Rams' GM search drags on
The St. Louis' Rams search for a new general manager has been growing all week, but now, it appears as if the field has shrunk significantly.
According to a report at NFL.com, the team is down to "two or three" finalists for the job, all of whom are due to meet with team owner Stan Kroenke in the coming days. The team hopes to have someone hired by next week.
The team has been without a general manager since Billy Devaney was fired on January 2, along with head coach Steve Spagnuolo. The team was quick to hire a new head coach, introducing former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher on January 13, but have searched extensively for their new general manager.
Earlier this week, 49ers director of player personnel Tom Gamble became the ninth candidate to interview for the job, and the team requested permission on Thursday to interview Steelers director of business administration Omar Khan, according to reports.
Now, however, the Rams seem to be in the home stretch, and while it's unclear which of the Rams' 10 candidates are in the final group, Vikings director of player personnel George Paton is the only man in the mix who's interviewed twice. Paton had his second meeting with the team earlier this week.
--It didn't take long for Dave McGinnis to say yes to Jeff Fisher. McGinnis, who coached with Fisher in Tennessee will be an assistant head coach in the truest sense of the title.
"I'm going to be helping in all aspects of the team," McGinnis said. "I'm going to be assisting Jeff, and both coordinators, and the special teams coordinator in a lot of various capacities. ... It's a role that I filled last year there in Nashville for Mike Munchak, and I'm really looking forward to it."
As for how long it took to accept a job when Fisher called, McGinnis said, "Once Jeff got this job and called me, it was instantaneous. I mean, if Jeff wanted me to be with him, I wanted to be with him. He's a guy that is so spot-on with what he's doing in all aspects of it. He just gets it, on every level in this league.
"He's got a confidence about him that is very, very evident when you're around him. He's extremely comfortable in his own skin. He knows what he wants to do. That confidence goes to the players; it goes throughout the building. You know you're going to have a chance week in and week out to get it done on Sunday."
--The quest to hire a new general manager continued when the Rams interviewed Omar Khan, Pittsburgh's director of business and administration. Khan has handled the Steelers' salary cap and contract negotiations, and is believed to be the first candidate that doesn't have a background in personnel evaluation.
He is the 10th known person to have spoken with the Rams. The latest have been San Francisco director of player personnel Tom Gamble and Arizona director of player personnel Steve Keim. Minnesota director of player personnel George Paton has been interviewed twice.
--Fisher appears close to putting the finishing touches on the coaching staff although the only announcements have been offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and assistant head coach Dave McGinnis.
Believed to have been hired are Frank Cignetti Jr., quarterbacks; Ray Sherman, wide receivers Rob Boras, tight ends; Paul Boudreau, offensive line; Mike Waufle, defensive line; John Fassel, special teams; Rock Gullickson, strength and conditioning; Andy Sugarman, offensive quality control; Blake Williams and Brandon Fisher.
Gullickson and Sugarman are believed to be the lone holdovers from Steve Spagnuolo's staff. Williams and Fisher are the sons of the defensive coordinator and head coach. It's possible Williams will coach linebackers. Unknown are the identity of the running backs coach and defensive backs coach.
QUOTE TO NOTE
Fisher: "We have options and a lot of time. We will maximize that. I will say, this will be the last time we'll be picking that high." - Coach Jeff Fisher on plans for the second overall pick in this year's draft.
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