New Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said at his introductory press conference today that he has a plan to bring winning football back to St. Louis.
“It’s restoring this franchise to a place of significance,” Fisher said. “Significance -- by that I mean it’s an opportunity to take another trip, as champions, to the White House.”
Fisher started his remarks by saying he chose the Rams because he believes in the direction owner Stan Kroenke and executive V.P. of football operations/COO Kevin Demoff are steering the franchise in. (He didn’t mention it, but a $7 million a year salary doesn’t hurt either.)
“My decision was very, very simple,” Fisher said. “It was based on the vision, the collective vision that is shared by Stan and Kevin, as far as the future of this franchise.”
Fisher briefly discussed his decision last year to leave the Titans and take a year away from coaching, and he said he believes that was the right decision. But now he said he’s ready to get back to it, and he singled out both Kroenke and quarterback Sam Bradford as the reasons he wants to coach the Rams.
“I had two factors,” Fisher said. “One was a good owner, the other was a quarterback. And I’m very excited about the opportunity.”
Asked why Bradford struggled so much in his second season after being the offensive rookie of the year in 2010, Fisher said he thought the problems in St. Louis in 2011 were largely outside Bradford’s control.
“This year was difficult -- I think you have to look back at his success and his production in his first year -- difficult for a lot of reasons, the lockout, and the lack of time in the offense,” Fisher said. “But I think he has a chance to be a top quarterback in the National Football League very, very soon.”
Fisher said he expects big things in St. Louis.
“It’s going to be a great ride,” Fisher said.