Jeff Fisher is taking the lead with the St. Louis Rams' defense.
The coach isn't calling plays, but he has taken over the defensive game plan from coordinator Tim Walton for the past month, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network's "NFL GameDay Morning." Fisher has been more hands on than ever with the defense.
Walton was hired after now-New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was briefly with the Rams this offseason. The Rams missed out on more qualified coordinator candidates than Walton after they believed they found their man in Ryan.
According to Silver's account, Ryan entered Fisher's office at 7:30 a.m. last January, dropped his keys on the desk and told the coach he wanted out. Meanwhile, Fisher's other assistants were in a staff meeting with a window that looked out on the parking lot.
Rams coaches watched Ryan leave the building and head across the street to a McDonald's. Ryan "goes to get a Big Mac and never comes back," Silver said.
Some in St. Louis are convinced Ryan had a wink-nod deal from Sean Payton to come to New Orleans, according to Silver.
Everything from a 7:30 a.m. Big Mac to the potential for a back-door deal to head to a team more suited to his style, makes Ryan come across as straight gangster.
Needless to say, there won't be a welcoming party for Ryan at the Edwards Jones Dome.
We previewed every Week 15 game in the latest "Around The League Podcast."
