Chip says money not a factor in Rams' coaching search

[general counsel]

In the context of sale of businesses, its frequently different than an asset like a house. Business owners often cut expenses to the bone because people buying businesses dont like to be saddled with large financial obligations of prior owners. They like to hire their own people and dont like the severance obligations.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[moloch41]

Since when has money NOT become a factor in anything the Rams do?

[Mooselini]

Well he is saying the right thing to an extent. Of course, the right candidate has to come for the right price. If he is TOO high priced then we will have to pass. It's common sense. We do that to players, why not coaches?

I'm not sure about you guys, but I trust them.

[Guam rammer]

He'll look like a total ass if he's lying. Money's not an issue? Heck, forget about Cowher and Shanahan, lets get Parcells. He's proven everywhere. I'd like to be in the Dolphins situation from worst to first anyday.

[eldfan]

Owner says money not a factor in Rams' coaching search
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/02/2009


(Rosenbloom said it’s possible the team could trade down this year from the No. 2 spot, but only if Devaney thought extra picks were the best way to improve the team.)

"

Hum ................. I wounder if this is a real possiabilty?

[CaliGirlRamsFan]

Is Chip lying about the 30 mill to upgrade the dome also? Just a thought.

[BrokenWing]

I've come to the conclusion that some people simply refuse to believe anything he says, some of them with very little evidence to back up their claims. It's just as if the Rams have had bad ownership for so long they won't even give Chip a chance. Unfortunate.

[Goldenfleece]

In the context of sale of businesses, its frequently different than an asset like a house. Business owners often cut expenses to the bone because people buying businesses dont like to be saddled with large financial obligations of prior owners. They like to hire their own people and dont like the severance obligations.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

I get what you're saying, but if Chip doesn't actually have a buyer yet, that means any potential future owner is going to be saddled with the new coaching staff's contracts anyway. I'd reckon that to some degree he is being sincere about wanting a coach who can re-connect with the fan base because right now the franchise isn't in a very appealing situation for anyone to take over.

The financial obligation involved isn't so huge; the four new head coaches last off-season signed 3 to 4 year deals, and unlike corporate executives, coaches don't get enormous severance packages. If I had the kind of money to buy a $750 million sports team with annual revenues of $175 million (link), I think I'd rather take over a team that was paying its head coach an extra $2 million/year but regularly selling out tickets, generating better sales on merchandise, making it into the prime time t.v. match-ups, etc. If he thinks one of the coaches available can do that with this team, I'd think the value added and national exposure would outweigh the financial burden.

[Tony Soprano]

I have personal knowledge that the Rams are for sale. I am not going to say how or from who, but trust me, they are marketing the team. Its virtually impossible to get a deal done in this environment given the credit markets, but they need to sell the team for tax reasons. Chip DOES NOT have the cash to pay the taxes on Georgia's estate without leveraging all sorts of illiquid real estate which itself is highly suspect in this environment.

That personal knowledge makes me highly suspect of everything else the guy says. If money isnt the issue, why arent the rams talking to spags? same point as the earlier poster made (which was a great one) as to why the rams arent in there on cowher, shanahan, marty. The hiring of linehan was below market rate for the top guys. I dont think it proves we were prepared to spend money. The hirings of haslett and saunders do make a nice counter point as we did spend money on those guys for all the good it did.

Lets see what happens with OJ and Bartell. If we dont sign those two, cheaping out because they are trying to sell the business is the only explanation i can think of as we are not cap squeezed and these are two quality young players that are both improving.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

I Believe General Counsel.

I can't even come up with a reason other than super cheap to consider
Ray Charmin and Winston (6 Wins) Moss. Red Flags go up when those
names are mentioned. I can only suspend reality to a certain degree.



.

[Tony Soprano]

.
Why is Shaw involved with anything in the Ram's Org?


These names are so far-fetched - it almost looks like sabotage.

[general counsel]

Shaw is only involved so he can represent the rams with the nfl, something that he has been doing for 30 years. His experience is valuable to the league in its negotiations with the union and its my understanding that the league wants him involved.

As to cutting costs on businesses, its done in advance of finding a buyer. Keeping costs down is what makes a business look more profitable in the short run because assuming the same or higher revenues (in large part due to the nfl tv contract), lower expenses mean higher EBITDA and businesses trade off multiples of EBITDA. This strategy can of course be harmful in the long run to any business.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[PeoriaRam]

Shaw is only involved so he can represent the rams with the nfl, something that he has been doing for 30 years. His experience is valuable to the league in its negotiations with the union and its my understanding that the league wants him involved.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

If that's the case, why can't he take a job with New England or Indy for the duration? In other words, a team with a much larger margin for error than our own.

[tonyray05]

Yep this is looking like the show Flip this House LOL

[moloch41]

Yep this is looking like the show Flip this House LOL

They can call it "Chip This Team" instead of Flip this House.

[Truth]

Like I've said before, I think that this team will have a hard time attracting a "Big Name. Not because we won't pay (still in question), but because our organization's FO has a very bad reputation in the league. We can only hope that Devaney will help resolve some of that. However, I have heard from some reliable sorces as well, that the Rams are indeed being marketed (heavily I might ad). Coaches have better connections than any of us could hope to have. So, if some of us have this much info, imagine what a perspective coach might have. Until this team's future is settled, it will be very difficult (not impossible) to attract a big name coach. That doesn't mean that there aren't some excellent people out there to take the job. But it does shed some light on why Haslett seems so confident he will be there next season. All that being said, it might behoove Chip and the rest of the FO to consider how much more a winning team is worth than team that has had the #2 pick in the draft, 2 years in a row. Carroll must be spinning in his grave.