Fisher: Coin-toss captains 'made too much sense'/PD

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RamBill

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Fisher: Coin-toss captains 'made too much sense'
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_887fe3f5-fc21-5d94-9e7d-d81445c1adc8.html

A day later, Rams coach Jeff Fisher is taking a bit of heat for sending out Stedman Bailey, Michael Brockers, Janoris Jenkins, Alec Ogletree, Zac Stacy and Greg Robinson for the coin toss Sunday against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field.

Those were the six players on the roster who were acquired over the past three seasons from picks (and spinoff trades) from the 2012 trade that brought Robert Griffin III to the Redskins.

But the coach isn’t offering any apologies.

“It made too much sense for us to go ahead and recognize the guys that probably wouldn’t be here had it not been for the trade,’’ Fisher explained at his regular Monday media session at Rams Park. “We want to do that before the game. It was a memory that will last them for a lifetime. It was a good idea. I’ve sent other people out for different reasons as well.’’

When asked about the Redskins’ response, Fisher said, “I think they’ve got more issues than the coin toss yesterday, so...’’

When asked if the gesture was a jab at Washington, Fisher said, “No, not at all. We’re not like that.’’

The Rams’ regular captains, voted on by their teammates, are linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive end Chris Long, quarterback Shaun Hill and punter Johnny Hekker.

Fisher will occasionally send out different players. For example, when the Rams hosted Tennessee last year, former Titans Jared Cook and Cortland Finnegan went out for the coin flip.

KEY STOP ON SPECIAL TEAMS

With the Rams leading 9-0 and Washington facing a fourth-and-5 from its own 33, the Redskins tried a fake punt midway through the third quarter.

But the Rams were alert enough to adjust and make the play.

“They made a little check that wasn’t the same words they were using on the previous punt,’’ special-teamer Daren Bates said. “We all alerted, we all stood up.’’

So when punter Tress Way took off, Rams rookie Trey Watts forced him to the left, where Bates made the stop at the 35.

“No way I’m gonna let a punter run for a first down,’’ Bates said. “No, you can’t have that.’’

Fisher called it “one of the biggest turning points in the game. It was a great play.’’

Way, the Redskins punter, told the Washington Post, “Their guy played it perfectly. If he would have ran that up-and-under, we had daylight all across the outside.’’

Following a Rams penalty, Bailey took a short pass from Hill 36 yards to the Washington 1. On the next play, Hill ran a play-action fake and found Cook alone at the back of the end zone for the touchdown, and a two-point pass from Hekker to Cory Harkey stretched the lead to 17-0.

INJURY REPORT

Because the teams didn’t actually practice Monday, the injury report is basically an estimate of the likely practice participants.

From the Rams, center Scott Wells (elbow), guard Rodger Saffold (shoulder), defensive end Chris Long (ankle), defensive tackle Alex Carrington (thigh), linebacker James Laurinaitis (ankle), linebacker Will Herring (foot) and receiver Kenny Britt (not injury related) were listed as did not practice. Tight end Cory Harkey (knee) was listed as limited.

Arizona safety Tyrann Mathieu has already been ruled out with a thumb injury. The Cardinals listed cornerback Antonio Cromartie (ankle) and guard Paul Fanaika (ankle) as not practicing. Listed as limited were wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (knee), linebacker Lorenzo Alexander (knee), linebacker Larry Foote (foot), linebacker Matt Shaughnessy (shoulder), quarterback Drew Stanton (ankle, knee), defensive end Ed Stinson (toe) and tackle Jared Veldheer (ankle).

DEFENSIVE NUMBERS

According to unofficial press box stats, cornerback Trumaine Johnson led the Rams with eight overall tackles Sunday against the Redskins. He also paced the squad with six solo stops. Other top tacklers were linebackers Alec Ogletree (seven tackles) and Laurinaitis (six) and defensive end Robert Quinn (five).

The Rams were all over Washington quarterbacks Colt McCoy and Griffin, posting seven sacks. Laurinaitis and Quinn were credited with 1½ each, and William Hayes, Mark Barron, Aaron Donald and Eugene Sims chipped in with one each. Hayes also had two tackles for loss.

Safeties Rodney McLeod and T.J. McDonald had interceptions.

Bates paced the Rams’ special teams with a pair of tackles. Also making stops on special teams were McLeod, Watts, Reynolds and Eureka High product Maurice Alexander.

RAM-BLINGS

The Rams will have a moment of silence in honor of late Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell before Thursday night’s game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Edward Jones Dome. Burwell, 59, died of cancer last Thursday.

• A week after five Rams took a “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot’’ posture in pregame warmups, the words “I Can’t Breathe’’ were seen on the cleats of guard Davin Joseph during pregame and on the wrist tape of tight end Jared Cook. Receiver Kenny Britt has several names, including Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin, on his cleats. All are African-American men whose deaths have led to protests.

Similar displays of support have been seen throughout professional sports.

Fisher said he wasn’t aware of the players’ actions Sunday. “Again, it goes back to what we talked about last week — their right to free speech,’’ the coach said.

• Former University of Illinois linebacker Jonathan Brown has been signed to the Chicago Bears’ practice squad. Meanwhile, ex-Mizzou defensive tackle Dominque Hamilton, formerly of the New York Giants, has cleared waivers.
 

jjab360

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Iirc, Fisher has sent players who we signed from other teams out for the coin toss when going against their former teams before. Not really disrespect, but more recognition of where you come from. I don't see the big deal, tbh.