[RamWraith]

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/11/2006

Rams offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild.
(Chris Lee/P-D)



The Buffalo Bills have received permission from the Rams to interview offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild for the same position in Buffalo. The Bills dumped Tom Clements, their offensive coordinator for the last two seasons, on Friday.

Fairchild, 47, spent his first two seasons in the NFL coaching running backs for the Bills in 2001 and 2002. He has been Rams offensive coordinator since 2003, but did not call plays until then-ailing Mike Martz took a leave of absence in October.

Interestingly, the Arizona Cardinals recently asked for permission to speak with Rams defensive line coach Bill Kollar about their since-filled defensive line coach job, but were turned down.

Fairchild, Kollar, offensive line coach John Matsko, running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer, special teams coach Bob Ligashesky and offensive assistant Pat Carter all are believed to have at least one year left on their Rams contracts.
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In other developments:

League sources say the Rams interviewed a fifth head-coaching candidate over the weekend but at the moment his identity is unknown. The Rams have had known interviews with Tim Lewis (New York Giants), Ron Rivera (Chicago), Mike Zimmer (Dallas) and Scott Linehan (Miami).

The Rams asked permission to interview Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin for their head-coaching job, but Kiffin, 65, has informed the Buccaneers that he is staying in Tampa.

Ken Whisenhunt's interview with the Rams is on hold because the Rams wanted to interview him Tuesday, while the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to make him available at the end of this week. The Steelers are in the midst of preparations for their playoff game Sunday in Indianapolis. Whisenhunt is the Steelers' offensive coordinator.

After this week, the Rams cannot interview Whisenhunt until after the Steelers are eliminated from the playoffs.

Despite plenty of speculation to the contrary, league sources say the Rams will not interview interim head coach Joe Vitt for their head-coaching job. Vitt was in New York interviewing with the Jets on Wednesday.