Eric Dickerson Deeply Dismayed About Jeff Fisher's Contract Extension

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Former Rams star Eric Dickerson offered a scathing assessment Sunday of Rams coach Jeff Fisher's recently reported two-year contract extension, calling the deal "a joke" that is taking the team in the "wrong direction."

The deal was first reported Sunday shortly before the Rams' loss to the Patriots. Fisher said he wasn't sure why the deal was leaked to reporters at that time.

"It just somehow got out," Fisher said.

Shortly after the game, Dickerson sounded off on KTTV about what he perceives as severe dysfunction within the Rams organization, culminating in the front office offering Fisher -- who has a 31-43-1 with the team -- a two-year extension.

"How in the world can you give a guy an extended contract and he has five losing seasons?" Dickerson said. "He's not the coach for this football team ... I feel bad for Rams fans. We're going in the wrong direction with our football team."

In Fisher's five seasons with the Rams, the first four in St. Louis, the team has yet to finish above .500. The team is 4-8 this season.

Dickerson said the team can no longer settle for mediocrity, saying fans in Los Angeles are more demanding than those in St. Louis.

"This was fine in St. Louis," Dickerson said. "Here ... it's not working."

Dickerson said he places the blame for Fisher's extension on Rams COO Kevin Demoff, whose father, Marvin, is Fisher's agent. Dickerson said the relationship presents a clear conflict of interest.

"Everybody is just too close," Dickerson said.

Demoff's power within the organization stems from Rams owner Stan Kroenke's hands-off management style, Dickerson added.

"Stan Kroenke is not a hands-on owner," he said. "He delegates."

Fisher said on Sunday he reached the agreement with Kroenke "well before the season started," but the deal just hadn't been announced. General manager Les Snead was also given an extension.

Dickerson, who is the Rams' second all-time leading rusher and an NFL Hall of Famer, said last week he won't attend Rams games as long as Fisher is head coach. He reiterated that message on Sunday, saying he watched the Patriots game from a sports bar, and that the game was "hard to watch."

"It's hard to watch," he said. "The offense is boring."

Dickerson did, however, give credit to the Rams' defensive unit -- crediting the defense for helping the team salvage four wins this season.

So who would Dickerson install as head coach?

He offered a couple alternatives that could jump-start the offense, including Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and Stanford head coach David Shaw, who served as offensive coordinator at the school under Jim Harbough.

Still, rookie quarterback Jared Goff said Sunday he's glad the coach will be back.

"I'm excited for him and excited to continue playing for him," Goff said.

Defensive lineman Will Hayes agreed.

"He's put together a hell of a team this year. It's just unfortunate he's getting a lot of slack on us losing," Hayes said. "He's a stand-up guy. He takes care of his guys. And he does everything that a player wants from his coach."

Dickerson, for his part, said his spat with Fisher is not personal. He said if Fisher is able to steer the team to a winning record next year, he'll be "the first" to congratulate him.

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