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9er8er

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RamEd
Isn't this just the formal announcement of what was leaked prior to the season opening 49ers debacle? The press is reveling in kicking Fish and the Rams while they are down but when you read the actual facts - what's everyone so freaked out about? Didn't we already know - or strongly suspect - that there had been an extension signed after the preseason? The only thing I think happened recently is that the Rams brass decided they couldn't sit on this any longer. The spin doctors have been waiting for a time they could slip this news out there, preferably following a couple decent performances when everyone wasn't already fit to be tied. For whatever reason it either leaked or they decided there was never going to be a "good" time and would have to just have to bite the bullet and make the formal announcement.

This announcement means ZERO. It's not a "vote of confidence" or a "reprieve". It's simply an acknowledgement of something that happened months ago. If anything I think it's a sign Fisher is in more trouble than previously thought. It's quite possible the strategy changed from trying to find a time to slip this out without angering fans to realizing there would probably have to be a change and that they needed to get it out and let the chips fall where they may. If they end up firing him, they want as much time to elapse between the announcement of the extension and the firing in order to minimize the appearance of indecision or vacillation.

I'm not surprised by the media trying to make such a story out of this, that's what they do. But I am surprised by some of the knowledgeable folks on this board that are seeing this as significant.

Nobody "knew" an extension had been signed. It was rumored and those of us concerned they'd do something so stupid hoped it would turn out to be only that, a rumor. Today it became a reality. In other words, it was confirmed the did do something so stupid. And that confirms other fears about their misaligned priorities.

I'll agree with part of this - for those like yourself who weren't pretty well convinced this ship sailed and the deal was signed back in September, then I can see where the confirmation would be more bothersome than it would to others like myself who were not at all surprised by the news. I did my "grieving" back in September. However, the fact that you had to start your comment by quoting the word "knew" from my original post while glossing over the fact that the full quote was "know - or at least strongly suspect" makes me question your motives. Are you really considering other perspectives or are you fully dug in trying to defend the narrative you believe to be true?

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9er8er
The announcement means a lot more than ZERO. In addition to the revelation that they indeed extended a coach who should have already been fired for a couple more years, the timing is likely not a mere coincidence. Most likely it was intended to quell the firestorm that's surrounded Fisher and his banning of Dickerson from the sidelines due to his criticism of the team this week. The club's way of siding with Fisher, letting it be known he wasn't going anywhere, without explicitly siding against Dickerson.

With all due respect, this makes no sense. You are saying that the team tried to "quell" the fuss with Dickerson by publicly doubling down on a coach with almost zero support among the fanbase, media, etc...??? Seems to me today's news did exactly the opposite; it was the equivalent of lobbing a giant gas can into an already raging firestorm. Did you hear some of the pre game chatter? The Rams were a laughing stock. I do not recall which crew it was or who specifically - but one of the talking heads actually began their delivery of the news with "And sorry Rams fans, but ...".

If you wanted to argue the Rams were thumbing their nose at Dickerson, the media, fans, the ghost of Georgia Frontiere etc. then I think that's at least conceivable. But if the Rams organization initiated the release of this news as an attempt to "quell" anything, then anyone involved in making that decision should be escorted to team headquarters to clean out their office the minute the plane touches down in LA. Period.

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9er8er
The media did not sit on this information until it was optimal for them to release it. I have no idea why somebody would buy that conspiracy theory. But it does make sense that the Rams sat on this information until it was necessary to leak it in order to insulate Fisher from expectations that he'd be fired.

Now you lost me completely. Is the media conspiracy angle being argued in another thread? It would be absurd to think the media could/would sit on anything in today's age. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and assume there's a side discussion about this going on and that you didn't somehow get THAT out of my post.

And we'll agree to disagree about the Rams leaking this information to "..insulate Fisher from expectations that he'd be fired." I cannot see how that makes any sense at all. What transpired today resulted in Fisher's seat being hotter than ever.

Are you familiar with Occam's Razor - the idea that when there are several explanations for an occurrence then the simplest one is usually closest to being accurate? Here's how I think this went:

Around August, the Rams make it known they are working on extensions for Snead and Fisher to avoid "lame duck" perception, a pretty standard deal in the NFL.

Near the end of the pre-season, these deals are done in principle and the Rams let this be known. Most likely the employees are thrown a bone of some form but the extension is pretty team friendly as well so that it's not significantly more difficult to part ways if the team desires.

Just before the season opener, extensions are actually signed by Fish, Snead and Brockers. Again this was leaked with news that a formal announcement was coming after the opener.

Then the MNF game happens. The Rams absolutely @#$%& down their leg in epic fashion and we are subjected to 3+ hours of that smug @#$%& Chip Kelly smirking on the sideline at just how easy it is to beat a team that is so offensively inept. In the couple days that follow, the team realizes it would be a PR nightmare to announce extensions for Fish and Snead, so we get an announcement on Brockers only. The expectation is that the Fisher/Snead news will be released after the s**tstorm blows over. Unfortunately, the team continues to be mired in controversy/underachievement/etc. so the announcement never happens.

Which brings us to today. We may never know the specifics on how this subject magically resurfaced this morning. It could be as innocent as a persistent reporter asking the right questions at the right time. Could have been leaked by one of the many people who seem to have an axe to grind with Fisher. It's even possible the FO came to a realization that it was time to come clean, although I doubt they'd have chosen 30 minutes before a game to do it so I suspect their hand was forced.

What makes no sense to me is that this was done by anyone to quell the Dickerson thing or somehow protect or insulate Fisher. I simply cannot buy that.