Rams Fire Head Coach Scott Linehan

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

As expected/predicted, the St. Louis Rams fired head coach Scott Linehan today. Owner Chip Rosenbloom named defensive coordinator Jim Haslett the interim coach and released a statement saying coach Linehan’s firing was a very difficult decision to make:

“I have enormous respect for Scott Linehan as a person and believe under the right circumstances he will be regarded one day as a fine head coach. Unfortunately, the situation with the Rams as they exist today is no longer acceptable and we have to make a change. We do this with a heavy heart, and we thank Scott for his efforts and dedication on behalf of the Rams. By appointing the well-respected Jim Haslett as our head coach, we are making an interim move that we hope will make the Rams winners again.”

In just over two seasons as head coach of the Rams, coach Linehan posted an unimpressive 11-25 record. Yesterday’s loss to Buffalo dropped the Rams to 0-4 for the second consecutive season. There was dissension and finger pointing in the locker room — even from the leaders of this team (Torry Holt and Steven Jackson) — and once starting quarterback and team captain Marc Bulger was mysteriously benched in favor of Trent Green, I knew the end for coach Linehan was inevitable. After all, the National Football League is a business about winning. And coach Linehan wasn’t. Coach Haslett, on the other hand, will begin his second run as a head coach. He led the New Orleans Saints for six seasons, winning 45 games including the Saints first ever playoff win (ironically against the Rams) in 2000.

Source: StLouisRams.com, Photo: Newscom