In a span of two days, Jeff Fisher went from leaning toward one team to favoring another and now remains undecided.
The Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams are still waiting on Fisher to decide where he will coach next season.
The Dolphins appear to hold the advantage for the former Tennessee Titans coach according to reports, but the saga has taken twists throughout.
The NFL Network reported Wednesday afternoon Fisher was "close" to accepting an offer from the Dolphins after originally favoring the Rams.
He has been Miami's top target throughout the search to replace Tony Sparano, who was fired with three games remaining in the regular season.
Attempts to reach Fisher's agent, Marvin Demoff, were unsuccessful, but the NFL Network cited anonymous sources saying the Dolphins' firmer foundation played a role in the change of heart. After starting 0-7, Miami finished strong by winning six of nine.
This all comes 48 hours after it was the complete opposite.
Fisher appeared headed toward the Rams, with various reports linking him to his St. Louis ties.
Fisher's agent is the father of Rams vice president Kevin Demoff. The Rams also have favorable cap room in two years and own the No. 2 pick in this year's draft.
Still, the Dolphins are considered a short-term project while Rams will require an overhaul after finishing 2-14.
The Dolphins offer a solid defense and an offense featuring Reggie Bush and Brandon Marshall, who became the first tandem in franchise history to surpass 1,000 yards in the same season.
"The infrastructure is in place in Miami, something [Fisher] doesn't really have in St. Louis," the NFL Network's Mike Lombardi told WQAM (560 AM) Wednesday.
"I've been told by people that know him from Tennessee that he's leaning toward Miami."
Rumors gained so much steam that there were reports of the Dolphins holding a press conference Wednesday to announce the hiring.
Those proved premature after SI.com reported Wednesday evening Fisher remained undecided.
Fisher is among five candidates interviewed for the job, including interim coach Todd Bowles. He led the Dolphins to a 2-1 record after replacing Sparano.
The other interviewees included Chicago Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub, Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.
Philbin, whose 21-year-old son passed away Monday, is the only candidate still active in the playoffs, meaning the Dolphins would have to wait until the Packers' season ends to make a move.
Fisher is the lone member in the group with head-coaching experience at the professional level and, more importantly, the big-name the Dolphins coveted.
Team owner Steve Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland made it clear from the beginning they would search for a proven coach to end the Dolphins' three-year playoff drought.
Fisher was 142-120 in 17 seasons with the Titans, including a stint as the interim coach. He had six winning seasons and claimed four division titles, the highlight an appearance in the Super Bowl in 2000. The Titans lost to the Rams 23-16.
The closest Fisher came to matching that was in 2008 when the Titans earned the AFC's No. 1 seed after finishing 13-3.
The season ended with a disappointing loss to the Baltimore Ravens in their playoff-opener, starting Fisher's downfall.
He was fired after the 2010 season following a 6-10 record despite at the time being the league's longest tenured coach. Fisher then stepped away from coaching saying he needed a break.
0 komentar