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http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/16979422/nfl-hot-season-all-eight-divisions-entering-2016#NFC W
NFC West
Josh Weinfuss, Arizona Cardinals reporter: Rams coach Jeff Fisher has to be on the hot seat, right? He's 27-36 in four seasons with the Rams. He's not even "always 8-8," as Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said after beating the Rams two seasons ago; Fisher has never reached eight wins in a season with the Rams. Since 2012, 13 of the 25 teams who have a better record than the Rams during that span have replaced their coach. But not the Rams, despite less-than-mediocre performances year in and year out. I was surprised the Rams kept Fisher when they moved to Los Angeles. Some expected a massive housecleaning. But how long will Los Angeles fans put up with 6-10 and 7-9 records? If the Rams don't have a winning season this year, I don't know how they can keep Fisher and expect to earn a piece of a very saturated, very successful sports market.
Nick Wagoner, Los Angeles Rams reporter: I'm going to go with Fisher. There was never much of a chance the Rams were going to move on from Fisher after last season, because they were planning a move to Los Angeles and viewed him as the right person to lead them through the move. It's pretty hard to justify bringing a coach back for a fifth season after four straight losing years, but the Rams are doing just that with Fisher this year. That means the heat has to be turned up in 2016. It's the fifth and final year of Fisher's contract with the Rams, and with or without a possible contract extension, the Rams are out of excuses when it comes to on-field performance. That's not to say anything short of the playoffs would mean a change, but the time to get to a winning record and tangible progress has come.
Michael Wagaman, San Francisco 49ers reporter: It might be a shock to some, but 49ers general manager Trent Baalke can't feel too comfortable about his job security. The team has gone backward in each of the past two seasons, and if things continue to go bad in 2016, owner Jed York is going to need a fall guy. Baalke's track record with player personnel has taken a bit of a hit in recent years, and his inability to make things work with former head coach Jim Harbaugh still resonates as one of the biggest mistakes of the GM's tenure. A .500 season or better would certainly ease some of the pressure, but that might be tough with the group Baalke has assembled.
Sheil Kapadia, Seattle Seahawks reporter: This should be an easy answer: Fisher. However, given the way the Rams operate, an 8-8 record in 2016 could earn him a 15-year contract extension. Since Fisher took over in 2012, the Rams have won a total of 27 games. Only six franchises have produced fewer victories during that span. Fisher's teams have failed to produce a winning record in his last six seasons as a head coach. And they've won more than eight games twice in his last 11 seasons as a head coach. The Jared Goff selection buys Fisher time, but at some point, doesn't the result with the Rams need to be something other than mediocrity?
NFC West
Josh Weinfuss, Arizona Cardinals reporter: Rams coach Jeff Fisher has to be on the hot seat, right? He's 27-36 in four seasons with the Rams. He's not even "always 8-8," as Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said after beating the Rams two seasons ago; Fisher has never reached eight wins in a season with the Rams. Since 2012, 13 of the 25 teams who have a better record than the Rams during that span have replaced their coach. But not the Rams, despite less-than-mediocre performances year in and year out. I was surprised the Rams kept Fisher when they moved to Los Angeles. Some expected a massive housecleaning. But how long will Los Angeles fans put up with 6-10 and 7-9 records? If the Rams don't have a winning season this year, I don't know how they can keep Fisher and expect to earn a piece of a very saturated, very successful sports market.
Nick Wagoner, Los Angeles Rams reporter: I'm going to go with Fisher. There was never much of a chance the Rams were going to move on from Fisher after last season, because they were planning a move to Los Angeles and viewed him as the right person to lead them through the move. It's pretty hard to justify bringing a coach back for a fifth season after four straight losing years, but the Rams are doing just that with Fisher this year. That means the heat has to be turned up in 2016. It's the fifth and final year of Fisher's contract with the Rams, and with or without a possible contract extension, the Rams are out of excuses when it comes to on-field performance. That's not to say anything short of the playoffs would mean a change, but the time to get to a winning record and tangible progress has come.
Michael Wagaman, San Francisco 49ers reporter: It might be a shock to some, but 49ers general manager Trent Baalke can't feel too comfortable about his job security. The team has gone backward in each of the past two seasons, and if things continue to go bad in 2016, owner Jed York is going to need a fall guy. Baalke's track record with player personnel has taken a bit of a hit in recent years, and his inability to make things work with former head coach Jim Harbaugh still resonates as one of the biggest mistakes of the GM's tenure. A .500 season or better would certainly ease some of the pressure, but that might be tough with the group Baalke has assembled.
Sheil Kapadia, Seattle Seahawks reporter: This should be an easy answer: Fisher. However, given the way the Rams operate, an 8-8 record in 2016 could earn him a 15-year contract extension. Since Fisher took over in 2012, the Rams have won a total of 27 games. Only six franchises have produced fewer victories during that span. Fisher's teams have failed to produce a winning record in his last six seasons as a head coach. And they've won more than eight games twice in his last 11 seasons as a head coach. The Jared Goff selection buys Fisher time, but at some point, doesn't the result with the Rams need to be something other than mediocrity?
