- Messages
- 79,278
- Reaction score
- 45,636
By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/16/2008
August 18, 2007 -- Rams head coach Scott Linehan
(Chris Lee /P-D)
Saying that he believes tight ends coach Judd Garrett needed time "to get everything together with his family," Rams coach Scott Linehan has made another change to his staff.
Linehan confirmed Friday that Garrett is being replaced by Jim Chaney, the Rams' assistant offensive line coach the past two seasons. Bob Saunders, the son of newly named offensive coordinator Al Saunders, will join the staff as an offensive assistant.
Garrett's wife, Kathy, died Aug. 19 at age 38 after a brief illness. The couple had four children, ages 9 to 15. Garrett, 40, returned to coaching Sept. 4 and remained on the job throughout the season.
Garrett had a year remaining on his contract, which the team will honor. "It's a hard thing, because he requires some more time at home," said Linehan, noting that coaches work grueling hours during the NFL season.
"You want the best for everybody in these situations. In his position, it's not the best thing for him to be away from his family," Linehan said. "I told him he wasn't going to have a coaching position. We could've reassigned him to work somewhere in the organization, but as I thought about it, I thought the best thing would be to let him know that we'll take care of the contract, so he has that and can take the year to kind of get things squared away.
"He's free to look for another job, although I don't know if at this time that would be the best thing."
Attempts to reach Garrett on Friday were unsuccessful.
Garrett came to the Rams in 2006 after six years as an assistant with the Miami Dolphins and three years with the New Orleans Saints. He was an NCAA Division I-AA All-America running back at Princeton.
Garrett is the seventh member of Linehan's 19-man staff to be removed or to leave in the wake of the Rams' 3-13 season, their worst record since moving to St. Louis in 1995.
Chaney, 46, also joined the Rams in 2006, his first NFL job after 21 years in college coaching, including nine seasons as offensive coordinator at Purdue.
Bob Saunders, 31, has worked for his father as an offensive assistant for six years, four in Kansas City and then two in Washington.
Linehan said new offensive line coach Steve Loney won't have a designated assistant next season. So, the only opening remaining on the staff is for an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
bcoats@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8189
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/16/2008
August 18, 2007 -- Rams head coach Scott Linehan
(Chris Lee /P-D)
Saying that he believes tight ends coach Judd Garrett needed time "to get everything together with his family," Rams coach Scott Linehan has made another change to his staff.
Linehan confirmed Friday that Garrett is being replaced by Jim Chaney, the Rams' assistant offensive line coach the past two seasons. Bob Saunders, the son of newly named offensive coordinator Al Saunders, will join the staff as an offensive assistant.
Garrett's wife, Kathy, died Aug. 19 at age 38 after a brief illness. The couple had four children, ages 9 to 15. Garrett, 40, returned to coaching Sept. 4 and remained on the job throughout the season.
Garrett had a year remaining on his contract, which the team will honor. "It's a hard thing, because he requires some more time at home," said Linehan, noting that coaches work grueling hours during the NFL season.
"You want the best for everybody in these situations. In his position, it's not the best thing for him to be away from his family," Linehan said. "I told him he wasn't going to have a coaching position. We could've reassigned him to work somewhere in the organization, but as I thought about it, I thought the best thing would be to let him know that we'll take care of the contract, so he has that and can take the year to kind of get things squared away.
"He's free to look for another job, although I don't know if at this time that would be the best thing."
Attempts to reach Garrett on Friday were unsuccessful.
Garrett came to the Rams in 2006 after six years as an assistant with the Miami Dolphins and three years with the New Orleans Saints. He was an NCAA Division I-AA All-America running back at Princeton.
Garrett is the seventh member of Linehan's 19-man staff to be removed or to leave in the wake of the Rams' 3-13 season, their worst record since moving to St. Louis in 1995.
Chaney, 46, also joined the Rams in 2006, his first NFL job after 21 years in college coaching, including nine seasons as offensive coordinator at Purdue.
Bob Saunders, 31, has worked for his father as an offensive assistant for six years, four in Kansas City and then two in Washington.
Linehan said new offensive line coach Steve Loney won't have a designated assistant next season. So, the only opening remaining on the staff is for an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
bcoats@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8189
