The Rams took criticism locally earlier than offseason for firing Todd Hewitt, an equipment manager who had been working with the club for 44 years.
Last Friday, they fired two more employees that were with the team since the move from Los Angeles. John Oswald was VP of operations. Lori Fabian was the alumni relations coordinator. They combined for almost 50 years of experience with the team.
“I put my heart and soul into the job. But it’s an eye-opening experience after 28 years to be told that, ‘We’re going in a different direction,’” Oswald told the St. Louis-Post Dispatch.
The Rams certainly have the right to fire whoever they want, but the moves are seen as a sign of Steve Spagnuolo’s power in St. Louis. Howard Balzer of 101espn.com writes that “it doesn’t feel right.”
Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch goes further.
“In my opinion, it’s not a good situation. A lot of the rank-and-file here at Rams Park feel if they worked with the team in LA, or were part of the move to St. Louis, etc., that there’s a bull’s eye on their back. It’s not good for morale,” Thomas writes.
Perhaps the Rams were run more like a family organization when Georgia Frontiere was in the charge. Thomas and Balzer both cite an “iciness” in the building now, but ultimately winning will warm things up.