X said:
RamFan503 said:
I'd say that in light of the recent audio, it just makes sense to move on. Who needs the baggage? Is Williams the only one? I think it would be naive to believe that. But he was truly arrogant in the way he went about it and the NFL rightly saw him as the poster child. Now let him fall on the sword and let's play some football.
But what if he serves his time and then gets reinstated? Is it possible that he can be a proponent for player safety after the fact? Sure, why not. Vick is now a proponent of fair treatment to dogs. If we let GW fall on the sword, then how do we excuse Loomis for not putting an end to this when GW was with New Orleans? I can't imagine Loomis and Payton not having ANY idea that this was still going on after they were told to stop. I think the arrogance went higher than Williams in that regard.
For me, this boils down to how valuable Williams was going to be to the Rams in the first place. He's had some really good defenses, and then he's had some pretty poor defenses too. If this was like Dick LeBeau or something, then I dunno - maybe I'd be trying to rally around him more. But I'm just not convinced that he was going to be the savior of our defense here. It's too "boom or bust" for me, but that's just the way I perceived the hire in the first place.
If he serves his time and IF he is reinstated, the Rams could always go back to him IF they feel he is still the best fit. I'm not saying we say never. I just don't see what value to the franchise it serves to be dragging this on. He can't coach our team. He is a pariah right now. We are trying to rebuild. Why do we want the only discussion of our team being what he is currently bringing to the table? I don't care if the guy had constant #1 defenses. He can't help us with that now and possibly ever. We need to move on and look forward. Certainly he couldn't blame the Rams for doing just that. So IF he gets reinstated and isn't the NFL's Pete Rose, we can revisit that when/IF the time comes. Maybe by then, we are showing signs of life and his input would put us over the edge.
It's kind of like bringing in a really good but troubled player - except maybe times 3. If he helps take you from just out of the playoffs to into the playoffs, maybe you take that chance and the media hit that goes with it. If he is only there to make a 2-14 team play 5-11 ball, then I say fuck him. Gotta say, I'm still a four pillars guy for the most part.
As to Loomis/Peyton - I don't think you do excuse them. Let them fall on their own swords. But within the context of your question. They equate to a rat's ass to me. The Rams are the only team I care about. I have spent about 44 years as a Rams fan - zero as an Aints fan.
Winning means a great deal to me. I loath the losing. But I also don't want to be embarrassed by the guys who make up my team whether it is players, coaches, Shaw, Ziggy, or a showgirl. I don't think we need the baggage of Williams. Time to move on.
And NO - he can't be a proponent for player safety any more than Vick is in my mind for animal treatment. The idea that someone is contrite because they got caught and will be paid millions for jerking off the dumbass public really pisses me off.
I know you weren't baiting me Paul and don't think I'm getting pissy with you. I just really want this whole thing to be a distant memory. I want my team to win and do it right.
