The St. Louis Rams and the Miami Dolphins are still dancing with Jeff Fisher, but the clock may be close to midnight. There are conflicting reports bouncing around, but the latest says that Fisher is close to picking the Rams, according to Howard Balzer of 101 ESPN.
Fisher is reportedly leaning toward the Rams based on a handful of factors: he gets to help pick a GM, the Rams have prime spots in the 2012 NFL Draft, and they play in a competitive division.
As far as an official decision, that could come anytime. Balzer suggests by the end of the weekend. Previous reports suggested early next week. After an interview with Ray Horton in Denver today, the Rams are in compliance with the Rooney Rule.
In related news, Jim Thomas reports that the Rams have received permission to interview two GM candidates currently serving with the Tennessee Titans. One is Lake Dawson, who has been mentioned before as a possibility. Dawson is the Vice President of Football Operations with the Titans; he runs pro scouting among other responsibilities. The other is Ruston Webster, the Vice President of Player Personnel; he's primarily focused on college talent. He's served two years in Tennessee, coming over from Seattle ... where he served under Tim Ruskell, even a short stint as interim GM.
Thomas' news could be a sign that Fisher and the Rams have already talked GM candidates, or it could be a move by the Rams to further convince Fisher. Or both.
In the middle of the week, Fisher was said to be leaning toward the Dolphins, so this could also be one last leverage move from Fisher to drive up prices. Miami has promised not be outbid, and this would be an excellent way to get Stephen Ross to throw in the kitchen sink, a last bidding war to drive up his final price. As for how much Fisher is likely to make, it would have to be in the $7 million neighborhood.
0 recs | 43 comments
Jeff Fisher will have plenty of money or Alcohol and possibly hookers.
Good for him.
RAMpage28 - January 7, 2012
*for
RAMpage28 - January 7, 2012
Seahawks fan here.
I really, really really hope you get Fisher. Totally class act and a great coach. Man, this division would really come alive.
shams - January 7, 2012
I think he'd be a great HC. He'll get to build his staff from scratch too
Douglas M - January 7, 2012
Think he wants to trade that #2 pick?
Joe Mazzi - January 7, 2012
I know you're not asking me, forgive me.
But I think he’d be nuts not to entertain the idea, unless, for example, he feels the drop off from Kalil to the next best LT is so huge. Sadly, Seattle could not be a trading partner for the Rams ;) but sweet jiminy christmas would be give up a lot of farm for the right to draft you-know-who. Matt Kalil is good, but is he possibly that good?
shams - January 7, 2012
Yep. That's how I feel.
I’ve been praying that the Colts will take Kalil. Then the Rams trade the pick to whoever pays the most for Luck. Won’t happen, but I can dream.
Joe Mazzi - January 7, 2012
If we could trade with Cleveland,
we would be a lock for Blackmon (I doubt Minnesota passes on Kalil). I’d be okay with Blackmon at #4, just never at #2 with Kalil still on the board.
douchiedude - January 7, 2012
Drop off from Kalil
Most people have Reiff as the #2 tackle, and was not at all impressive in the Insight Bowl, so I’d say the dropoff is pretty steep.
IowaRamFan - January 7, 2012
And a Trojan :)
douchiedude - January 7, 2012
Did not know that.
shams - January 7, 2012
Niners fan here, congrats if you guys get Fisher!
LOL at Dolphins for losing high profile HCs to the NFC West (Harbaugh for us/ Fisher for Rams).
I believe the more competitive our division is, the better preparation/success the teams have in the playoffs. So I welcome Fisher to the division.
You guy ever think maybe Fisher trades Bradford for picks and draft RG3 to bring back his glory days with Steve McNair?
Giants49war - January 7, 2012
No way he trades braford
The cap hit would be to big. I never thought about the dolphins losing out on harbaugh to you guys that will be funny to wind them up if we get fisher.
Peter Vevers - January 7, 2012 via mobile
Nah, too much money.
I would be pissed personally if he did though. The previous regime nearly ruined Sam, but no way in hell is his career done.
douchiedude - January 7, 2012
First off,
Thanks for being a classy 49er fan and dropping by.
I agree it’s time for the NFC West to get competitive. I’m sick of hearing everyone else say the division is made up of four girl scout troops.
Sundowner - January 7, 2012
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
douchiedude - January 7, 2012
Jesus...
RAMpage28 - January 7, 2012
Not enough, right?
douchiedude - January 7, 2012
So...
U approave… Yes?
Ram_Redemption - January 7, 2012 via mobile
Hope its true, would like to see the Rams get their coaching staff and Front Office situations taken care of soon so they can turn the focus on free agency and the draft, filling the holes on this team.
Scrapgirl933 - January 7, 2012
Frankly I want Sam to stay a Ram and hope that if the Rams do get Fisher he surrounds
him with weapons cause if he does that Sam will take the Rams to the championship. I also took into consideration the fact that Fisher may trade Sam and I’m just wondering how much that would bring does anyone know?
Freewheeler2 - January 7, 2012
I'm hoping that if Fisher is a run-first guy
that he’ll appreciate how poor our o-line is, and re-haul that mother!
DCRamFan - January 7, 2012
Wandered on over to 'The Phinsider' this morning
And it seems that most of their fans are resigned to the fact that we’re going to get Fisher……not that their or our opinions really matter on that subject. They are optimistic to get Joe Philbin, OC from GB, though, who is staying in Miami for his 2nd day of interviewing today. I think the thought there is that Matt Flynn is coming with. They get another WR, a complimentary RB to Bush, and Flynn can play anywhere near the calibur he did last week, and they’d be much better off for it.
In summation, thanks for giving us Fisher
DCRamFan - January 7, 2012
So does lloyd follow mcdaniels or stay
Ram_Redemption - January 7, 2012 via mobile
We're clearly worse off if he goes
so I hope that he considers staying. Can Lloyd really make his career just following McDaniels around? I mean I realize he made his name in Denver, but he seems to have had a good rapport/connection with Sam. I dont think that changes any if McD is no longer in the Lou
DCRamFan - January 7, 2012
I hope he stays
Dnt wanna have to go into the draft needing two receivers
Ram_Redemption - January 7, 2012 via mobile
Also, if McD goes to KC
where would that put Lloyd on the depth chart? They’ve (for now) got Bowe, Breaston, Baldwin, and they’ll have Moeaki back next season………not enough balls to go around, IMO. Not to mention that J. Charles is their playmaker
I’m clearly pining for him to stay….
DCRamFan - January 7, 2012
He'll stay I think
Gotta watch teams like the bears panthers and bengals tho
Ram_Redemption - January 7, 2012 via mobile
Is it possible that in the HC talks with Fisher
one of the bargaining chips the Rams threw in was the hiring of one of Fisher’s men from the Titans front office for GM? Could that be a deal sealer?
Go Rams!
Nbr1RamFan - January 7, 2012
get ride of the four pillars
and implement mandatory moustaches…….moustachii?
DCRamFan - January 7, 2012
*rid
DCRamFan - January 7, 2012
Did you mean Moustache rides?
Freudian slip?
johnniewarthawg - January 8, 2012
The new four pillars
Should be competence, intelligence, passion for football, and teamwork.
When you’re on the field, play football like you mean it and do your job. After that, what you do with your money and free time is your business.
Sundowner - January 7, 2012 via mobile
add another pillar
toughness
Ram_Redemption - January 7, 2012
fisher may have already agreed in part
just waiting until next week so we can get the romney rule out of the way.
looks like he would fit in better here anyway. he is a 4-3 man and the rams have a good start on that.
if he comes here i really do not see them drafting blackmon, as high as he will be going. it would be uncharacteristic of him to go receiver that early.
jmo
hbwb - January 7, 2012
Your spot on
I was just thinking that fisher is am old fashioned o line guy. I dnt remeber him ever taking a receiver high.
Ram_Redemption - January 7, 2012 via mobile
titan fans wanted a receiver for several years as i recall
they finally grabbed britt late in the first. it would be great if we could find a guy like that. minus the off field issues of course.
i live in tn so see the titans about every week. i am very aware of what fisher brings and while he is not the best coach in the league he is the best available and has plenty connections to fill his staff with good coaches. the o-line should show a vast improvement over this past season. dall is his kind of guy so look for him to get more tough nosed type players around him. he sets great stock on line play on both sides of the ball.
hbwb - January 7, 2012
Yup,
his d-line is ALWAYS good.
douchiedude - January 7, 2012
his o-line has been near the top in fewest sacks allowed too
and we all know he has a running game every year. you cannot run the ball without blocking up front.
hbwb - January 7, 2012
Anyone else hoping he can save Jason Smith's career...
The guy was drafted number 2 overall for a reason and i can’t wrap my head around how bad he’s looked out there.
I can’t believe that all his talent simply seeped from his body overnight.
If we can reestablish this guy’s focus and passion for the game it would be an amazing turnaround from a guy who’s been written off by everyone including myself.
Bralidore - January 7, 2012
u mean hoping he can squeeze some talent out of the 13 million smith is set to make this year?
yes i do
Ram_Redemption - January 7, 2012
I'm interested to see what an o-line coach
not named Steve Loney can do. The good news is he can’t get much worse.
FailureDrill - January 7, 2012 via Android app
my take on our o-line
the talent is better than the product on the field. before he kicks anyone to the curb the new coach will make sure he is a waste of roster space. if there is a blocker in there then coaching will bring it out. if there is no heart he will not be around long.
hbwb - January 7, 2012
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