Rams report, 1/6

Let the "according to"s begin!

* Head coach watch.
According to Adam Schefter, Jeff Fisher will decide between the Rams and the Dolphins next week. Doesn't appear that any other team is getting in the race. Miami's got the better talent base to build from, but Fisher would have more influence in the Rams' power structure. We'll see what he wants.

If it's not Fisher, Jim Thomas tweeted last night that it won't be Mike Martz or Brian Billick. If the bridge is burned between Martz and St. Louis, I get that, but if he were identified to you as "Coach A", he'd be getting interviews everywhere.

Coach A: 85-53 (.624), 3-4 postseason, 3 winning seasons, 1 .500 season, 2 losing seasons, successful offensive coordinator
Coach B: 142-120 (.542), 5-6 postseason, 6 winning seasons, 5 .500 seasons, 5 losing seasons, successful defensive coordinator
Coach C: 80-64 (.556), 5-3 postseason, Super Bowl championship, 5 winning seasons, 1 .500 season, 3 losing seasons, successful offensive coordinator

A is Martz, B is Jeff Fisher, C is Billick. Unless Billick said at some point he isn't interested in the Rams job, I think it's irresponsible to just drop the guy from the list. His offense as Minnesota's OC in the late 90s set many of the records the Greatest Show on Earth broke. He's hired great staffs. When he lost Marvin Lewis as his DC, who did he hire? Rex Ryan. It's been four years since he coached, but he's getting paid by NFL Network to watch tape all day. I think he's got the record of success and has stayed connected enough to the game to at least merit an interview. (On the Rams' side of the argument, Billick hasn't received interest from anyone else.)
 
There is a report, I believe from Adam Schefter, that the Rams have asked Arizona for permission to interview their defensive coordinator, Ray Horton. My only reaction to this is that Todd Bowles must have turned them down for the Rooney Rule interview. I think Horton would be a TERRIBLE fit for the Rams. Think Spagnuolo, only worse. NO head coaching experience. Only ONE YEAR as a defensive coordinator. And he's a 3-4 DC, so you're taking your three most promising defensive players - Long, Laurinaitis and Quinn - and setting their development back.

One of the pluses I hope for if Fisher is hired is that he turns Quinn into the next "Freak". Another is that it strongly appears that he won't want to keep Josh McDaniels.

Interviewing Horton while never even putting Martz or Billick on your list makes little sense to me.

And sorry for my sloppy reporting; the Rams have not asked the Dolphins for permission to interview Todd Bowles, but have "expressed interest".

* GM watch.
Scratch Eric DeCosta (Baltimore) off everybody's lists. He has agreed to stay with the Ravens. (JT)  

The Rams' list at this time appears to be:
Les Snead, Falcons director of pro personnel
Brian Gaine, Dolphins DPP
Tom Telesco, Colts DPP
Ryan Grigson, Eagles DPP
Steve Keim, Big Dead DPP
and another new contender: Joey Clinkscales, Jets VP of college scouting.

* Don't let the door hit you on the way out watch.
Albert Breer reports on NFL.com that the Patriots have requested permission to interview Josh McDaniels. McDaniels has reportedly asked out of his contract with the Rams, who, not shockingly, are prepared to accommodate him. McDaniels would replace Bill O'Brien, who has taken the head coaching job at Penn State.


* Former Rams watch.
As with Chris Johnson, this has been a tragic time for former Rams linebacker Chris Draft, who recently lost his wife Keasha to lung cancer at the far too young age of 38. Chris and Keasha had gotten married a month before Keasha's passing. Belated prayers and condolences to the Draft family.

Ex-Rams signings:
Mardy Gilyard has signed with the Eagles.
The Panthers signed Roger Allen.
The Dolphins signed Jonathan Wade.
The Raiders signed Terrail Lambert.
Gentleman Chris Adams with the Vikings (practice squad signing);
Travon Bellamy with the Redskins (same deal).

* Playoff watch.
Crap, I forgot to make picks for this weekend. Here they are, likely to be worth the paper they're printed on:
- Texans 20, Bengals 17, but I am counting on a healthy Andre Johnson and a healthy Wade Phillips, and actually rooting for the Bengals.
- Saints 38, Lions 28, with the weird feeling the Lions can stay even closer.
- Falcons 24, Giants 21. I can't trust the Giants. And my coin came up Atlanta.
- Steelers 13, Broncos 9. First defensive touchdown wins.

Not certain if I'll live-blog this weekend's games. I'd like to at least do some kind of game summary.

-$-