OT Bounty saga (StL): why is Gregg Williams not fired?

[Gumby]

Did I miss something or has St L NOT fired Gregg Williams?

St. Louis Rams begin workouts minus Gregg Williams amid bounty saga - ESPN

The whole story talks about him as if he is were just going to miss a few games. (although does state he is suspended indefinitely).

Is this just Fisher sticking up for his buddy? If I was the owner I would have (justifiably) fired the guy. You are going to put one third of your football team in disarray for a year or maybe more just so your HC can protect his protegee. Makes no sense to me. .... unless

indefinitely suspended - doesn't really mean lifetime or a whole year even.

Does fisher think in 6 months he can go tell the commish that GW has been through a 12-step and all should be forgiven??? Does he have some private comms from the NFL that would be feasible?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Williams won't be back this season. Probably won't be back next season. This smacks of Jeffie flexing his muscles in defiance, which he was able to do because his owner was MIA/busy all spring trying to buy the Dodgers. How St. Louis performs in 2012 will probably determine if Fisher still has the power to retain (a slot for) Williams.

 

[FortressX]

Maybe ownership has legal issues that are being worked on.
One wouldn't want to fire him and be responsible for paying him.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Maybe, just maybe GW has the goods on Jeff from their past associations and Jeff knows that to fire GW or go against him might mean that GW has interesting revelations to Herr OberKomissioner Goodell.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Maybe ownership has legal issues that are being worked on.
One wouldn't want to fire him and be responsible for paying him.

No, his indefinite suspension was grounds for firing. Jeff isn't even naming an interim DC. He's thumbing his nose at the league and screwing with the Rams season because apparently he can. Dean of coaches and all... If the Rams don't get it turned around in a hurry he may lose that cache with Kronke and his disgruntled fans...

 

[voluntarysaftey]

Maybe if he gets fired, the Rams have to pay him? But if he stays on under suspension, his time is ticking without pay?

That would certainly be a reason to keep him on board.

Also would Fisher really ruin this chances this year just to keep his probably-banned-for-life buddy on board?
So maybe Fisher is following BB's role of taking the DC role himself until a suitable replacement externally or internally is found

 

[Uncle Meat]

I wasn't aware that they hadn't fired him. IMO, they will. I don't see why they wouldn't. You can be fairly sure there are clauses in his contract that guard against the Rams having to pay him.

IMO, Greg Williams is too toxic to get a job in the NFL ever again...who is going to want to associate themselves with him?

BTW, I'm a Bills fan, and he was our Head Coach for 3 years. He was hyped as a "disciplinarian," but what I saw was a guy basically void of personality...seems the little he had was bad. Never liked him much at all.

 

[THELAWFIRM226]

I wasn't aware that they hadn't fired him. IMO, they will. I don't see why they wouldn't. You can be fairly sure there are clauses in his contract that guard against the Rams having to pay him.

IMO, Greg Williams is too toxic to get a job in the NFL ever again...who is going to want to associate themselves with him?

BTW, I'm a Bills fan, and he was our Head Coach for 3 years. He was hyped as a "disciplinarian," but what I saw was a guy basically void of personality...seems the little he had was bad. Never liked him much at all.

Gonna have to disagree, I've heard more than one person stand up for Williams, check out ESPN right now as a matter of fact, 49ers GM still calls Williams a friend. Assuming he doesn't get a lifetime ban, I could definitely see him coaching again.

 

[Deus Irae]

Why would they fire him at this point? What's the angle you're looking for?

 

[supafly]

Isn't it a possibility that they could retain him and he would be back next season? After all, he does offer something as a DC.

I'm not sure about salary specifics, but if they already have to pay him a good chunk for this yr, if not all, then I'd probably just hire an interim DC, the same way that the New Orleans Saints did with Payton.

I read a report from PFT today that stated that Gregg Williams is already "working" with the commish to gain re-entry for next yr.

Unless salary is an issue, as some have pointed out, then I'd see no big hurry to actually fire him. I'm not buying the fact that he will never coach again. He may not be back next yr, but he'll be back the year after for sure.

I wouldn't keep a spot for him for 2 yrs, but I'd strongly consider keeping a spot for 1 (depending upon salary requirements of course).

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Isn't it a possibility that they could retain him and he would be back next season? After all, he does offer something as a DC.

I'm not sure about salary specifics, but if they already have to pay him a good chunk for this yr, if not all, then I'd probably just hire an interim DC, the same way that the New Orleans Saints did with Payton.

I read a report from PFT today that stated that Gregg Williams is already "working" with the commish to gain re-entry for next yr.

Unless salary is an issue, as some have pointed out, then I'd see no big hurry to actually fire him. I'm not buying the fact that he will never coach again. He may not be back next yr, but he'll be back the year after for sure.

I wouldn't keep a spot for him for 2 yrs, but I'd strongly consider keeping a spot for 1 (depending upon salary requirements of course).

He's not getting paid any salary for 2012. Neither is Payton. Payton is being replaced by an interim HC or HC's...

If he's working with the Commissioner toward reinstatement he's likely corroberating evidence against the players yet to be disciplined, the fallout from which potentially will make it more difficult than it already would have been for him to be an effective leader in the forseeable future. NO let him walk this offseason for a lateral position for a reason. They have painted him as the rogue coach who was told to clean up his act and didn't.

It's debatable he could coach effectively again (absent the rhetoric) even working his way back up from the position level except for his great friend and mentor, Jeff Fisher. Public sentiment isn't in his favor, and that same public could potentially sit on the juries that may decide what price the league pays to the thousand plus and counting plaintiffs in the retired players suits now pending. I know Goodell is into rehabilitation, but I doubt this time it will come in less than two years. Goodell is using him as well as Payton to send a message to Fisher and the rest of the leagues coaches about the ramifications of their past and future conduct as it relates to ongoing liability concerns for the leagues ownership.

 

[supafly]

He's not getting paid any salary for 2012. Neither is Payton. Payton is being replaced by an interim HC or HC's...

If he's working with the Commissioner toward reinstatement he's likely corroberating evidence against the players yet to be disciplined, the fallout from which potentially will make it more difficult than it already would have been for him to be an effective leader in the forseeable future. NO let him walk this offseason for a lateral position for a reason. They have painted him as the rogue coach who was told to clean up his act and didn't.

It's debatable he could coach effectively again (absent the rhetoric) even working his way back up from the position level except for his great friend and mentor, Jeff Fisher. Public sentiment isn't in his favor, and that same public could potentially sit on the juries that may decide what price the league pays to the thousand plus and counting plaintiffs in the retired players suits now pending. I know Goodell is into rehabilitation, but I doubt this time it will come in less than two years. Goodell is using him as well as Payton to send a message to Fisher and the rest of the leagues coaches about the ramifications of their past and future conduct as it relates to ongoing liability concerns for the leagues ownership.

Thanks for the insight, Mo.

I think it may be possible that they may keep him, or at least 'not fire' him officially until the situation becomes clearer, which would likely be next year.

I don't see much positive towards the official firing of him at this point in time, besides the court of public perception--which certainly can play a big influence, so I do agree with that point; but they probably don't have much to lose at this point by letting the situation play out a bit.

The friendship with Fisher could also have a lot to do with the lack of his displacement too, at least maybe on some level.

 

[Gumby]

Well, well, well.................

Gregg Williams of St. Louis Rams seeking framework for earning reinstatement, according to report - ESPN


Looks like I wasn't so far off the mark.

12 steps and you are home free!!!

 

[Pujo]

There's no benefit to the team from firing him. They're already off the hook for his salary, they can decide at the end of his suspension (whenever that is) whether they want to retain him.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Fisher won't fire him for fear Williams will spill the beans on who taught him the practice of bounties for maiming opponents.

And yes Fisher is still on the Competition Committee.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Well, well, well.................

Gregg Williams of St. Louis Rams seeking framework for earning reinstatement, according to report - ESPN


Looks like I wasn't so far off the mark.

12 steps and you are home free!!!

Well, well, well what? He's fighting for his coaching life so he's asked the league what he has to do just to apply for reinstatement, and that won't happen until after this season at the earliest and there is no guarantee it will happen any time soon if ever. Goodell is big on redemption and second chances, but a lot can happen between now and the time he even considers redeeming Williams. Will he provide information that allows the league to prevail in player suspensions, will someone injured vs. a team he coached in the past file a law suit, will be be asked to testify for the retired plaintiffs in their suit against the league, will more come out about what went on in his earlier stops?

He isn't coming back this season and it's no slam dunk he comes back next season. Vick lost 2 years, and players via the NFLPA are going to try to shift blame onto coaches and Williams in particular when they appeal any suspensions that arise for them as a result of the NO bounty program...

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I doubt Williams will ever work another day for an NFL or major College team, but I also imagine that there are contract issues related to why he hasn't been fired. The Rams don't have to pay him now, but maybe if they ****can him, they do.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

We don't know what Williams contract with the Rams even states.

He didn't do anything illegal that we know of, while employed by the Rams.

We don't know whether he was asked about bounties and denied them to the Rams. If so, then yes he would have been hired under false pretenses and thus it would be grounds for firing.

I don't even know the length of his contract. If it's one year, which is I think typical for assistants, he will be suspended without pay for at least that entire time, so his contract will expire without the team owing him a dime, and thus they do not have to fire him to have him never coach for them and be paid anything. Thus there is no advantage whatsoever to firing him- it just raises the possibility (remote I think, but not zero) of a wrongful termination lawsuit, since he as far as we know did nothing illegal while under contract to the Rams.

This doesn't in any way defend what he did as a Saint. The Rams, however, need to be a little careful. From Williams perspective it would also be great if he were fired, assuming he has a one year contract, because then he could pursue non-NFL jobs without getting the Rams or the NFL's permission.

 

[Pujo]

From Williams perspective it would also be great if he were fired, assuming he has a one year contract, because then he could pursue non-NFL jobs without getting the Rams or the NFL's permission.

He could do that anyway, since no one outside the NFL will respect an NFL contract (not hire him because of it) and what are the Rams going to do, sue him for breaching it and get back the zero dollars they paid him?

 

[chrisanna]

Perhaps possession offers legalities which are becoming done.
1 would not wish to fireplace him or her as well as result in having to pay him