fisher's first order of business is to put together his coaching staff. He didn't offer any names Tuesday, but Gregg Williams already has told Fisher "I'm in" as the team's defensive coordinator. Following his formal news conference, Fisher confirmed both that he interviewed Brian Schottenheimer on Sunday and would interview Hue Jackson today for the offensive coordinator's job.

"I'm in the process of interviewing," Fisher said. "Understand this: this process (of becoming Rams head coach) had to be completed first before you start the next process. But I have some very good options."

Fisher brings commanding presence to Rams

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:43:55 GMT

Bryan Burwell

Nobody does news conferences quite like the Rams. Man, if practice makes perfect, they could lead the NFL in giving news conferences. Hiring coaches. Firing coaches. Hiring general managers. Firing general managers. No one does grim-faced regret or wide-eyed promise better than this one-time championship franchise fallen on such hard times.

Of course, there's only one problem with this. In the NFL, they don't give out championship hardware for news conferences. But on Tuesday afternoon at Rams Park, the organization filled the main auditorium for what could very well be the long-awaited news conference to end all news conferences. The hiring of Jeff Fisher as the Rams' 26th full-time head coach could finally be the sort of news conference that does actually lead to championships rather than just another depressing semi-annual Q&A session with the local media.

Fisher is that kind of guy.

The Rams have brought a lot of guys in and out of their big glass doors at Rams Park with lots of fancy and not-so-fancy labels attached. Offensive genius. Defensive genius. Hot coordinator. Stop-gap interim guy. Men of every description who for any variety of reasons failed to lead the Rams back to the promised land of the Super Bowl.

Now along comes Fisher, who is the first one to come here with a bit more substantial label attached to his name.

Gravitas.

This is a head coach who walks in the room with that undeniable aura of importance and substance. There is an undeniable bearing that comes with the Fisher name, division championships (three), conference championships (one), Super Bowl experience and only six losing seasons in a 17-year NFL head-coaching career. This is the guy who walks in the room knowing how to win, not thinking he can. There's undisputed evidence that his philosophies, practices and habits produce success on football's highest level.

Bill Parcells, one of the greatest of them all, calls this "having pelts on the wall." In the ruthless, testosterone-driven world of professional football, when a coach of Jeff Fisher's stature walks in a room, necks snap, backs stiffen and grown men pay attention.

You want to know who's in charge now at Rams Park?

His name is Jeff Fisher. No question.

As he sat in a quiet players' lounge overlooking the Rams Park practice fields late Tuesday afternoon, team vice president Kevin Demoff explained succinctly why he believed all along that Fisher was the man to break the vicious news conference cycle around here. "(Fisher's) seen everything," said Demoff. "He's been through winning streaks. He's been through losing streaks. He's had quarterbacks hurt. He's had other players hurt. He's been through difficult times with the salary cap. He's picked high in the draft. He's picked low in the draft. There's nothing that's a surprise. ...

"When you played (his Tennessee teams) they were always physical, they were tough, they had a swagger," said Demoff. "And I think that was one thing that we need to get back as a franchise. (The franchise) needs that leadership and vision. It's not to say that the previous coaches who have been here before didn't have that. But it's a different thing when you walk out there with the guy who's the third winningest coach among active coaches. There's just a different feel. When he stands up in the meeting room, the players in that room know what he knows and what he has accomplished. That's a different feeling for our building right now."

We interrupt this Jeff Fisher column to bring you this Stan Kroenke-stadium lease update: Uhhh-ohhhh!!! Did you see that cool, dispassionate response from the Rams owner when someone asked him if he was willing to offer any assurances that the franchise is going to be a permanent fixture in St. Louis? Kroenke said exactly what I expected him to say. Nothing.

And while I would have loved it if he'd blurted out some vague semi-commitment to St. Louis (which would probably be nothing but phony, feel-good PR spin), instead he went with the vastly unpopular poker face. What does that mean? It means that Kroenke the businessman is working the art of the deal. He knows he doesn't have to say anything right now. And you know what? He's right. But it doesn't mean the Rams are already packing their bags for LA. It doesn't mean they are totally committed to staying here either, though I still believe that is Kroenke's ultimate desire.

What it means is he's a businessman and everything's in play. The folks we need to be pressing for answers and details are the negotiators at the CVC, who are responsible for making the first move in these dicey Dome lease negotiations. I sure hope there are some very smart, imaginative deal makers at the CVC, and if there aren't let's hope somebody (Hello, Gov. Nixon?) can call in some crafty reliever from the negotiating bullpen. We now return you to your original column.

So we're about to venture into very new ground at Rams Park with the arrival of Fisher. We're about to get stability, assurance and clarity about whose vision will be responsible for turning this franchise around. When I met him for the first time Tuesday, I told Fisher one of the biggest problems that seemed to doom this franchise for so long was the annoying lack of accountability.

When I told him how that infamous duo of "Wasn't Me" and "I Don't Know" had traditionally gotten all the blame for every bad decision that has happened around here, Fisher nodded his head knowingly.

"Well, I'd like to get to the point where that changes," he said. "I'd like to get to the point where we're saying around here 'It's us that did it.' I'd like for us to be able to say, 'It was us making the right decisions.'"

Kroenke, Fisher and Demoff spent a lot of time Tuesday deflecting questions about who would be making all the important decisions as they embark on another rebuilding project, even though we all know that the man in charge of the vision is going to be Fisher. But why quibble on details when we already know the answer (and like the answer, too)?

"You know what?" said Demoff. "No one cares who is in charge when you win. No one is worrying about that when your team is standing up there on the platform lifting the trophy. No one's looking at you during the trophy ceremony going, 'Hmmmm, I wonder which one of those guys is in charge?' People only care about who's in charge when you're losing, so the public knows who to blame."

Hopefully those blame-game days are finally in the past at Rams Park.

Fisher Excited for Opportunity

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:35:47 GMT

By Nick Wagoner/Senior Writer

Despite what may have been written, said or blogged about Jeff Fisher’s coaching destination in the past two weeks, he made it very clear Tuesday that his choice wasn’t as difficult as it was made out to be.

“My decision was very, very simple,” Fisher said. “It was based on a shared collective vision in restoring this franchise to a place of significance. It was that vision that made my decision very, very easy.”

That decision became official Tuesday afternoon, as the Rams formally introduced Fisher as the 26th head coach in franchise history. He signed a five-year contract with the team just before the news conference introducing him as the new coach.

From the perspective of Rams owner Stan Kroenke as well as chief operating officer Kevin Demoff, Fisher was pretty clearly the top candidate for the job the moment the team parted ways with Steve Spagnuolo on Jan. 3.

Kroenke, who also has owned stakes in the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche as well as the English soccer club Arsenal, has long made it a point to put trusted, experienced coaches in place and then give them the resources needed to do their job.

Fisher fit the bill of exactly what he was looking for.

“I have been here in St. Louis working on sports for 20 years,” Kroenke said. “Over that time, we’ve kind of come to some conclusions, some lessons were harder to learn than others, but we developed a model that we have a lot of confidence in. And at its center is an experienced, confident head coach who has been, as we say in a lot of different situations has dealt with and seen most things that the world can throw at him in the world of sports. Jeff was absolutely what we were looking for - I told him that early on.”

Upon sitting down with Kroenke and Demoff, it was clear that Fisher’s vision was in lockstep with the vision of Kroenke, Demoff and the entire Rams organization.

“The time was now for a bold statement about the future of this organization and to deliver a winner to our fans,” Demoff said.

After a two-week process in which the Rams and Miami courted Fisher extensively, Fisher wanted to take a little time to evaluate all of the non-economic factors that would allow him to best execute his vision.

Kroenke let Fisher know how much the Rams wanted him to lead the Rams and, eventually, Fisher decided that the Rams were the best fit for him.

In accepting the job, Fisher said Tuesday that Kroenke’s presence and transparency with him early in the process was one of the biggest factors in his opting for the Rams over the Dolphins. Having a franchise quarterback in Sam Bradford in place was also an important element.

“It’s his philosophy,” Fisher said. “I think you can see it through the Nuggets. You can see it through the Avalanche. His philosophy is to put a winning product year after year after year out there. That’s obviously very attractive to me. It’s about doing whatever it takes and have a unique interest in everything you do. Even though he’s not here every day, he knows what’s going on on a day-to-day basis and that was very important to me.”

The opportunity to which Fisher is referring is the chance to turn around a franchise that has had just 10 wins in the past three season and 15 in the past five.

Turning a team around will be no strange task for Fisher, though. In nearly 17 full seasons as head coach of the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, Fisher went through nearly every up and every down you can have in the league.

Along the way, Fisher’s teams posted a 142-120 record including four 12-win seasons and an AFC championship that included a narrow loss in Super Bowl XXXIV to the very team he’s taking over.

Eventually, though, Fisher grew wary of his position with the Titans and opted to take a year away from the game. He sat out the 2010 season, spending time outdoors in Montana and with the occasional golf game.

Never did it occur to Fisher that he might not come back to coaching, though.

“Well I intended on getting back into coaching when I stepped away,” Fisher said. “I love this game, I love the competitive aspects of this game and I was really looking forward to an opportunity of doing it someplace else and having an opportunity to carry our philosophy forward with a new organization.”

Fisher also made it a point to keep up with league happenings as much as possible. He’s spent many years working on the NFL’s Competition Committee and continued to do some work toward that end.

In stepping away from coaching, Fisher missed a strange season spurred by a lengthy lockout. That allowed him some time to gain perspective and look at things from a different angle as he returns to a game and a league that’s ever-evolving.

“We all had our opinions on what was going to happen, but I was able to yes, reflect back on different situations, circumstances,” Fisher said. “What would you do different had this come up again?’ Yes, it was extremely valuable time for me.”

But the time away from the game has come to a quick ending and Fisher will join with Demoff now to handle the next set of pressing needs for the organization.

Namely, Fisher will begin piecing together a coaching staff, a task that could potentially keep him from traveling to Mobile, Alabama for next week’s Senior Bowl festivities.

No other coaches have been added to the staff yet but it’s expected that some of Fisher’s closest confidants in the game such as Gregg Williams and Dave McGinnis could come on board as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach in the coming weeks.

“I’ll just say this, my efforts right now are to put the best possible coaching staff I can put together as we move forward with this football team,” Fisher said. “Kevin and I will collectively, along with Stan’s approval, work to fill those other areas if need be, so it’s a process that’s probably not going to get done right away. I have over the years found that patience as far as hiring coaches is better than haste. I’ve been able to hire coaches over the years, good coaches, taking my time. There’s no timetable here. What we’ll do together is we’ll keep you informed as we move through the process.”

Fisher will also join Demoff in the process of identifying the team’s next general manager. The Rams have already interviewed a trio of candidates including Atlanta’s Les Snead, Tennessee’s Lake Dawson and Philadelphia’s Ryan Grigson, who has since taken the same post in Indianapolis.

It’s expected that the Rams could make a move on filling that position sooner than later as well.

“Kevin and I have talked about that,” Fisher said. “He’s got a good start already. Again, we got focused on our process now, and now that we’re able to put that behind us, we’ll start on the next.”

With one very important process out of the way, Fisher and Co. will hit the ground running on the next piece in getting the Rams back to the glory days, a process Fisher acknowledges can take some time but also one he’s seen first hand.

In 1991, Fisher was the defensive coordinator for a 3-13 Rams team that was at a certain low point. Almost nine years later, he was the head coach of the opponent when the Rams reached the mountaintop.

To be on the other side of it now has a certain sort of poetry to it but the irony of the chance to win a Super Bowl with the team that denied him his only Super Bowl opportunity is not lost on Fisher.

“I’m just going to find a way, some way, somehow, to get one more yard I guess,” Fisher said.

Kroenke, Fisher strike similar chords

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:28:48 GMT

BY KATHLEEN NELSON

Rams owner Stan Kroenke and new coach Jeff Fisher sang in tune Tuesday, when Fisher was introduced as head coach.

Fisher said one of the major factors that led to choosing St. Louis over the Miami Dolphins boiled down to owner Stan Kroenke and chief operating officer Kevin Demoff.

"It’s their vision, what their thoughts are for the future and how to go about doing that," Fisher said. "To work alongside Kevin is going to be a great ride."

Kroenke said he and Fisher signed the contract "that will keep him here for awhile" just before the start of the press conference.

Through his years of owning of the NBA's Denver Nuggets and NHL's Colorado Avalanche, Kroenke said, "We developed a model that we have a lot of confidence in. At its center is an experienced, confident head coach who has been in a lot of different situations. Jeff is absolutely what we were looking for. I told Jeff early on that's the way we viewed the world of sport — how important it was to find that kind of coach."

Both also dodged the issue of the Rams remaining in St. Louis, which was reported to be a concern to Fisher when he was trying to decide between the Rams and Dolphins.

"We talked about a lot of different things," Fisher said. "I have an understanding of the future of this franchise, and right now it’s in St. Louis."

When asked about the issue, Kroenke suggested that the timing of the discussion was inappropriate because the city was in the process of presenting a proposal to Kroenke for upgrades to the Edward Jones Dome. He left the conference without answering any other questions.

"The chronology of what occurs with the lease is public knowledge," Kroenke said. "I don't think for me to comment on that process is timely. I think the city has within its power, to present a propsal to us by Feb. 1. There’s a team in place to deal with that. We’ll see how it sorts itself out.

"As I said earlier, I started in St. Louis in one year from now it will be 20 years. I’ve been around here a long time. Contrary to what has been reported I haven’t taken a lot of jack out of the market. I have put a lot of jack into the market. We’ll see how that process works out."

Fisher noted that his philosophy on the field would be "pretty simple. We want to do whatever it takes to win football games. We want to match up to win games in divisoin. It’s a team that's going to run the football and protect the quarterback."

He also praised quarterback Sam Bradford, saying, "This year was difficult. I think you have to look back at his success, his progress the first year. I think he has the chance to be a top quarterback in the National Football League very soon."

RE:Official Announcement of Jeff Fisher as HC

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:47:10 GMT

When all is said and done, Fisher wants to hire a quarterbacks coach to work with Sam Bradford.

Well it's about freakin time they got him a QB coach, he hasn't had one ever! Poor kid!

Official Announcement of Jeff Fisher as HC

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:44:42 GMT

Jim Thomas

Five days after he chose St. Louis over Miami, the big day is finally here for Jeff Fisher and the Rams. He will be formally introduced as the Rams' new head coach with a news conference scheduled for 1 p.m. today.

Before taking the podium for the first time at Rams Park, Fisher will sign a five-year contract believed to pay him around $7 million annually, easily making him the highest-paid coach in franchise history. But the No. 1 factor in deciding on the Rams, as Fisher told the Post-Dispatch in a brief interview Friday, was not his salary. It was non-economic issues.

After 17 years working for tightwad owner Bud Adams in Houston and Tennessee, Fisher wanted to make sure he had the resources to put together a strong coaching staff, be active in free agency and have a strong personnel department.

Contrary to speculation, it looks like Fisher's only title will be head coach. He's not expected to have "vice president" or "executive vice president" attached to his name in St. Louis.

Fisher may end up having final say on personnel matters, but as he may outline today, it won't be a "my way or else" proposition. At the very least he wants to be on equal footing with the new general manager. The team's general manager search, by the way, will continue anew this week with Fisher as involved as he wants to be in the process.

Fisher may also unveil at least the beginnings of his first St. Louis coaching staff. On Monday, Gregg Williams informed Fisher, "I'm in," as the team's new defensive coordinator. Williams had the same title for three seasons with New Orleans, but his contract is up with the Saints and Williams will be reuniting with the man he called "my best friend in coaching" in remarks to reporters last Thursday.

In addition, signs point to Brian Schottenheimer joining Fisher's staff as offensive coordinator; Schottenheimer spent the past six seasons as coordinator with the New York Jets. But recently fired Oakland head coach Hue Jackson is another possibility for the position.

It appears likely that Dave McGinnis will come aboard, perhaps with an assistant head coach title. McGinnis was with Fisher for seven seasons in Tennessee and currently has the title of senior assistant with the Titans.

One thing McGinnis probably would do in St. Louis is help groom the younger assistants on Fisher's staff. Two of those younger assistants could be Fisher's son Brandon, who's currently on the Detroit staff, and Williams' son Blake, who's currently on the New Orleans staff.

Other staff possibilities:

• Chuck Cecil and Tim Hauck both have worked in the past with Fisher as secondary coaches.

• Marty Galbraith has worked for Fisher and the Titans as an assistant special teams coach.

• If Schottenheimer ends up coming to St. Louis as offensive coordinator, James Lofton and former Rams assistant Henry Ellard could be candidates for wide receivers coach.

When all is said and done, Fisher wants to hire a quarterbacks coach to work with Sam Bradford.

The addition of Williams as defensive coordinator obviously is a key piece. It's a homecoming of sorts for Williams, a Missouri native from Excelsior Springs who played his college ball at Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State).

Williams was on the Rams' head-coaching radar as a potential successor to Mike Martz following the 2005 season. But Williams decided to stay with Washington where he ran the Redskins' defense and was widely regarded as a potential successor to Joe Gibbs as head coach. But that never materialized following Gibbs' retirement in 2008, with Williams spending a year in Jacksonville before hooking up with Sean Payton and the Saints in '09.

Williams' first stint as a defensive coordinator came in 1997 with Fisher as head coach of the then Tennessee Oilers. Beginning with that season, Williams' units — either as a coordinator or head coach — finished among the top 10 in NFL total defense six times.

With Tennessee in 2000, Williams' last season there before a three-year stint as head coach in Buffalo, the Titans led the league in total defense. Once he reached New Orleans in 2009, the dramatic improvement of the Saints' defense was one of the major factors in their Super Bowl championship run even though Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense garnered most of the headlines.

Rams get their man, Fisher gets his gig, but it's not all clean

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:38:30 GMT

By Mike Freeman
CBSSports.com National NFL Insider

Jeff Fisher will deny this but it's true and it's sad.

Fisher played the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins against one another for more cash, several league sources say. Played both like fiddles. Stradivarius. The Rams won, and Fisher is headed to St. Louis.

Fisher pushed each franchise for more power and money, these sources said, despite a report to the contrary. He insisted on the ultimate say in personnel decisions, and while I don't know exactly what he got, it seems as if he'll get it, or close to it, in St. Louis.

Now, there's nothing wrong with a millionaire trying to get more money from billionaires. Capitalism is the American way. But Fisher attempted to cleverly deny this by leaking (or having people close to him leak) to ESPN that he wasn't trying to do any of this. He was just good ol' Jeff Fisher, cool dude, chillin', waiting for one of these rascally teams to make up their minds.

Golly gee, come to a decision so the Jeffster can get to molding these men into champions!

The Rams got a good coach. Not a great coach, but a solid one who will unspectacularly restore the franchise to a respectable level and beyond. Fisher will make the Rams a factor again. That's the best hope for fans. Become a factor and see what happens. Get to nine wins and then 10 and then see what happens. Small steps followed by big ones. Hopefully.

Yet during this entire borderline pathetic pursuit of Fisher, it was Fisher who lost a little piece of himself. I think he started to believe his press clippings a little too much. People like me and others wrote he was the best of this head coaching class. It got to Fisher, and he began to think he was Vince Lombardi and started asking for Lombardi cash and power when, again, Fisher has been good, but he's more Jim Fassel than Lombardi.

The leak from Fisher, er, his agent, er, his camp, er, all of the above to ESPN was recognition that Fisher was getting a little arrogant and greedy. Again, coaches have a right to ask for the moon. They get hired and fired rapidly. Just don't tell me you're an average Joe while acting like the Earl of Dorincourt.

If a player behaved this way, fans would be outraged. The only thing missing from the Fisher spectacle was Jim Gray, with Fisher saying he was taking his talents to St. Louis.

Fisher has always portrayed himself as Everyman -- the former player who worked hard and rose to head coach. A lot of that is true. He's a good guy ... who got caught up in the hype of being one the most pursued coaches in recent NFL history.

Fisher learned from his Tennessee experience, when the immature Vince Young was pushed on him. Fisher didn't want Young (and his concerns would be proven correct) and I think that entire episode made Fisher extremely cautious when it came to power. Again, understandable.

Fisher just can't have it both ways. He can't try to be the common-man coach while also playing two franchises against the other -- as league officials say and common sense indicates -- to get maximum bucks and clout. Profootballtalk.com stated it well: It's truly strange.

A Dolphins source told me: "Fisher used us." Well, yeah, no joke. He was playing one side against the other. He was negotiating, he was leveraging. Despite his denials.

And, again, to be perfectly clear, that's fine. It was just unseemly to try to leak and be deceptive about his intentions.

Fisher is a good coach and a good person. He'll turn the Rams around. It's just the way he handled getting the job was a tad unseemly.

Jeff Fisher will deny this, but it's true and it's sad.

B. Schottenheimer on Rams radar as OC

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:34:42 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

Brian Schottenheimer is interviewing today with Nick Saban about the offensive coordinator job at Alabama. But it looks like Schottenheimer will have another job opportunity — in St. Louis.

Multiple league sources told the Post-Dispatch on Saturday that Jeff Fisher is interested in hiring Schottenheimer as his offensive coordinator with the Rams.

Fisher informed the Rams on Friday he wanted to coach in St. Louis; contract details between Fisher and the Rams still must be finalized, but that's expected to happen no later than Sunday evening.

In the meantime, Fisher has been given the green light by the Rams to "officially" talk to potential members of his coaching staff. Fisher has been informally working on his staff over the past week or so as he contemplated whether to coach for St. Louis or Miami.

Schottenheimer, 38, and the New York Jets had a mutual parting of the ways earlier in the week after a season in which the Jets finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs, and their offense finished 25th in the league.

Schottenheimer, the son of longtime NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer, also interviewed for the Jacksonville head-coaching job which went to Mike Mularkey. Marty Schottenheimer is a candidate for the head-coaching job in Tampa Bay, but indications are that Brian wants to cast his own lot in the NFL rather than joining his father if Marty gets the Bucs' job.

For Brian Schootenheimer, the obvious attraction to working with the Rams rather than the college ranks with Alabama is the chance to work with Sam Bradford at quarterback. Brian's first NFL coaching job was as an offensive assistant in St. Louis in 1997 on Dick Vermeil's first Rams staff.

Fisher made Rams choice on his own timetable

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:21:15 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

Jeff Fisher couldn't quite win a Super Bowl coaching against the Rams. Maybe he can do so with the Rams 12 years later.

Fisher ended nearly two weeks of drama in St. Louis and Miami by deciding to cast his lot with the Rams as their next head coach.

"The process has been lengthy, but for good reasons," Fisher told the Post-Dispatch on Friday afternoon. "I took a lot of time looking at and exploring in detail the noneconomic issues of both clubs."

Much to the chagrin of Rams and Dolphins fans, Fisher had a deliberate timetable in mind when he started the process, and for the most part he stuck to it.

After he visited Rams Park on Sunday, Monday was to be a day to reflect on his visits and interviews in both cities. Tuesday and Wednesday were to be spent making sure all noneconomic issues were in order — meaning everything besides Fisher's salary. Things such as staffing, personnel, the structure of the front office, etc.

"It's not about my salary," Fisher said. "It's about the opportunity to win games."

As if proving that point, Fisher chose the Rams before contract details were finalized. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Fisher actually informed Rams owner Stan Kroenke sometime Thursday that he wanted to be the next head coach of the Rams.

Because the contract hadn't been finalized, the Rams kept things quiet and even planned to continue their interview process. But Miami owner Stephen Ross kept pushing and pushing to land Fisher. Growing impatient, the Dolphins informed the Fisher camp they needed an answer Friday or they were going to move on in their search.

So Fisher's agent, Marvin Demoff, informed the Dolphins of the decision Friday. Unbeknownst to the Rams, news leaked out about Fisher's decision early in the afternoon, apparently by the Miami camp. The Rams weren't aware of this until a contingent of Rams officials got off a plane in San Francisco, where they had planned to interview New Orleans assistant Aaron Kromer for the head-coaching job.

Obviously, it's an interview that never took place, with the Rams quickly trying to get out of the Bay Area and back to St. Louis.

"I'm really excited that the Rams are the best fit for me," Fisher said. "I hope I'm the best fit for the Rams, and am looking forward to finalizing the (contract) details and coming to work."

It's expected that Fisher's salary will average about $7 million a year, which would make him among the highest-paid coaches in the NFL. It's also expected that Fisher will have final say on personnel matters, be it the draft, free agency or the setting of the 53-man roster entering the regular season. He had the dual title of executive vice president-head coach during most of his tenure in Tennessee and will have a similar title in St. Louis.

"I think it's a great hire," said Dick Vermeil, whose Rams defeated Fisher's Tennessee Titans 23-16 in Super Bowl XXXIV to conclude the 1999 season. "I think he's a leader. I think he can positively influence people and motivate them. He's a disciplinarian. He'll do the right things for the right reasons."

Fisher interviewed with Rams owner Stan Kroenke and other team officials Jan. 5 in Denver, where Kroenke Sports Enterprises is headquartered. He then toured Rams Park on Sunday, meeting with quarterback Sam Bradford in the process. Before that came visits with Dolphins owner Ross in Palm Beach and a tour of the facilities in Miami.

Since then, a bevy of mostly speculative reports indicated that Fisher teetered between the two choices. The outspoken Ross boasted at the start of the process that the Dolphins would not be outbid for Fisher. But in the end the ability to have final say in personnel probably tipped the scales in favor of St. Louis.

Several longtime associates of Fisher's said he knew Kroenke would provide the resources necessary to eventually compete for playoff berths and championships. There should be ample salary cap space for player acquisitions this offseason and next, and the Rams have a chance to add an impact player in the draft this April with the No. 2 overall selection. Also, with no general manager in place, Fisher can have a huge say in who fills that position.

Although the Rams have holes to fill throughout the roster, Fisher thinks highly of core players such as Bradford, running back Steve Jackson, defensive end Chris Long and linebacker James Laurinaitis.

As word spread of Fisher's decision, Rams players were excited about the prospect of working with an established head coach with a proven track record. Veteran cornerback Ron Bartell's one-word text response when informed that Fisher was coming to St. Louis: "Wow!"

It became apparent only Sunday that Fisher thought the plusses outweighed the minuses in St. Louis. But it also was learned over the weekend that Fisher was concerned with the Rams' stadium lease situation and a possible franchise move.

Fisher coached the Titans through their move from Houston to Memphis to Nashville in the mid-1990s and didn't want to go through a second relocation saga. Obviously those concerns didn't prove to be a deal breaker.

So with a résumé that includes a career record of 147-126 with the Oilers-Titans franchise, six playoff appearances, three 13-victory seasons — and, yes, one Super Bowl defeat — it's on to St. Louis as the replacement for the fired Steve Spagnuolo.

Rams get Fisher, but much more work is ahead

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:54:28 GMT

by Jim Thomas

Dick Vermeil is very much in favor of the hiring of Jeff Fisher as Rams head coach. But even with Fisher in place, Vermeil says finding the right head coach is only half the battle.

"If you don't have the players, and the entire support staff, you just can't be successful," Vermeil said. "There's got to be a program, not just a coaching staff isolated out there to be held responsible for winning or losing."

The Rams had suffered through nine consecutive losing seasons before the Vermeil-led Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV over Fisher's Titans to conclude the 1999 season. And since the Rams' last division championship squad under Mike Martz in 2003, they haven't had a winning season.

"So something's wrong besides the coaches," Vermeil said. "And I think Stan Kroenke will get it resolved.

"That whole organization needs leadership. They've got to find out why they don't have enough good football players. And I think Jeff, if given the right authority, will find out why they haven't and correct it."

Indications are that Fisher will have final say on personnel matters. If that's the case, he won't be a dictator, and it won't be an ego-driven thing. He wants input from all, and everyone involved.

"He's great to work with," said Houston Texans scout Mike Ackerley. "He communicates well, he's easy to talk to, his door's always open. If you needed to talk to him about somebody, you could walk right in his office. A lot of times what causes divisions between personnel departments and coaching staffs is because there isn't any communication."

Ackerley, once director of pro scouting for the Rams, spent more than eight seasons with the Titans and Fisher. He was Tennessee's director of college scouting for the Eastern region before leaving for the Texans.

"Jeff did a great job of evaluating the players," Ackerley said. "I didn't always agree with his evaluations, just like he probably didn't always agree with mine. But that's the nature of the business. You don't want somebody always totally agreeing with everything you say."

Which is a pretty strong hint that Fisher welcomes an open forum of discussion when it comes to player evaluation; he's not just looking for yes men.

One of the ways Fisher tried to get everyone in sync on personnel with the Titans was inviting the scouts and scouting department execs to sit in on position meetings during training camp.

"He encouraged us to listen to the coaches coach," Ackerley said. "That way we got a good idea of how the coaches interacted with the players. And you'd also get an idea listening to them talk about the type of players that they felt would fit their system."

In addition, at least once a year, Fisher and the coaching staff would sit with the scouts and talk to them in general about what they were looking for in terms of personnel.

"That's always helpful to the scouts," Ackerley said. "You know some places you don't get that, and so you're kind of going out there (scouting) blind sometimes. I always felt that we had a good feel of the type of player that was going to fit what we were doing. That's half the battle right here."

Fisher won't have the "Four Pillars" approach of Rams predecessor Steve Spagnuolo. Fisher's players will have an edge to them; they won't necessarily all be Boy Scouts. But he did get burned in Tennessee by players such as Adam "Pacman" Jones, and some longtime associates of Fisher say he'll be more inclined to avoid troublemakers with the Rams.

Obviously, a big key to getting more "good football players," as Vermeil puts it, is a general manager who can work well with Fisher. The ability to have a huge role in the hiring of the new Rams GM may have helped tilt Fisher to the Rams over Miami in deciding where he would coach.

The Rams have interviewed only three candidates so far for the GM job: Ryan Grigson of Philadelphia, Les Snead of Atlanta and Lake Dawson of Tennessee. Grigson, a one-time Rams scout, has since been hired by the Indianapolis Colts as their general manager.

Dawson may look like the front-runner because he has worked with Fisher in Tennessee. But he has less experience than most on the Rams' candidate list, including another Tennessee personnel department exec, Ruston Webster.

The Rams have yet to interview Webster, although they have received permission to do so from Tennessee. The same holds true for Steve Keim of Arizona, Joey Clinkscales of the New York Jets, Brian Gaine of Miami and Tom Telesco of Indianapolis.

A key part of the support staff Vermeil talked about is the coaching staff, and Fisher has been diligently working on reuniting some of his former assistants while trying to decided between the Rams and the Dolphins.

One possibility is New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who worked with Fisher for more than six seasons with the Oilers-Titans. Another is Dave McGinnis, currently a 'senior assistant" on the Titans staff. McGinnis worked with Fisher for seven seasons in Tennessee. Williams and McGinnis both have experience as NFL head coaches, Williams from 2001-03 in Buffalo and McGinnis from 2000-03 in Arizona.

Fisher's oldest son, Brandon, currently with Detroit as an entry-level defensive assistant, probably will be part of the Rams' staff.

Fisher has the leadership the Rams need

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:41:48 GMT

by Bernie M.

The hiring of coach Jeff Fisher is a giant step forward for a Rams franchise that's been stuck in the landfill at Earth City for too long.

One word immediately comes to mind with Fisher:

Leadership.

The Rams haven't had it in years.

Give Rams owner Stan Kroenke credit for stepping up and landing his No. 1 choice for a head coach. This wasn't the best time to be shopping for a new coach. The pool of available candidates was decidedly unexciting. But Fisher stands among the most respected coaches in the industry. And given the context of the Rams' brutal run of futility, he's arriving at the right time.

The Rams have suffered through a long procession of failed GMs and coaches who brought the franchise down with a losing combination of inexperience, insecurity and incompetence. That explains the grotesque 15-65 record since 2007.

Fisher may not be Vince Lombardi or Chuck Noll, but he sure as heck isn't Scott Linehan or Steve Spagnuolo, either. This time the Rams won't have to worry about what they're getting in hiring an untested first-time head coach.

Fisher brings instant stability and credibility to Rams Park. No more training wheels for a Rams head coach. Fisher has played in the NFL. He's coached in the league. He's been a respected leader of men in this league.

If you'd like to chip away at Fisher's Tennessee record, have at it. He had only six winning seasons. He didn't win a Super Bowl. He made it to one Super Bowl. He's 5-6 in the postseason. His teams finished 8-8 five times.

All Fisher did was coach up his teams for many years, often turning them into something better than they should have been. Fisher coached those teams up, and turned them into something fierce and unforgiving.

"I loved playing against Fisher's teams, and I hated playing against them," retired Rams wide receiver Torry Holt said. "I loved it because you knew you had to be at your best to beat them. And I hated it, because you knew they were going to be hitting you and coming after you all day long."

And as Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf recently noted about Fisher's 8-8 teams: they should have been 6-10 or 5-11. Fisher never had the most talented roster in Tennessee, but the Titans often overachieved. Fisher's Titans proved there's still a place for toughness in the sport of tackle football.

Fisher's teams had a personality, an identity. They'd run the ball, and stuff the run, and bully your quarterback. The Titans' physical offensive line would protect their QB and set him up to throw darts on play-action passes. And the Titans would try to punish opponents as much as possible for three hours every Sunday.

How long has it been since the Rams had a team personality? When is the last time that the Rams stood for something? For the first time since "The Greatest Show" closed down, Fisher will give this team a clearly defined persona.

I'd argue that Fisher's record is actually better than it looks. After a chaotic franchise move from Houston to Nashville, the Titans finally settled into their new stadium in 1999. And over a 10-year period, from 1999 through 2008, Fisher's Titans ranked fifth among the 32 NFL teams in winning percentage. Impressive.

Along the way Fisher had to rebuild after a roster purge caused by salary-cap problems. He had to put up with a meddling owner and unwanted surprises, including the drafting of quarterback Vince Young. Fisher didn't fall apart. He kept coaching. Adversity doesn't rattle him.

After going through a long and depressing void at the top of the football organization, after bad coaching hires and wrong turns, the Rams have finally hired a leader to reform their sad-sack operation. Finally, there's hope. Fisher may need his sunglasses as he leads the Rams out of the darkness.

Kroenke got it done Thursday night during a timely and crucial phone conversation with Fisher. The coach was wavering. He couldn't choose between Miami or St. Louis. But Kroenke was a closer. He persuaded Fisher to take the Rams job.

Fisher picked the Rams for the reasons that we thought he'd choose the Rams: (1) commitment from the owner; (2) a chance to take a blank slate and create an entirely new football operation rather than inherit the problems of an existing setup; (3) playing a major role in the choice of a GM; (4) the presence of a franchise QB; (5) a healthy salary-cap situation; (6) having a firm ally in place in Rams' chief operating officer Kevin Demoff; (7) a chance to move up quickly in the NFC West.

Fisher wants to have the final say on the roster (as all NFL coaches do), but he has no desire to be a kingpin at Rams Park who micro-manages everything. Fisher wants to bring some smart football people into the organization and let them do their jobs; he wants to concentrate on coaching. That's his focus.

What kind of man is Fisher? This story tells us a lot: In 2010 Fisher watched his close friend and colleague Mike Heimerdinger slowly wither away in a devastating battle with cancer. Heimerdinger, clinging to hope, badly wanted to coach in 2010.

From a football standpoint, it probably wasn't the best thing for the Titans. But it was best for the ailing coach. Fisher, believing that the energy and the drive of coaching would extend Heimerdinger's life, encouraged his friend to stay on as offensive coordinator. Fisher wanted to do everything he could to keep Heimerdinger fighting and hoping. It was an admirable act of humanity that made the team's 6-10 record seem trivial. Heimerdinger passed away on Sept. 30, 2011.

Am I completely sold on Fisher? There are questions. In an upcoming column, I'll look at Fisher's ability to adapt to the changes in the NFL and the movement to a wide-open passing game. That's one question I have about his hiring.

Fisher's top priority in putting together a staff: find a terrific offensive coordinator. It's such an important hire. The Rams have to get QB Sam Bradford going. They have to put the right scheme in place. Bradford was a big winner on Friday for a simple reason: Finally, he will have continuity. Fisher will sign a long-term deal, and Bradford can have the peace of mind knowing that he can lock into one system.

Bradford and Fisher really hit it off during their meeting Sunday; whatever questions Fisher had for Sam were answered to his satisfaction (and then some).

RE:Dolphins� Ross blows another possible big catch

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:36:21 GMT

Too bad Miami.

However in this report they are wrong, there were NOT a yard shy of "glory" in SB 34, they were a yard shy of simply tying the game and don't you forget that!

And BS with the Rams drafting Luck or Griffin, Fisher likes Bradford so much so that he plans to take Bradfords thoughts into consideration when hiring an OC.

These talking heads need to get the facts straight before they publish articles. And to think they get paid to report this stuff.

Dolphins� Ross blows another possible big catch

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:30:06 GMT

By Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports

The most coveted coach this offseason gave the Miami Dolphins every chance they needed. But in the end, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross chose general manager Jeff Ireland and the team’s current power structure over Jeff Fisher.

Of course, maybe this will work out just fine for the Dolphins. Maybe from among the likes of Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and so many other fine men the team has interviewed, Ross’ Dolphins will find the long-term leader they have so desperately wanted since Don Shula retired in 1995. Maybe, just maybe, the Dolphins will also find the quarterback they have searched for since Dan Marino retired after the 1999 season.

And maybe, just maybe, I’ll weigh 180 pounds by the Fourth of July.

Don’t bet on any of those things to happen. For as wealthy and successful in real estate as Ross has been in his life, the problem this billionaire has in running a football team: NFL teams don’t come with an owner’s manual.

If they did, Ross would have given Fisher the power he wanted, according to three sources familiar with the situation, instead of watching Fisher choose the St. Louis Rams on Friday afternoon. After 17 years of struggling with the penurious ways of Tennessee Titans owner “Bottom Line” Bud Adams and his henchmen (Floyd Reese and Mike Reinfeldt), Fisher knew that if he was going to make this work, he was going to need more power.

Or as one source said of Fisher, he told Ross at one point, “I’ve been a head coach for 17 years and 12 of them sucked because I had to fight for what I wanted.” In other cases, he had to fight against what he didn’t want.

Fisher never wanted to draft quarterback Vince Young with the No. 3 overall pick in 2006. He knew Young was a project so fraught with problems (both physical and mental) that making it work was more difficult than imaginable. Instead, Adams, the man who felt like he was forced to move the franchise from his hometown of Houston, wanted to take fellow Houston native Young in order to get some convoluted form of revenge.

In the process, Adams also cut quarterback Steve McNair, a true team leader, and a guy who could have helped Young get better. Aside from Earl Campbell, McNair might be the greatest player Adams has ever had. Yet, when Adams got a younger option, McNair was tossed aside with zero regard.

And you wonder why the Oilers/Titans have only managed to make the Super Bowl once.

Fisher and McNair took the Titans there in 1999, coming up a yard short of glory. Through that season, Fisher learned the one constant in football: NFL teams are only as good as their owner.

That’s why, when Fisher was dealing with Ross, he was strident about what he needed. He didn’t necessarily want to get rid of Ireland. He was comfortable with Ireland assessing players. He also didn’t have a problem with Carl Peterson being around, even if Peterson has an extremely close relationship with Ross despite having no formal title with the Dolphins. It was Peterson (not Ireland) who reportedly approached Jon Gruden on the Dolphins behalf and Peterson who has sat in on every head coach interview the team has done, according to multiple sources.

However, when it came down to it, Fisher wanted the final say. He wanted the power to shape the roster how he saw fit. He wanted to know he could sign certain players to long-term contracts when necessary and spend on critical free agents.

He wanted stability in the organization from a football standpoint. Those are things Ross should want. Yet Ross fails to see stability even when it’s staring him in the face.

A year ago, Ross bumbled his way through the Jim Harbaugh talks, turning coach Tony Sparano into a duck wishing it was strong enough to call lame. A week ago, Ross declared that he wasn’t going to let money get in the way of signing Fisher. To be sure, money wasn’t the issue. Power was the key because Fisher knows how much more important it is to have that for the success of a team rather than a big paycheck.

Now, Fisher goes to a St. Louis team that he surprisingly didn’t think was a hands-down better choice from the start. The Rams have quarterback Sam Bradford, defensive end Chris Long, left tackle Roger Saffold and the No. 2 overall selection in the draft, which could be wide receiver Justin Blackmon or a treasure-trove of picks in trade for one of the top quarterbacks in the draft (Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III).

That’s a good foundation. A seemingly better foundation than the Dolphins have right now. The Dolphins have left tackle Jake Long – who is now fighting injuries – the nucleus of a good defense (Cameron Wake, Karlos Dansby and Vontae Davis), but only Matt Moore at quarterback. With either the No. 8 or 9 pick in the draft (it will be decided by a coin flip with the Carolina Panthers), the chances of getting a great quarterback were slim.

Still, Fisher was willing to go for it with the Dolphins.

Sadly, Ross has let another chance slip through his fingers.

RE:Rams Nation can breathe easier with Fisher on board

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:01:01 GMT

I think Lake Dawson would be a good choice to work with Fisher as his GM.

Rams Nation can breathe easier with Fisher on board

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:57:32 GMT

Posted By Dan Arkush - PFW

Rams Nation can stop sweating. Jeff Fisher, widely proclaimed the "Belle of the Ball" on this year's head-coaching carousel, finally decided Friday to return to the head-coaching ranks as the new Rams head coach. Fisher's hiring ended an intriguing week-long drama, as observers leaguewide woke up Friday morning having no real clue as to whether the former Titans/Oilers head coach for 17 seasons would choose the Rams, armed with the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft and a ton of cap money to boot, or the Dolphins, whose owner, Steven Ross, reportedly was willing to pay Fisher up to $8 million annually to come to South Beach.

Fisher interviewed with Rams owner Stan Kroenke one week ago and toured Rams Park last Sunday. But upon leaving town, he made it clear that he was torn between St. Louis and Miami and ended up taking an entire week to make sure that his next job met all of his requirements to a tee, both in terms of money and power. Some resentment was starting to build in St. Louis as the week wore on, as Rams fans, already feeling betrayed following baseball star Albert Pujols' exit to Anaheim, were getting tired of waiting for Fisher to make up his mind. But owner Stan Kroenke's ultimate one-upmanship of Ross should make any hard feelings quickly disappear.

The PFW Spin

Although the Rams had come up with some very interesting alternative candidates lined up like Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinksi and Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton, there was never any question that Fisher, a rock-solid proven commodity, offered the best solution for a franchise in dire need of a steady hand at the top. The upgrade from Steve Spagnuolo, who never quite measured up, as evidenced by his terrible 10-38 record in three seasons at the helm, to Fisher, who compiled a 142-120 record with Tennessee/Houston that included a 23-16 loss to the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV among six postseason appearances, is considerable.

What should really excite Rams fans is Fisher's supposed plan to put together a "rock star" coaching staff possibly including the likes of Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis, who both worked with Fisher in Tennessee. After being forced to put up with weekly coaching efforts this season that earned consistent "F" grades from the top on down — the jobs turned in by offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, offensive line coach Steve Loney and special-teams coach Tom McMahon were particularly putrid — a high-quality coaching staff will send a strong message to the Rams' competition.

But Fisher and a great staff alone is not going to turn around a Rams team with personnel that overall must be considered inferior to that of the other teams in the NFC West, in great part because of the lackluster drafting that has hamstrung the Rams for the past decade. Enter the next GM, an important hire that is guaranteed now to have Fisher's firm fingerprints all over it. With the news of Fisher's hiring still hot off the presses, it's not a stretch to conclude that either Titans VP of football operations Lake Dawson or Titans VP of player personnel Ruston Webster have become the front-runners among the eight reported GM candidates, considering their prior history with the Rams' new boss man.

Dawson is one of three GM candidates to have been interviewed by the Rams at this writing, along with Falcons director of player personnel Les Snead and Eagles director of player personnel Ryan Grigson, who subsequently was hired as the new GM in Indianapolis. Others in the running include Webster, Cardinals director of player personnel Steve Keim, Jets vice president of college scouting Joey Clinkscales, Dolphins director of player personnel Brian Gaine and Colts director of player personnel Tom Telesco.

As far as the money Fisher will be receiving, there was never any question that Kroenke had the financial resources to outbid Ross if it came to that. The best guess among league observers is that the $7 million per year that Pete Carroll is bringing down with the Seahawks is a parameter that came into play.

On the field, Fisher's offensive m.o. is a power running game that sets up an efficient play-action passing game — a style that sets up well for three-time Pro Bowl RB Steven Jackson and QB Sam Bradford, who should benefit from a system that won't be as complicated as the one McDaniels employed. If Williams is indeed the apple of Fisher's eye for the defensive coordinator job, an aggressive, gambling system featuring multiple looks and disguised coverages could be in the offing.

Rams Expected to Hire Greg Williams of Saints

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:52:09 GMT

According to SI's Peter King, the Rams are "expected" to hire Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator under Jeff Fisher.

Williams is coordinating the Saints' defense in the playoffs, but his contract is up after the season and he is a longtime pal of Fisher. Williams would keep St. Louis' 4-3 alignment in place. He's known for heavy blitzing. It's fair to wonder if Eagles DL coach Jim Washburn might join Williams and Fisher in St. Louis. Washburn's "Wide-9" scheme may not mesh well in Philadelphia if the Eagles hire Steve Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator.

Nothing can be said or done during the playoffs while the Saints are still contenders due to NFL rules. Which of course you can't blame them.

RE:Gordo on Fisher Signing

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:41:13 GMT

Good for you Stan.

Gordo on Fisher Signing

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:38:29 GMT

Rams fans wondered if Stan Kroenke would be a savior or a failure once he gained full control of the franchise.

The doubts intensified as the bumbling Rams staggered to a 2-14 finish during his first full season as majority owner.

Fans wanted Kroenke to fire failed coach Steve Spagnuolo in midseason, but Stan wanted to give him every opportunity to overcome the tough schedule and ugly injuries that made life difficult for the Rams.

Fans wanted Kroenke to comment publicly after each exasperating loss, but that is not Stan’s style. He paid close attention while remaining in the background, deliberately out of sight.

Fans wondered in Kroenke was intentionally losing to make it easier to move the team to Los Angeles once he gets out of his current stadium lease.

Unrest in Ram Nation built toward a crescendo -- then Kroenke took swift action. He fired Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney the morning after the season’s final loss.

Kroenke articulated his distaste for losing and described his desire to build an organization and emulated the uncanny success of the New England Patriots.

He immediately made his play for Jeff Fisher, the best available head coaching candidate on the market. The Dolphins also made a splashy bid for him, but Kroenke won the marathon bidding war.

When Fisher asked the tough questions, Kroenke had the right answers. They clicked off the items on Jeff’s checklist:

Salary commensurate with his experience and success? Kroenke was willing to pay that, even if he didn't put those numbers in formal offer form right away.

Coaching budget sufficient to hire top-of-the-line coordinators and assistant coaches? Stan was willing to do that, too.

Select a compatible personnel expert to man the general manager’s chair? Kroenke assured Fisher he could tailor the football operation to his liking. He was willing to hire his coach, then fill in the blanks on the personnel side. The Dolphins would not go there.

Fisher met with Sam Bradford to make sure the lad was prepared to lead this team forward. Fisher allowed Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to persist with his pitch – out of courtesy and his natural desire to maximize negotiating leverage – and then finally committed to the Rams.

This hiring doesn’t guarantee the Rams future success, but it gives the franchise its best opportunity to reverse its downward course. Fisher simply will not indulge the habitual failure that marked the Spagnuolo Regime.

This hiring doesn’t guarantee the Rams will remain in St. Louis forever and ever. Kroenke will use that escape clause in his stadium lease to strike favorable deals going forward.

If he can’t strike those deals going forward, then, sure, he would be willing to explore options. Business is business.

But this hiring will energize the long-suffering Rams fans base, keep the revenue stream flowing and create a healthier business environment for the franchise.

From this corner of cyberspace, we’re betting that Kroenke strikes an interim deal to stay in an upgraded Edward Jones Dome while he explores new stadium options in this region. But if government officials don't won't to play ball . . . well, let's not dwell on that today.

By hiring Fisher, Kroenke answered all the immediate concerns about his commitment to succeeding in St. Louis.

Yes, he cares. Yes, he hates to lose.

Yes, he is willing to dig into his very deep pockets to hire a top head coach and elite assistants.

Yes, he is willing to allow a strong football man to create the new blueprint for his football operation.

After the nightmarish season ended, Kroenke expressed his desire to win and then backed it up with his vast resources.

Will the hiring pay off? We shall see in the years ahead.

In the meantime fans can rest assured that the owner of their franchise is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.

Fisher keeps Rams waiting

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:35:25 GMT

Bryan Burwell •

While the Rams and Miami Dolphins wait impatiently for Jeff Fisher to just make up his mind, allow me to speak for all of us from South Beach to North County when I toss out this friendly civic greeting:

"Jeff, seriously man, what the heck is taking so long?"

Two struggling, desperate NFL franchises have, to the best of our knowledge, put on aggressive sales pitches to land the only semi-celebrity coach on the head-coaching market. They have offered money. They have offered power. They have even given him plenty of time to make up his mind. And Fisher has taken great liberties with that time, so much so that it's starting to make me ask a lot of questions I never would have thought about if he simply had made up his mind two or three days ago.

• If Fisher is taking this long to decide between Miami and the Rams, does that mean that maybe he isn't all that thrilled with either job?

• If he's taking this long, does that mean that maybe he's trying to buy more time to see whether the Indianapolis job opens up?

• Is he taking this long because he can get plenty of money (are the Dolphins willing to pay him $8 million a year?), but not enough power from the Dolphins (with "consultant" Carl Peterson and GM Jeff Ireland already there) or because he can get plenty of power, but not enough money from the Rams (reportedly they aren't interested in paying him $6 million or more) and can't make up his mind which is more important?

But starting to worry me more than all of that is this: Maybe, just maybe, all this agonizing deliberation has caused Rams owner Stan Kroenke to contemplate whether it's worth it to be held hostage by Fisher. The longer Fisher puts the Rams on hold, the more potential Plan B candidates get the chance to sit in front of the Rams owner and impress him. The longer Fisher puts Kroenke on hold, there's more of a risk that Kroenke might develop second thoughts about whether Fisher is worth the wait and the investment, or that Kroenke will test the emotional pulse of his consumers to see how they'd feel about him moving on to Plan B.

Look, I already know that's what a lot of emotional fans are thinking now.

Popular opinion is slowly turning on Fisher in both Miami and St. Louis, as it appears to some fans that he's either on an insatiable money or power grab.

Well, before that tide turns too far, let me be the voice of sanity.

Stop it. Stop it now.

Forty eight hours hasn't caused me to lose my mind just yet. If Fisher is taking a little longer than expected to make up his mind, then consider it a gift. The Rams need him more than he needs the Rams. That is the bottom line in all of this.

So, as Kroenke deliberates over what else he can do to close this deal and get Fisher under contract, I just hope there isn't going to be a lot of quibbling over money.

NFL sources maintain that it isn't about money or power. But let's pretend it is. Coaches with Fisher's experience and success rate are commanding salaries well north of $6 million now, and I doubt that Ross will blink at that figure.

So, why should Kroenke?

All he needs to do is ask himself some very simple questions:

• What's a proven NFL head coach worth to a moribund franchise?

• What is the value of a coach who is a known, successful commodity, who has taken his team to the Super Bowl, wins consistently and builds teams that are big, fast, strong, talented and intimidating to a franchise that a long history of neither winning nor producing Pro Bowl caliber players?

I'm not going to be one of these folks who grumble about Fisher being too greedy, because there are very few times when a person in any walk of life has this kind of positively sick leverage. When you have this rare clout, you darned well better use it for all it's worth. Fisher finds himself in the once-in-a-lifetime circumstance of being the grand prize in an economic tug-of-war between Miami owner Stephen Ross and Rams owner Kroenke, two billionaire businessmen who like to get their way at the negotiating table.

The Rams seem to be more than willing to give Fisher all the power he wants or needs. But if money is an issue, it's kind of baffling to me. If you're willing to pay an unproven rookie quarterback with a tremendous upside $18.4 million (what Sam Bradford earned in base salary and bonuses in 2011), why would you hesitate to give a head coach with Fisher's track record less than half that?

If owners will pay a veteran receiver with a few Pro Bowls under his belt $7 million or $8 million, or defensive linemen $14- to $15 million a year, why would you have reservations about a man who would be in charge of the entire football operation?

Haven't we seen enough evidence here in St. Louis to understand what a truly good, proven head coach is worth?

Since Mike Martz was fired in the middle of 2005, the Rams have gone through two other head coaches and two interim ones. And what do they have to show for it? A 27-80 record, zero playoff appearances and a franchise that has descended into perennial irrelevance and taken up near-permanent residence in the top five of the NFL draft.

If the Rams get too impatient and move on from Fisher, waiting for them in the queue are a bunch of guys from the head-coaching starter kit. And based on what we've seen over the past six seasons, can the Rams afford to try that route again?

Let me remind you once again what has happened since Martz left:

Twenty seven victories, 80 defeats. No playoffs.

Go get Jeff Fisher.

Waiting on Fisher: It won't take much longer

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:24:55 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS |

It's come to this in the court of public opinion. He's greedy. He's power-hungry. He's holding St. Louis (and Miami) hostage. What's taking so long with Jeff Fisher?

Actually, it's not taking that long, at least compared to other head coach searches since the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995.

• Steve Spagnuolo was hired on Jan. 17, 2009.

• Scott Linehan was hired on Jan. 18, 2006.

• Dick Vermeil was hired on the Monday of Super Bowl week in 1997. The date was Jan. 20, but the regular season ended earlier that season (Dec. 20), so it was a month-long search. The current search is in it's 11th day.

• As for Rich "Big Daddy" Brooks, with the Rams in the midst of a franchise move from southern California to St. Louis hiring a head coach was just shy of afterthought. Brooks was hired Feb. 10, 1995, and held his first press conference as Rams coach in . . . Indianapolis, where the NFL scouting combine was underway.

Excluding interims Joe Vitt and Jim Haslett, an asterisk is needed for the only other head coach for the "St. Louis" Rams — Mike Martz. Martz had been contractually named head-coach-in-waiting just a couple of weeks before Vermeil stepped down two days after winning Super Bowl XXXIV over Fisher's Tennessee Titans.

As for the current search, league sources indicated to the Post-Dispatch last weekend that the process would begin to wrap up by midweek or so. Obviously, we are now at the intersection of "midweek" and "or so." So a decision should come today or Friday.

Fisher isn't one of these coaches always looking for his next job, not after 16 full seasons as head coach of the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans. He doesn't have a lot of experience job-hunting. So he wants to be sure in choosing his next place of employment.

Fisher expected to decide today

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:33:13 GMT

January 11, 2012

Armando Salguero

Miami Herald

Fisher expected to decide which team he'll coach today

I believe today will be a franchise defining day.

Jeff Fisher, who has been weighing whether to take the head coach job in Miami or St. Louis, is expected to make a decision which team, if either, he would like to work for in 2012. Let me be more clear: I am not reporting Fisher will be named coach of either team today.

I am reporting that, according to one source that thus far has been spot on, the coach is finalizing his choice of teams today. Following that decision, I am supposing here, Fisher will tell his agent which direction he's going and negotiations will get going on a contract and various other details.

I do not know what Fisher's decision will be. But it's obvious that whatever he decides will define the direction of both the Dolphins and Rams for years to come.

The winning team will be regarded to be hiring the hotest, most experienced coach on the market. That team will get a head coach who is going to piece together a star-studded coaching staff. That team's credibility will get an instant boost without even one game under the new coach being played.

The team that loses the Fisher sweepstakes will be regarded as having to hire a secondary choice. That team will be rightly seen as having lost out. That team will have to answer to its fan base questions such as, "What is it about you that was deemed to be lacking in this derby.'

It's entirely possible the team not getting Fisher gets a coach that some day in the future does better work than Fisher. But that won't be the narrative now. The narrative now will be that the losing team, well, lost out.

So how do I know Fisher is scheduled to choose today. Well, since the start of this entire saga I've gotten half a dozen e-mails from people claiming to be close to Fisher or his family or his closest friends. One of these people has provided rock-solid information. And that person tells me today is the day he was told Fisher is making his call.

We'll see what happens. I'd expect something to leak before the end of the day is over and definitely by tomorrow as to where Jeff Fisher is going.

Blackmon Perfect for Rams

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:13:47 GMT

The St. Louis Rams have a franchise quarterback, a great running back and a decent offensive line.

However, the team only won two games in the 2011-12 season and only scored 12.1 points per game, locking up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming NFL draft in the process.

So how can they address their scoring woes and add a dynamic playmaker with that pick?

Will Blackmon Be Drafted by the Rams?

Yes

82.7%
No

17.3%

Justin Blackmon.

He would immediately step in and contribute as Sam Bradford's favorite target and finally make the Rams a real threat again.

The Oklahoma State receiver had another excellent year, recording 121 catches for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 2010, he hauled in 111 receptions for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Those numbers are insane and there is no doubt that he is going to succeed at the next level.

While his size, 6’1”, 215 pounds, isn’t the stuff scouts salivate over, his production is absolutely amazing and he is as sure a thing as they come as a pro prospect.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter responded to a tweet asking if the Rams were interested in selecting the two-time Biletnikoff winner with their No. 2 pick.

Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

It's worth noting that I fully expect this pick to be traded when the actual NFL draft rolls around in April. It's too early to predict a trading partner or compensation though, so for now the pick stays in St. Louis and the Rams draft the wide receiver Sam Bradford so badly needs.

A healthy St. Louis in 2012 would be greatly enhanced by a threat at receiver like Justin Blackmon. Look at the impact A.J. Green has had on the Cincinnati Bengals as a model for what Blackmon could do to help Bradford and the Rams.

Blackmon went off in Oklahoma State's bowl game, showing the hands and separation to make an impact early in the NFL. He's the total package for an offense that needs a dependable threat to attack the secondary with.

RE:Farewell Josh. Hello Jeff?

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 15:43:37 GMT

Well, let's hope they draft Blackmon.

RE:Could Brandon Lloyd Follow Josh McDaniels to the Patriots?

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 03:59:12 GMT

If Lloyd leaves, I cannot imagine a draft scenario that does not involve Blackmon.

Could Brandon Lloyd Follow Josh McDaniels to the Patriots?

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 03:57:43 GMT

Could Brandon Lloyd Follow Josh McDaniels to the Patriots?

by Greg Knopping on Jan 7, 2012 3:01 PM EST

With Deion Branch's contract set to expire at the end of the 2011 season and receiver Chad Ochocinco not exactly playing up to expectations, the New England Patriots might be in the market for a #2 receiver this offseason.

When news came earlier today that Josh McDaniels would be returning to the Patriots, one name that immediately came to mind was Brandon Lloyd, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Lloyd has experienced tremendous success under McDaniels in a little more than two seasons. In 2010, Lloyd set a career highs in receptions (77), yards (1,448), and touchdowns (11). He led the NFL in receiving and was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams. This year, McDaniels, with the Rams, helped convince his new team to trade for Lloyd. Lloyd experienced moderate success, with 51 catches for 683 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games.

The Patriots have previously expressed interested in Lloyd. The Patriots were in discussions to acquire him from the Broncos prior to the trade deadline this year. Ultimately, he ended up in St. Louis. But with Josh McDaniels now landing back in New England, it doesn't seem like much of a stretch to think that he could land in New England, especially when considering what Lloyd recently said to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

"I can't even lie about that. I'm tied to McDaniels. He uses me differently than other offensive coordinators used me in my entire career. He uses me as an every-play receiver. The short game, mid-range game, gimmick passes, deep balls.I do everything in this offense as opposed to other coordinators who would just run me off as the deep guy; run me off into double coverage and then say I'm not open. So I really like how Josh uses me within the offense. I'm extremely comfortable in the offense."

Lloyd then continued:

"Probably No. 1 (as a factor), because I want to be successful, and I want to earn whatever money I'm making. I want to be used in ways where I feel comfortable and I can be successful. And Josh knows how to do that."

Bringing a player such as Brandon Lloyd into the picture would certainly be a slam dunk move for the Patriots. Lloyd has already had tremendous success in McDaniels' schemes, still has plenty in the tank (turns 31 in July), and may event take a discount to join McDaniels in New England. Lloyd can do a bit of everything - he can separate short or deep down the field, make spectacular grabs, and turn short throws into long gains.

All of this being said, what would be your opinion of Brandon Lloyd joining the Patriots in the 2012 offseason?

RE:Farewell Josh. Hello Jeff?

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 03:50:40 GMT

Unlike under McDaniel's system, Bradford will at least have a full offseason with the new OC. I agree though, It is hard on a new QB to keep changing the system that he is supposed to run. And Bradford still needs someone to throw to.

Fisher closes in on his choice

Sat, 7 Jan 2012 12:47:53 GMT

BY JIM THOMAS

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels looks like he's out the door. Arizona defensive coordinator Ray Horton spent his Friday with Stan Kroenke in the Mile High City. And Jeff Fisher says it's down to St. Louis and Miami — not necessarily in that order — for his next place of employment.

Events Friday all seemed to indicate that a decision was near on the Rams' next head coach — with the signs pointing to Fisher and the Rams. How so?

Giving New England permission to interview McDaniels for its vacant offensive coordinator position could be interpreted as a strong hint that Fisher is coming to St. Louis. The Rams granted permission to the Patriots late Friday afternoon. Kansas City hasn't requested to speak to McDaniels.

NFL sources indicated to the Post-Dispatch early in the week that Fisher almost certainly wouldn't retain McDaniels because their offensive philosophies don't mesh. (Fisher likes a more conservative style with power running and play-action passing.)

Meanwhile, the interview with Horton in Denver fulfills Rooney Rule requirements on minority candidates. The interview went well, and Horton was impressive, according to team sources. So, it may seem easy enough to connect the dots and start working on that Jeff Fisher nameplate for the head coach's office at Rams Park.

• McDaniels gone. Check.

• Rooney rule. Check.

• Jeff Fisher. Write the check.

Not so fast. League sources familiar with the coach search said the Rams don't know who's the frontrunner at this point — them or Miami. Fisher let it be known Friday that his decision was down to the Dolphins and Rams, and that he would make a choice by midweek. The decision might come before that, but contrary to some speculative reports, Fisher hasn't made up his mind. Nor have the Rams and Fisher begun anything resembling serious negotiations, though that might happen as soon as today.

Wherever Fisher ends up, those close to Fisher say he plans to put together a "rock-star" coaching staff. One talking point of negotiations will be how much money he can spend on his staff, which was a point of contention at times during Fisher's 16 seasons with the Tennessee franchise.

So, it could be Fisher or bust for the Rams. Horton and Fisher are the only known candidates to have interviewed with the Rams. However, dismissing Horton would be a disservice, particularly when you consider that Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh was far from the top choice with the Steelers in 2007 but is seeking his third Super Bowl appearance and second Super Bowl title in four seasons.

Horton, 51, a native of Tacoma, Wash., had a 10-year career as a cornerback in the NFL with Cincinnati (1979-82) and Dallas ('89-92). His pro coaching career includes stints with Washington, Cincinnati, Detroit and Pittsburgh. Until this season, he had spent his entire NFL coaching career coaching defensive backs.

In Arizona, the Cardinals' defense started slowly this season but showed marked improvement over the final 10 games, finishing tied for 18th in total defense. With his background in Pittsburgh, where he was an assistant from 2004-10, Horton installed the Steelers' defensive scheme, featuring a 3-4 front and pressure from anywhere. Horton has a straightforward, at times blunt approach — a style that worked well this season with the Cardinals.

The Rams are probing other options as well. For example, the team contacted University of Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian, but Sarkisian told them he wasn't interested.

Even so, things always seem to find their way back to Fisher. Further feeding the Fisher frenzy is the fact that the Rams have received permission to interview two members of the Titans' front office about their vacant general manager's job: vice president of football operations Lake Dawson and vice president of player personnel Ruston Webster. All told, that makes eight identified general manager candidates for St. Louis. It would have been nine, but Baltimore director of player personnel Eric DeCosta announced he is staying with the Ravens.

In other developments:

• Several teams have called Steve Spagnuolo about the possibility of joining their staff. He's taking a few days to think it over.

• Carolina offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who might be on the Rams' radar if the pursuit of Fisher falls through, interviewed Thursday in Jacksonville for the Jaguars' head-coaching job.

• All eight members of the Rams' practice squad have been signed to the offseason roster: DT Cornell Banks, C Tim Barnes, CB Kendric Burney, WR John Chiles, TE Demarco Cosby, DT John Henderson, OT Ryan McKee, and RB Chase Reynolds.

• Many Rams assistant coaches packed their things Friday and departed Rams Park for time off, which they would have gotten regardless of Spagnuolo's firing.

RE:Farewell Josh. Hello Jeff?

Sat, 7 Jan 2012 12:39:53 GMT

If this is true this could be another setback for Bradford. Good grief three OC's in his first three years of his career! I mean sure he's smart but give the kid a damn break!

This is why it's so ridiculous that people try to blame Bradfords lack of development on him, come on now, 2 HC's and 3 OC's already in his short career! And no QB coach to top it off! Let's be real here!