Rams will allow Bills to interview Fairchild

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.

I'm suprised at this... Maybe the Rams are already agreed in principle to hiring Rivera? And that Rivera has already commented about wanting Norv Turner as the OC? Is this possible?

It's interesting in that it probably means that the candidates interviewed and the FO are not committed to keeping the Martz Offensive scheme in place.

Maybe its because he's not a good OC.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chiguy

Maybe its because he's not a good OC.

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Too obvious, and it won't string this thread out now will it?:)

Do you think the Bills are dumb enough to believe that they have to give us compensation for Fairchild?

Okay, we'll take London Fletcher and Nate Clements!

They can have Fairchild. The guys was clueless. Let's see we have a back-up QB, or a rookie QB, questionable offensive line, for the most part our starting WR are not full speed, and a big strong running back, lets through the ball 150 times a game. Sounds like a winning offensive game plan to me.


Fairchild is a bone head. We shoulds pay part of his salary to get the Bills to take him!!!
:clanram:

Well if he goes up north ... and we play them we will know what to exspect ?????? Good Info "RW" Should you rename yourself the "Scoop Man" LOLthe guy in the know and does his home work ... you really do a good job keeping every body in the know here ... A long with a few others but you really do a great job at it

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fat Pang

Too obvious, and it won't string this thread out now will it?:)

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I'm a truth-teller. What can I say?

All i can say is GOOD!

Let's give Deacon Jones a shot!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RamsFan16

And that Rivera has already commented about wanting Norv Turner as the OC? Is this possible?

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Please pass.....say no to Norv Turner.

turner is a pretty good offensive coordinator

Well, outsides looking in would think that since our offense is very prolific, they would go after our OC. Seems logical, but not true in this case. :tongue: