NFL Notebook: Last-place St. Louis fires GM and coach

NFL Notebook: Last-place St. Louis fires GM and coach

The St. Louis Rams fired coach Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney Monday, one day after they wrapped up a 2-14 season tied for the NFL's worst record.

Kevin Demoff, vice president and chief operating officer, said owner Stan Kroenke made the decision Sunday night.

Demoff expects the search for both positions to be concluded in the next few weeks and said it didn't necessarily matter which position was filled first.

Former coach Dick Vermeil and Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk will be consultants, and Demoff said Kroenke "will be heavily involved."

The Rams made a six-win improvement last season and played for the NFC West title in the finale, but were just 10-38 overall in three seasons with Spagnuolo and Devaney calling the shots.

Devaney joined the front office in 2008, but the Rams were 12-52 in his four years as GM.

Kroenke fired his coach and GM with one year remaining on their contracts, and with fan interest dwindling.

The Edward Jones Dome was little more than half-full later in the year and the team had to purchase tickets to meet requirements for a sellout in the finale.

"No one individual is to blame for this disappointing season and we all must hold ourselves accountable," Kroenke said. Colts

Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay said he hasn't decided whether to retain Jim Caldwell as head coach after Indianapolis finished 2-14 without Peyton Manning in the lineup. Irsay, however, fired vice chairman Bill Polian and general manager Chris Polian. "Shock, man, just shock," safety Antoine Bethea said after finding out the Polians were gone. "I knew there were going to be some things happening, but I didn't expect them to come so soon."

Buccaneers

Tampa Bay fired Raheem Morris after three seasons as head coach. The team announced the change one day after a 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons extended the franchise's longest losing streak within the same season since 1977 to 10 games. Morris went 17-31, including a 10-6 mark in 2010, when the Buccaneers (4-12) narrowly missed the playoffs. His entire staff of assistants was also dismissed.

Jets

If Santonio Holmes is back for another season, even though several teammates think he quit on them in Sunday's season-ending loss at Miami, don't expect to see a captain's "C" on his jersey. Holmes created a major stir Sunday after having a shouting match with offensive lineman Wayne Hunter in the huddle late in the fourth quarter. Some thought he quit on the team. "To be honest with you, this is something I think I made a huge mistake in," Coach Rex Ryan said as the Jets looked to explain a season gone so wrong. "Not just by naming Santonio a captain, but all of the captain things," Ryan explained.

Jaguars

Jacksonville, with new owner Shahid Khan taking charge Wednesday, has received permission from the Jets to interview offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and from the Falcons to interview offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for their coaching vacancy.

Bears

Chicago said an MRI taken showed Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher suffered no major structural damage to his left knee in a season-ending win at Minnesota.

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First published on January 3, 2012 at 12:00 am

Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12003/1200977-66-0.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml

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