Bernie Bytes: Rams' curious GM search ..

[MauiRam]

BY BERNIE MIKLASZ,
Thursday, February 9, 2012 12:05 pm


1. The Rams' GM search is taking some time, but I suppose that's to be expected considering that (A) Jeff Fisher wasn't hired until mid-January and has been busy putting a staff together, and (B) it makes sense to be thorough in identifying the best candidates.

The newest candidate (as far as we know) to draw the Rams' interest is Pittsburgh Steelers executive Omar Khan. This is an interesting candidate for a few reasons. First of all, Khan is known as a salary-cap specialist and business-side expert. He's not a football guy. That role currently is being filled by Rams' VP Kevin Demoff. So the Rams' interest in Khan could signify a change in jobs for Demoff; perhaps he is in line to have expanded authority under owner Stan Kroenke. Demoff is also the Rams' point man on lease negotiations with the CVC, and that will keep him busy.

Khan is close to former Steelers coach Bill Cowher and NFL insiders have believed that Khan is waiting for Cowher to return to coaching and wouldn't move unless it's to work for Cowher. But Cowher doesn't appear to be in a rush to leave the TV studio, so perhaps Khan is in the mood to explore other options.

According to media reports in Pittsburgh and the Turf Show Times, the Steelers aren't obligated to grant permission to talk to Khan unless the interested team gives him control over roster decisions. I guess anything is possible, but I'd be surprised to see Fisher defer on all roster calls. He didn't come to STL to have his fate placed in someone else's hands.

I also wonder whether this is an issue in the team's GM search. Are some of the candidates shying away from the Rams because they sense that Fisher will have final say, and that the GM chair doesn't come equipped with any real authority? This isn't a shot at Fisher; after all, Kroenke went all-in on him financially and brought the coach in here to be the lead football man. That said, we have been through this before, watching a coach trying to do too much in the overall running of the football operation and frankly, I don't want to see the Rams go there again. Fisher says he doesn't want to be that guy, that coaching is his priority. We'll see how this plays out.

2. Should the Rams pursue Vincent Jackson if the San Diego WR is available through free agency? Answer: yes. The Rams don't have a proven deep threat. They don't have a reliable WR of size that can give the offense a different dimension. They don't have a WR that can outmuscle and outrun defenders. They have nothing like V. Jackson. He's 6-5 and 230 pounds and has averaged 17.5 yards per catch during his career. He's caught 37 TD passes in 92 games. Last season only seven wideouts had more catches of 25+ yards than Jackson. What's that? You say he was nailed on multiple DUI arrests in San Diego? True. That would be a reason to hesitate. But Fisher isn't much interested in holding all 53 roster spots for angels. The Four Pillars are out. Fisher will take a gamble on players that are considered character risks. Get over it. It's a whole new world at Rams Park.

[mh-i]

Are some of the candidates shying away from the Rams because they sense that Fisher will have final say, and that the GM chair doesn't come equipped with any real authority? This isn't a shot at Fisher; after all, Kroenke went all-in on him financially and brought the coach in here to be the lead football man. [/B]

Seems to me that's the case.

[laram0]

Down go the 4 pillars!!!!!!!!