Will Williams follow Fisher to St. Louis? - London Free Press

Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams watches his team prepare for a game against Buccaneers in New Orleans, La. Jan. 2, 2011. (SEAN GARDNER/Reuters)

News and notes from around the National Football League otherwise known as the latest poop from the musical chairs world of filling the vacant head coaching spots.

• With Jeff Fisher needing only to sign on the dotted line to officially become the new head coach of the St. Louis Rams, the question hanging out there this weekend is whether or not he will drag Gregg Williams over there with him.

Williams, of course, is the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints but the thinking is that given his past ties to Fisher, he would be open to taking on a similar position with the Rams.

At one point, prior to his failed experience as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Williams was the defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans under Fisher.

So, it’s all a bit incestuous.

Williams makes no bones about his admiration for his close friend.

“I will tell you this about Jeff, he’s my best friend in coaching,” Williams told the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

“The National Football League needs him coaching, they need for him to be a head coach in this league, there’s not very many people as good as he is at what he does ... I don’t mess with him at this time of the year. He doesn’t mess with me at this time of the year.

“We’ll meet back up some time this off-season, maybe do some fishing or hunting together, but the National Football League needs Jeff Fisher back on the sidelines. It really does.”

What gushing. Just get a room.

• As for Fisher agreeing to coach the Rams, he termed them “the best fit”.

He had been torn between coaching the Rams or accepting an offer to do the same with the Miami Dolphins.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the time line for Fisher agreeing with the Rams was a little unusual.

The paper said that Fisher notified Rams owner Stan Kroenke on Thursday, telling him he wanted to be his next coach.

Nothing, though, at the time was official.

The paper added that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross grew impatient Friday and basically demanded an answer.

“The process has been lengthy, but for good reasons,” Fisher told the paper. “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.”

• Meanwhile, Ross once again gets left at the altar and looks like a jilted lover.

Last off-season he couldn’t get Jim Harbaugh’s name on a contract and now he strikes out with Fisher.

So, now it’s on to Plan B.

“As we’ve always said, we had a plan in place and that we continued to interview and evaluate other coaches even after we spoke with (Fisher),” Ross said after striking out on Fisher. “We’re very excited about these other coaches we’ve interviewed and we’ll continue to interview. I think all of them are outstanding.”

The Dolphins have interviewed Chicago Bears special-teams coach Dave Toub, Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin and Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

“I think there’s more than just one candidate,” Ross said. “He was the only candidate that had any head coach experience. I would’ve liked that in a way, but I don’t feel any worse off.

“It’s funny, in the back of my mind, I’ve really believed you go with people who have something to prove and are younger. That’s how I’ve always worked in my business. I was always fighting that idea in my mind while I was talking to (Fisher). Something told me if I get someone like him with that experience it’d be good.

“At the same time, I don’t feel lost. I believe someone really good who has something to prove is going to be better. New ideas. I’m not discouraged at all.”

Still, he didn’t get the guy he wanted.

• Keep it simple, stupid â€" that may well be the pep talk and message that Jets new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano will deliver to embattled quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Sparano told New York reporters that when he has dealt with young quarterbacks â€" he previously coached Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne â€" he focused on the fundamentals.

“Get them back to square one and break them back from a fundamental standpoint,” Sparano said of his philosophy.

So, the plan with the Jets is to keep things simple with Sanchez in the hope that they can turn his career back in the right direction.

Doesn’t sound like they believe they have a franchise quarterback on their hands.