On Friday, Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was exposed for his role in a "pay for performance" program that was operational during his three-year span with the New Orleans Saints, and possibly during his time with the Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills as well.
The program offered incentives to players who made big plays, such as fumbles and interceptions, but it also rewarded players who injured members of opposing teams.
The NFL security department claimed in their investigation that players were rewarded $1,000 for forcing an opponent to be carted off the field and $1,500 for knocking them out of the game. Although, the payments increased during playoff games.
Some former players have come to Williams' defense.
"It's ridiculous that someone is trying to say that we made bounties on knocking guys out, when basically all it was is that when a guy gets an interception, then he might get paid. That's something that guys do amongst themselves."
That was a quote from former Saints safety Darren Sharper from an interview with NFL.com. Sharper player under Williams in New Orleans from 2009 to 2010 and is currently retired.
Another former safety, Matt Bowen, who player under Williams with the Washington Redskins in 2004 and 2005, also discussed the situation.
"Price tags started low during the regular season — a couple hundred bucks for going after the quarterback hard or taking a running back out below the knees. Chop him down and give a quick smile when you got back to the huddle. You just got a bonus."
Bowen was also supportive of Williams by claiming the allegations are not unusual and should be expected.
"Bounties, cheap shots, whatever you want to call them, they are a part of this game. It is an ugly tradition that was exposed Friday with Williams front and center from his time coaching the defense in New Orleans. But don't peg this on him alone. You will find it in plenty of NFL cities."
Regardless of the support, Williams realizes that he was in the wrong, as is evident from the apology he issued:
"It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it... Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again."
But whether or not he's apologetic, the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell have made safety a top priority over the years, which leaves little empathy for Williams' actions.
The general consensus suggests that a hefty fine is in his future, as well as a possible suspension.
An anonymous source from the NFL has suggested that the league is considering lengthy suspensions for not only Williams, but also Saints head coach Sean Payton and Saints general manager Mickey Loomis.
However, our speculation should be put to rest shortly.
According to NFL.com, the league's security department has requested the presence of Williams in New York on Monday to discuss the situation and possibly determine his fate, although the purpose of the meeting has not been determined.
In the end, Williams will ultimately be hit hard by the league, whether in the form of a fine, a suspension or both.
However, while his future with the St. Louis Rams is still murky, it's likely that he'll resume his role as the team's defensive coordinator at some point.
Between Rams head coach Jeff Fisher (a close friend of Williams) and owner Stan Kroenke, there's surely enough influence to retain the shamed coordinator.
But whether or not he's wanted back...that's another question.
The "Greatest Show On Turf" era ended abruptly after the controversial departure of Kurt Warner, and the Rams have become well-acquainted with losing ever since.
But not too long ago, Warner and Dick Vermeil shared a podium together in celebration as they proudly hoisted the Lombardi Trophy high in the air for all to see.
During those years, the offense was a force to be reckoned with. The current Rams, on the other hand, celebrate if they can just get the ball to midfield.
However, while it's difficult to dispute the current team's incompetence, there's hope that the franchise is in the midst of a renaissance.
In fact, if you care enough to notice, you'll see the telltale signs of a full-blown revolution in motion:
- Stan Kroenke makes a move to purchase the team in Spring of 2010.
- Rams draft quarterback Sam Bradford with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft. He is expected to be the new face of the franchise.
- Kroenke hires veteran head coach Jeff Fisher to replace Steve Spagnuolo.
- The team currently owns the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. The pick is expected to bring in a king's ransom.
With a wealthy owner, a veteran coach and a potential franchise passer, a winning season could be within reach if the front office can just execute intelligent decisions in the upcoming months.
In addition, with competent drafting, solid free agency signings and a little luck from the injury bug, the Rams will possibly be competing for a division title sooner than we all expect.
However, even though respectable leadership is now in place, a minority of fans are humoring a few of the oddball rumors that have been formulated by the media, which means they didn't get the memo that this team is now on the straight and narrow.
So in an attempt to spare us all from a long offseason loaded with ridiculous hearsay and unsupported rumors, let's get this straightened out immediately...
1. The Rams Are Not Drafting A Quarterback
It's true. They're not going to draft a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick. Robert Griffin III has absolutely no shot at entering training camp with the team.
He might be a member of the team for about five minutes until the final details of the trade are worked out. Then he's off to begin his career in either Cleveland or Washington. Maybe Miami.
For starters, you don't use No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks on two different quarterbacks in just a three-year span. The very thought is completely absurd.
Secondly, only a fool would give up on a prospect like Bradford after one down year. I suppose Tampa Bay is about to throw in the towel with Josh Freeman after one tough season as well?
Maybe Bradford will live up to his draft status, but then again, maybe he won't. But what we do know with complete certainty is that he'll get a competition-free shot at redemption in 2012.
2. The Elderly Headcases Are Not A Fit
There has been talk about both Randy Moss and Terrell Owens returning to the NFL in 2012. To add even more fun to the mix, Albert Haynesworth was cut by Tampa Bay.
But let's not pretend that any of these three players are viable options for the Rams.
True, Haynesworth played some very good football under Fisher in Tennessee. On the other hand, he's a borderline sociopath.
Moss and Owens would almost be worth the risk... if it was five years ago.
Moss didn't "retire" from the NFL—he wasn't wanted in the NFL. And while Owens at least has the knee injury excuse, he's also at a point where his talent does not exceed the headaches.
So instead of giving one of these guys a shot at a sequel (likely more pathetic than Rocky V), the Rams need to diligently scan their draft board and find the next big play receiver, or perhaps the next run-stuffing defensive tackle.
Finding the next great player sounds a lot more appealing than trying to milk one last ounce of talent out of a has-been who has nothing left to offer.
3. We Don't Know If the Rams Are Moving
We don't. No one can possibly claim to have insider knowledge on the motives of Kroenke, so it's pointless to speculate.
What we do know, however, is that the negotiations between the Rams and the Edward Jones Dome are not unusual. The lease is nearing an end, so the negotiations were bound to happen regardless of whether or not Los Angeles is looking for a team.
Also, no team is going to move until there's a brand new stadium in Los Angeles with a giant red ribbon placed on top. And as far as we know, there has not been a single nail hammered in, or even one scoop of dirt shoveled up.
What we have here is a classic Scarface "Show me the stuff, and I'll show you the money!" showdown. Right now, Los Angeles doesn't have the "stuff," which isn't going to cut it. Just ask Tony's friend Angel.
Conclusion
After nearly a decade of laughable management, it's fair to say that poor decisions are not just expected out of the Rams' organization, they're assumed.
Throwing first-round draft picks at Alex Barron, Tye Hill and Adam Carriker is a good way to brain wash the fanbase into thinking that the team is destined to make poor decisions.
Perhaps that's the reason why the media links the Rams with some of the most far-fetched scenarios out there.
In 2010, the Rams were rumored to be interested in both Moss and Owens, which has been a recurring theme this year.
Now, there's speculation that St. Louis is a candidate in the non-existent Albert Haynesworth sweepstakes. And while we're at it, why don't we make the Rams the very first NFL team based in Europe?
Sure, the team has had terrible drafts in recent years, but they generally do not pursue bone-headed distractions. So why the sudden assumption that the Rams are involved in every ridiculous possibility?
The answer: They're losers.
It's true. But not to worry, because after several years of proper drafting and inspiring leadership, the team will soon be embraced as a true franchise.
Get ready St. Louis... no longer will the Rams be linked to every Area 51-worthy rumor. With this current regime, it's about time we finally win our respect back.
The Beatles. Winston Churchill. The Sex Pistols. Elizabeth Hurley. Big Ben. Jack the Ripper. Parliament. Fish and chips. The St. Louis Rams?
England has had their taste of American football from the games that have been hosted in London since 2007 and also the failed NFL Europe experiment, as well as the nine games played in England from the late 80s to the 90s.
But no matter how clear it is that Europeans generally hate American football, it doesn't stop commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL from trying to shove it down their throats.
As most Rams fans know by now, the Rams are set to play in the NFL's annual London game not only next season, but for the next three seasons.
This, of course, comes at the cost of screwing season-ticket holders out of one of their games every year, which makes this whole ordeal a very bold public relations move considering the franchise has won only 15 games over the last five years.
If it weren't for the hiring of head coach Jeff Fisher, it would almost seem as though the Rams organization is going to great lengths to raise a middle-finger towards a St. Louis fanbase that has provided a reasonable amount of support despite a consistently poor product.
The Rams are frequently mentioned as a possible candidate to move to Los Angeles, but rather than shutting down the rumors, the Rams' billionaire owner Stan Kroenke would rather use the rumors as a tool to leverage a recession-stricken city into meeting his demands.
The Convention and Visitors Commission (CVC), the group that manages the Edward Jones Dome, is currently doing battle with Kroenke in an attempt to hammer out a new agreement that will keep the Rams in St. Louis before the lease expires after the 2014 season.
After 2014, if no agreement is made, then the Rams' lease will be on a year-to-year basis and the team will be free to leave St. Louis at anytime. (More on the stadium issues can be found here)
Perhaps, Kroenke is using London as a tool in order to show the committee that the Rams can survive outside of St. Louis and that they indeed have other options.
Or maybe, just maybe, the city of St. Louis is overly paranoid after losing the football Cardinals and they are panicked over something that could actually benefit the franchise in the long-run.
Well, Kevin Demoff (Vice President of Football Operations) certainly seems to think so. Here are some quotes from Demoff from his live chat with fans on Friday from NFL.com:
I realize people think I'm being disingenuous when I say this is a good thing for St. Louis, but here is why I think that: 1. The league is placing its faith in the St. Louis Rams and now has a vested interest in our success. That means potentially a better schedule, a possible primetime game, things like that. 2. This is a unique opportunity to showcase St. Louis globally and especially in the UK. For multinational businesses like AB, Monsanto, Enterprise, Emerson, Purina, etc, this provides a platform that combines their local roots with international reach. 3. The bigger we can make our brand nationally and globally, the bigger it makes our "effective market size". If you look at Buffalo playing yearly in Toronto, they are applying the same concept to grow their fan base while still being a regional and local team.
Growing our fan base globally allows for revenue streams beyond St. Louis that reduce the pressure on St. Louis to deliver those revenue streams. Additionally, the larger the global brand, the more the TV networks and advertisers see our Club as one they want to work with and the better that is for our visibility.
So, the paranoid claim that this a possible sign of the Rams moving to England, when in reality these games can potentially support St. Louis' ultimate goal—to keep their football team from moving.
In Conclusion
While this is surely hard for season-ticket holders to swallow at first, there is some truth in Demoff's words when discussing the positives of the situation.
For a while now, the bad news Rams have lived under the shadow of their overachieving brother at Busch Stadium. The Rams franchise has struggled to increase it's overall status to an elite level.
There are two ways to achieve the national recognition that the St. Louis Cardinals have:
One way is to win hundreds of games and multiple championships over a period of several decades. However, the Rams are really bad at winning games and it's doubtful that the average fan has the patience to wait 20 years before the team gains national respect.
The alternative, however, is to build the team's image through smart marketing techniques, such as introducing the brand on an international stage, or by shoving the team into the faces of America by occupying high-profile games, such as the annual game in London.
The Detroit Lions have played the Thanksgiving game since the beginning of time. Once a year, people are talking about the Detroit Lions all across the nation. They may be talking about how they don't deserve the Thanksgiving game, but the team is being discussed nonetheless.
So why should you, as a St. Louis Rams fan, care whether or not the team has national recognition?
Well, because elite franchises are closely tied to their cities, which makes it highly unlikely that the team will relocate. Ever.
Prior to the season, if you said that Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo could be on the hot seat four games into the 2011 season, you would be called crazy.
Last season the Rams bounced back from a terrible 1-15 2009 season. They finished with a 7-9 record and missed the playoffs by one game and rookie quarterback Sam Bradford was the offensive Rookie of the Year. Also, the defense was ranked 12th in points allowed per game.
But given the current state of the team, will Spagnuolo's job be threatened with a loss against theWashington Redskins this coming Sunday?
Logic says that Spagnuolo is safe, even if the Rams lose Sunday and fall to an 0-4 record.
The Rams are still very much in the hunt for the NFC West title, with a much lighter second half of the season. Even if they lose Sunday, there is still time to cover ground in their embarrassingly weak division.
The Rams enter their Bye Week after this Sunday. Then they enter a grueling three-game stretch against the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints.
However, they'll see some light at the end of the tunnel with two games against each of their woeful division opponents, as well as the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals. They also finish the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are the only clear playoff team on the second half of the Rams schedule.
But winning football games is not like riding a bicycle. If the Rams enter their Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals with six or even seven losses, can anyone really expect the demoralized team to just flip on a switch and win games?
It might take the Rams some time to find a groove during the second half of the season, which could result in a very disappointing outcome when considering the city of St. Louis was fully anticipating a division title.
You can blame it on the schedule or injuries, but truthfully a fanbase that has witnessed their team win only 13 games in the previous four seasons combined is not going to be very forgiving when it comes to excuses, especially considering the hype that surrounded the team entering the season.
The fans may call for blood.
And honestly it might not even take until the end of the season.
With a team that is showing very little emotion at the moment, and with three very tough losses to start the season, can owner Stan Kroenke stomach three or four more consecutive losses that are just as troublesome?
If the downward spiral continues, the Rams could perhaps turn to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel to finish the season as the interim head coach, given his coaching experience in Denver, and the team would likely find a new coach in the offseason.
It's not as if it's too soon to pull the trigger, at least not by the standards of other teams.
Jim Mora, Mike Singletary, Tom Cable and Eric Mangini were all fired by their respective teams. They were all hired in 2009, the same year Spagnuolo was hired by St. Louis.
But the best thing the Rams can do as a franchise is get back on track and win football games.
Continuity wins in the NFL, so bringing in a new coaching staff will only set the franchise back even further.
Not to mention, if the Rams clean house, Sam Bradford would be forced to learn his third different system in as many years, which is not good for a young quarterback, unless the team is fine with him turning into another Alex Smith.
So if the Rams want to avoid disaster and several more years of setbacks, the team needs to figure out how to win—and soon.
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