The Rams fired coach Steve Spagnuolo and GM Billy Devaney yesterday, and a "record of 2-14 this season and 10-38 over the past three seasons explains as much as anything" why they were let go, according to Jim Thomas of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Rams Owner Stan Kroenke said he had a "lot of respect" for Spagnuolo and Devaney. However, he added, "It's a results-oriented business, let's face it." Thomas reports Kroenke "basically made his decision to dismiss Spagnuolo and Devaney on Sunday night," but he "wanted to sleep on it." Both Spagnuolo and Devaney have "one year left on their contracts." Rams VP/Player Personnel Mike Williams "will head the personnel and scouting departments on an interim basis." Rams Exec VP/Football Operations & COO Kevin Demoff said that the moves "should send a strong message to the fans concerning the organization's commitment to make things right." Demoff: "The status quo was unacceptable. ... Our fans deserve better. We have wonderful, passionate fans. We've tried to grow our fan base in the St. Louis region. We've tried to get people into the Edward Jones Dome. But we know we've got to put a winning product on the field" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/3). Demoff said the "goal will be to find people that you know when they walk into the door will immediately be able to change the culture." When asked if the Rams will hire a GM or coach first, Demoff said there is "no formula for hiring a GM before a head coach. Those things will be fluid." As for a timetable, Demoff said, "I do not have a specific date in mind. I've researched the timetables of when people have been hired over the past decade. I have an idea how it will play out. The date that I want to announce a hire is the day we find the right people to lead this franchise" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/3).
STAN'S STAND: In St. Louis, Bryan Burwell writes the moves by Kroenke are a "seismic total renovation" as he begins the "significant task of reshaping the Rams into his own very specific image." Kroenke said yesterday, "If anyone thinks I enjoy this when we don't win, they would be wrong. It's been painful." Burwell notes if you want to know what the "Kroenke Way is going to look like at Rams Park, you'd be wise to go read" Michael Holley's book "War Room: The Legacy of Bill Belichick and the Art of Building the Perfect Team." Kroenke "referenced the book repeatedly Monday afternoon." Kroenke "promises there will be no gray areas, no uncertainties about accountability, no vagueness about who is setting the overall organizational tone or the philosophy of how everything will be done around here." Kroenke: "We will have someone who is in charge of personnel, and they will be clearly in charge of personnel and they will be responsible. And hopefully they will be very bright. And they may be young or they may be seasoned, and we already have several people in mind." When Kroenke has hired both a GM and coach and "determined who is going to be in charge, the rest of the new organization had better understand that only one guy will be steering the ship and everyone else will be manning the oars" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/3).
