Bonsignore: Despite contract extension, Rams, Jeff Fisher are likely headed for divorce
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-737386-fisher-year.html
FOXBOUROUGH, Mass. – As far as renewing wedding vows go, this is about as apprehensive as it gets.
Forget about about reserving a chapel and reception hall. The Rams and Jeff Fisher might as well go straight to divorce court.
That is, unless you believe the two-year contract extension Fisher and the Rams finally made public on Sunday actually means he’ll be on their sideline next season.
It doesn’t.
Barring a major turnaround the rest of the season – not to mention turning a deaf ear to irate Rams fan and all perspective, logic and common sense – Fisher will collect one more year of pay to essentially go away.
The financial gesture represents the Rams appreciation for his work in getting them from St. Louis to Los Angeles and the difficulties he endured during the two-year process of breaking up with St. Louis and beginning a new life in Southern California.
The push out the door reflects the corner Fisher backed his bosses into with another season of mediocrity, offensive struggles, excuses and lingering problems that went unfixed.
It’s a contract extension that feels more and more like an exit package.
Even Fisher hinted at the tenuous nature.
“I’m expecting to be the coach of this franchise,” he said.
But then added, practically.
“However I really understand the wins and losses fall on my shoulders. That’s the fact of our business and I get that.”
He’s got four weeks to change that narrative, although if the Rams are wise they’ll cut their losses and move on.
The fan base is angry, and with PSL payments coming at some point, there’s no sense in upsetting the paying customers by holding onto a coach they’ve lost all confidence in.
The Rams wanted the relationship with their coach to work. And still do.
But what choice do they really have considering the fifth straight losing season he’s about to deliver?
That was assured on Sunday when the New England Patriots dismantled the Rams, 26-10, in a methodical, clinical beatdown that highlighted all the Patriots strengths and exposed all the Rams weaknesses.
The loss dropped the Rams to 4-8, and with the Falcons, Seahawks and Cardinals still on the schedule chances are they’ll finish below .500.
Again.
You’d be hard-pressed to find any coach on any level get a sixth year after five straight years of mediocrity. For the Rams to even entertain such an idea is almost an affront to the intellect.
Most likely, they’ll part ways with Fisher at the end of this season and start fresh with a new head coach and vision and culture. Preferably someone with a track record turning offenses around and developing young quarterbacks.
As it should be.
Which begs a very valid question: What’s the point of even extending Fisher?
And why now, of all moments, to put it out there?
This is where it gets a little complicated.
Whether you agree or disagree, the Rams felt a debt of gratitude to Fisher for holding the team together the last 24 months on the way to Los Angeles. It was an arduous process in which Fisher and his staff and players moved like nomads from Earth City, Missouri to Oxnard to Irvine to Thousand Oaks.
“We had a lot of stuff going on this offseason,” Fisher said. “A lot of stuff going on.”
That, coupled with reworking the depleted roster he inherited in 2012 along with General Manager Les Snead was the impetus to extend both Fisher and Snead’s contract.
Not the greatest rational for walking down the aisle again, but the Rams were hopeful a step in the right direction this season would justify their loyalty.
So they went to a knee during the offseason, took Fisher’s hand and asked: “So, um, how about it?”
Almost before Fisher could blurt out yes – but not before he officially signed the contract, which he confirmed he’s done – the Rams were stuttering and stammering about needing more time to think about things.
But even they know you don’t pop the question if you aren’t willing to accept the answer.
The yes stood, even as the weeks went by and the losses piled up and the offense took major steps backward.
As did the agreement, which the Rams tried to keep under wraps trying to figure out the right time to announce it.
Fisher just rolled with it.
“It’s not my place to make that announcement,” he said.
That window never opened, not with another season under Fisher going sideways and Rams fans growing more and more anxious about him coming back for a new round of 7-9 seasons.
That it came out the way it did early Sunday morning via sources and leaked information tells you all you really know about what the Rams think about the whole thing.
Even Fisher feigned innocence, although the smart money is on someone from his camp getting word out.
“I don’t know where it came from or the timing,” he insisted, “It just ended up coming out today.”
As for the Rams, they barely acknowledged the report and didn’t even bother to put out a press release.
Not exactly a happy couple, right?
As quickly as the news broke, word was discreetly sent indicating the two-year deal essentially amounts to just a one-year contract as the Rams own the option on 2018.
They can easily walk away from Fisher after this year and just owe him for 2017.
Which means he’s got a four-week window to win their hearts back.
Based on their play the last two weeks, that seems highly unlikely.
Forget a wedding chapel.
Divorce court seems more likely.
Contact the writer: vbonsignore@scng.com
