He played the part, but Fisher couldn’t win enough

Jeff Fisher

RAMS FIRE HEAD COACH

JOHN KRYK Last week, the Los Angeles Rams announced head coach Jeff Fisher had received a two-year contract extension, through 2018. Oh. About that. On Monday, the Rams fired him. What changed? Only that last week’s news was so overwhelmingly unpopular, it was met with more laughter than ridicule.

And when NFL owners are universally laughed at, they tend to rub out the source of ridicule rather quickly.

The Rams named special-teams coordinator John Fassel interim head coach.

Fisher’s overdue firing ends one of the most incredulous runs in NFL coaching annals. Incredulous, because Fisher has mustered only six winning seasons in 22 as head coach.

The Rams hired Fisher in 2012 and have not had a winning record since — posting annual records of 7-8-1, 7-9, 6-10 and 7-9 before starting this season 4-9.

That Fisher kept his job so long, at both stops, is testament to the fact that few coaches ever looked the part, acted the part or spoke the part better. It was the winning part that kept evading him.

But NFL coaches are judged primarily on wins and losses, and Fisher was 142-120 with the Houston and Tennessee Oilers/Titans from 1993 to 2010, then 31-45-1 with the Rams. Not good enough.

Seattle is 2-4-1 on the road. A big reason for the Seahawks’ failures away from home is their offence mostly has sputtered, to put it kindly.

Quarterback Russell Wilson and Co. performed fabulously, yes, in Seattle’s two road victories, at the New York Jets and at New England. Each time Wilson threw for more than 300 yards and three TDs, without an interception.

But in the four losses (at L.A., New Orleans, Tampa Bay and Green Bay) and in the tie (at Arizona), Seattle’s run game produced an average of just 91 yards, while Wilson has thrown one TD pass against eight interceptions.

Le’Veon Bell, running back, Steelers. In a snowstorm at Buffalo’s New Era Field, he set a new Steelers single-game rushing record with 236 yards, albeit against a bad Bills defence.

Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro. He missed his first extra-point attempt at Miami. Then he clanked a 41-yard field goal. His second extra point was blocked and returned for two points by the Dolphins. So scratch five points for Arizona, add two for Miami. SASSOON, Rebecca 12:00 Pardes Shalom Cemetery. LIEBMAN, Bernard 3:00 Pardes Shalom Cemetery. * See www.hebrewbasicburial.ca for shiva times