Gregg Williams’ suspension – St. Louis Rams’ head coach, Jeff Fisher, ready to move on – NFL News
St. Louis Rams’ head coach, Jeff Fisher, who played a major role in bringing defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, to the franchise, has said that he is ready to move on after Williams’ suspension and that the management is not planning on bringing any
immediate replacement.
The National Football League (NFL) suspended Williams indefinitely on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 for a bounty programme he initiated during his association with New Orleans Saints.
He used to entice the players by offering monetary rewards if they knock the opponents out. After spending three years at New Orleans, Williams joined Rams this year.
Earlier this month, an NFL investigation revealed the malpractice and Williams was brought in the line of fire immediately.
It was more or less expected that the league would award a serious penalty and Rams, too, were preparing to deal with it.
While announcing Rams’ support and respect for the league’s decision, Fisher said:
“First and foremost, our organisation, Mr. Kroenke and the entire organisation supports and respects the decision the commissioner has made. It was a very difficult decision but there were some things that took place that warranted a decision like this.”
Fisher is one of Williams’ best friends and it was on his recommendation that the Rams appointed Williams as their defensive coordinator.
Fisher acknowledged that he has close ties with Williams, but asserted that he was unaware of the bounty programme Williams was operating. He also said that the management would not have appointed Williams if it had known about this illegal activity.
He remarked:
“I have often been asked behind the scenes ‘Had you known about it, would you have hired him?’ Of course not, you don’t go out and hire somebody that is going to potentially be suspended for an entire year.”
Williams will not be able to continue his association with Rams now and the management is not planning on bringing an immediate replacement.
Fisher informed that the team will rely on the existing coaching staff, which includes Fisher himself along with assistant head coach, Dave McGinnis, and secondary coach, Chuck Cecil.
Meanwhile, Fisher has also hoped for Williams to get reinstated soon after learning from the mistake.
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