Mortensen: Rams Fire Linehan
by kevinramsfan on Sep 29, 2008 8:15 AM CDT
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It looks like Chip Rosenbloom made good on his word. I'm not sold on Jim Haslett being named the interim coach, although he's the best in-house option we have. You may recall after the Martz firing that Joe Vitt lead the team to some improbable victories (Jaguars) with a firey leadership style similar to that of Haslett. The defense was much improved yesterday, getting pressure and forcing bad throws (Ron Bartell played out of his mind); so did the offense, with the line getting just enough push for SJ to break a couple off. All and all, it's a step in the right direction, but I think that most of us can agree that as much of the problem lies with upper management (i.e., John Shaw, Jay Zygmunt) as it does with the day-to-day football side of things.
Ed. Note from VanRam: Nothing personal against Linehan, but this is good news for the team. There was an obvious, irreconcilable gap between players and the head coach. Haslett might be a fine interim, as he'll most likely be looking for a head coaching job somewhere relatively soon, and this gives him a 12 game audition to take a team considered by many to be the worst in the league and salvage something. I have my doubts too, but am willing to judge it all as it happens.
Yes, we still need to make changes in the front office, but it sounds like those will come after the season, per this report in the Post-Dispatch today: "After the season, changes will be made to the team's management structure." There's more of a transition process there, and I suspect they'll want to make it a peaceable separation between the management personnel that Georgia was close too, i.e. a face-saving retirement or reassignment. Zygmunt would be fine as a cap guy and cap guy only.
Anyway...we'll see what happens. I really hope this move and those that follow are a serious effort to reinvigorate this franchise, not just a quick fix.
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2 Questions:
1. How long is Haslett under contract? I can’t seem to remember if he signed a 2 or 3 year contract.
2. Think Haslett has the leverage to re-sign Fakhir Brown? Can’t imagine Zygmunt has too much power right now over the roster and we all know Haslett likes Brown a lot. Plus, as soon as I saw Hill get hurt yesterday (have no idea how severe it was) I was thinking how appropriate something like that would happen after the team released a talented and healthy corner for no apparent reason a few days before.
Also, I wonder about this quote from Bernie’s article today:
"The poor performance of Haslett’s defense was considered a drawback, and he doesn’t have a good relationship with Zygmunt. "
Really? His poor relationship with Zygmunt is a drawback?
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
a poor relationship with zygmunt might hamper him going forward
if zygmunt signs the contracts, then maybe that puts a damper on resigning a haslett favorite like fakhir brown.
as long as both are willing to go their separate ways — in opposite directions from rams park — after the season is over, no problem with me.
"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz
anyone see the press conference?
just wondering if there was anything newsworthy shared.
by stlcardinalsfang on Sep 29, 2008 12:31 PM CDT reply actions
thank god
did they re-sign fakhir too?
by stlcardinalsfang on Sep 29, 2008 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions
NO
But he did kinda imply that it wasn’t his choice.
He was asked straight up if he thought it was the right move and Haslett responded with saying something along the lines of agreeing with the head coach if the head coach felt it would make the team better.
Big surprise.
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
cool
i saw that, i was just wondering if there was official word from the team.
PFT has gotten better, but it is still rumors.
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good on chip
this was a tough decision for chip rosenbloom, made cosmetically easier by how loud the fan outcry was here in town. no one should take this kind of firing lightly, so i’m glad he and his sister took their time to make sure they were doing the right thing.
more importantly, i’m very happy that they were willing to put aside the thought that firing linehan might somehow violate the wishes of their recently departed mother. you don’t honor the dead by letting their legacy crumble into the ground. it’s his team, his decision now, he has to do the right thing by the team and those that survived her.
"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz
next move let hire Dick Vermiel as GM
Ok this is the begining of a new Rams season now, Zigmunt must be the next one to go and Mr. Shaw as well, bring it Dick Vermiel as Presindent of POP or as GM and fix this thing from the Top , Cause this is were it all started, and as far as Zigmunt goes just trow his ass out , no consideration as far as letting him stay on in any way or form, not as a cam man or as anithing , out the door with Zigmunt cut out the canser from this team and be done with it, we can bring in a cap expert to handle those things, DICK will want his own people to handle that any way . people he strusts not some one like Zigmunt that will be trying to sabotage Vermiels work so he can get his job back, no need for any of that , just give Zigmunt his traveling papers will be the best for this team
by james535 on Sep 29, 2008 7:30 PM CDT reply actions
thank you Chip Rosenbloom
good job, quick , decisive , and with out flinching an eye, i like your style Chip , now lets bring in the right man for the front office job, Dick Vermiel, that will make your mother prowd of you , she loved Dick V, and he loves this team like its his own, the perfect match for the Rams
by james535 on Sep 29, 2008 7:33 PM CDT reply actions
this right here is GOOD news
“The personnel will be decided by myself and (executive vice president/player personnel) Billy (Devaney) and then all these other cap ramifications will come down through Jay,” said Haslett in a calm and collected voice."
From Burwell’s article.
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+1
Good for him. My esteem for Haslett grows by one notch.
"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz
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