Jeff Fisher decided to join the St. Louis Rams instead of the Miami Dolphins, and he spoke with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Friday about why he wanted to coach the Rams and how he reached his decision. Fisher takes over a team that went 2-14 last season, but also one that owns the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. According to the article, Fisher actually informed Rams owner Stan Kroenke on Thursday that he wanted to become the next head coach, but what did he have to say when the news became official on Friday? Jim Thomas and Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch relay what the new head coach had to say:
"The process has been lengthy, but for good reasons. I took a lot of time looking at and exploring in detail the non-economic issues of both clubs. I'm really excited that the Rams are the best fit for me. I hope I'm the best fit for the Rams, and am looking forward to finalizing the (contract) details and coming to work."
What "non-economic issues" did Fisher care about? It turns out the Dolphins were not willing to give him as much control over personnel as he wanted, so it made his choice that much easier to join the Rams. As for the contract details, there are conflicting reports on how far the negotiations have advanced. One report from ESPN Radio personality Tony Softli has suggested the contract will be "in the range of a five-year deal at $6.6 - $7.2 million per year," but ESPN's Adam Shefter says the parties had not discussed figures as of Friday afternoon.
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