According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Rams named Fisher their head coach on Friday.

The decision, although much later than anticipated, comes as no surprise.

Per Schefter, Fisher chose the Rams because of the “structure” of the team. As previously reported, the former Titans head man preferred to have a franchise-caliber quarterback already in place; Sam Bradford or Matt Moore? No contest.

Fisher is expected to be paid top dollar, and will have significant input during the club’s search for its next general manager. The best of both worlds — money and power.

Even though he’s regarded as one of the better coaches of the last decade, he’ll have his work cut out for him in St. Louis. Bradford has shown flashes of immense potential, but took a major step back in his second season. In fact, the offense as a whole was dreadful in 2011, averaging an NFL-worst 12.1 points per contest.

The Rams desperately need an influx of talent across the board, and Fisher will have a chance to address at least one area of need with the draft’s No. 2 overall pick.

And how’s this for irony: Fisher ends up coaching the team that he fell one-yard short against in Super Bowl XXXIV — the only time he’s made it to the Big Game.

It seems Fisher is moving closer to making up his mind, and will go with the latter — a permanent place of residence in the Gateway City.

Citing sources close to the former Titans coach, Howard Balzer, of 101 ESPN St. Louis, reports that Fisher “is on the verge” of becoming the Rams’ next head coach.

Balzer warns that “the decision is not final,” but Fisher likes the Rams’ “potential” and win-now ability.

Earlier on Friday, Fisher said he’s narrowed his search down to two-teams, with the Dolphins being the other horse in the race. He’s expected to decide sometime next week, though it “could even be sooner.”

Fisher has previously acknowledged that he’d prefer to have a franchise quarterback already in place to work with, and St. Louis has this in Sam Bradford. At least, they have more semblance of one than the Dolphins, who may go fishing for Robert Griffin III in April.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has already gone on record saying he’ll pay whatever it costs to secure Fisher’s services. He’d easily outbid the Rams, who aren’t well known as a franchise with an open checkbook.

What St. Louis does have to offer, however, is control. Control over the personnel decisions, and likely significant say when it comes time to pick the team’s new general manager. With a quick-triggered owner in Ross and a GM whose job is hanging on by a thread, Miami wouldn’t possess the same amenities.

Not Jon Gruden, who’s contractually committed to ESPN and his peers on Monday Night Football. Not Bill Cowher, who’s apparently content with his cushy studio gig at CBS. Not even Brian Billick, who already pulled himself out of the running for at least one job.

It’s Fisher, the man who spent 15 years prowling the sidelines in Tennessee, and now wants to return to the NFL.

With a possible five teams in the market for a new coach, Fisher will essentially get to handpick his next residence. It appears he’s chosen the Midwest.

Kevin Acee, who covers the Chargers for the San Diego Union-Tribune, reports that Fisher becoming the Rams’ next coach “is all but certain” to happen. Acee also knows for “fact” that Chargers GM A.J. Smith, if he became available, would be the front-runner to take over the same position in St. Louis.

The Rams, following a 2-14 finish this season, cleaned house Monday morning, firing GM Billy Devaney and head coach Steve Spagnuolo.

So, the need is there, and it’d be a great reunion two longtime friends, but there’s just one snag: Smith may be safe with the Bolts, who now appear resigned to hang onto he and HC Norv Turner.

In all likelihood, Fisher, if the interest is genuine, would still be hired by the Rams, and rather quickly if he’s indeed the frontrunner. He has other potential suitors in the Dolphins, Bucs, and (possibly) Colts, but Fisher is said to be seeking a franchise that already has a long-term quarterback in place.

The Rams do, and will get the first crack at luring the soon-to-be 54 year-old to the Gateway City.

It’s all speculation for now, but Acee is well-connected within the league, so his word is usually trustworthy. If that’s the case with in this instance, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Fisher could be introduced sometime in the coming days.

Sorry, Fred Taylor.

According to NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora, Broncos receiver Brandon Lloyd is being traded to the Rams.

The compensation for said deal is not yet currently known, though it’s likely a conditional pick that would escalate with performance.

The Rams gave up a conditional sixth-round pick in 2012 to the Broncos. If Lloyd catches 30 or more passes, the pick becomes a fifth-rounder, which seems like a likely outcome.

Lloyd was told not to report to the Broncos’ facilities Monday.

Of all the teams interested in him, the Rams are by far the best fit. Not only do they desperately need help at the position, Lloyd had his Pro Bowl season in 2010 under Josh McDaniels, Denver’s former coach and current offensive coordinator in St. Louis.

Although it’s equates to an 11 game tryout for the Rams, Lloyd instantly becomes the team’s No. 1 wideout and a legit downfield threat for quarterback Sam Bradford. His talent was being wasted in the Broncos’ run-heavy scheme, so the change of scenery will be good for him.

If he performs well, Lloyd, who’s headed for free agency in 2012, should receive a contract extension as he looks to build on a promising career, now in the Gateway City.

Running back Steven Jackson left Sunday’s tilt against the Eagles with a quad injury suffered in the first quarter. It came moments after S-Jax reeled off an impressive 47-yard touchdown run to give the Rams their only lead of the game.

Jackson stayed in uniform on the sidelines, but never re-entered the game (save for a nine-yard carry), most likely as a precautionary measure. Cadillac Williams replaced him in the lineup and did a decent job, though it wasn’t enough to overcome Philadelphia.

Jackson will likely be listed as questionable heading into Week 2. However, as we’ve seen before with the All-Pro back, this injury has the potential to linger on a lot longer than he’d like.

In the fourth quarter, the Rams witnessed a scary moment when quarterback Sam Bradford exited with a right finger injury. It’s unclear which finger was hurt, but it’s not believed to be his thumb, which hampered him a bit last season.

Bradford returned to the field shortly after trainers escorted him to the locker room for X-rays, which eventually came back negative and showed no signs of a break. When he came back in the game, he looked as if he wasn’t in too much pain.

His stat line, though, was definitely painful. In a sloppy game which he saw receivers drop multiple passes and his offensive line overwhelmed by Philly’s pass rush, Bradford finished 17-30 for 188 yards and no touchdowns. Not a good second-year start for St. Louis’ franchise signal-caller.

Both players are key to the Rams’ success, so the team obviously can’t afford them to miss any additional time. More importantly, the entire squad has a ton of work to do because their season debut — at home, no less — left much to be desired.

According to reports, the Rams re-signed Clayton to a one-year contract. He made the announcement official on his Twitter page.

“It’s official!! Another year in the Lou! ‘Grace that’s all I can say,’” he tweeted.

The seventh-year veteran spent last season in St. Louis after his first five years with the Ravens. He was the team’s leading receiver until a torn patellar tendon cut his 2010 campaign short just five weeks into the season.

Clayton eventually underwent surgery and became an unrestricted free agent this offseason. All along, the Rams wanted him back, but only if his knee was fully healed, which it has.

Despite a clean bill of health, Clayton was placed on the active/PUP list, per Rams beat writer Howard Balzer. Basically, the team has until Saturday to either remove him from the list — and add him to the active roster — or lose him until Week 7. Balzer’s source says Clayton’s status is “to be determined.”

Either way, he’ll be joining a wide receiving corps that’s suddenly stacked, with free agent acquisition Mike Sims-Walker and Donnie Avery more or less locked into the two starting spots. Of course, there’s also Brandon Gibson and Danario Alexander, two players that the team is supposedly high on.

If Clayton wants to contribute this season, he’ll have to work his way back up the depth chart, though proving he’s 100% healthy should be his first priority.

• He may be staying put with his old team, but safety Roman Harper earned some serious dough while doing so. The Saints re-signed Harper to a four-year, $28.5 million deal that includes $16 million in guarantees. The sixth-year vet had a very solid 2010 campaign, recording 98 tackles, three sacks, six forced fumbles, and one interception. Harper is a key member of the Saints’ defensive backfield and should continue to thrive in Gregg Williams’ defense.

• The Raiders and offensive tackle Jared Gaither reached an agreement on an undisclosed contract. The former Raven will provide a big boost to an Oakland offensive line that recently watched Robert Gallery follow ex-coach Tom Cable to Seattle. Gaither missed all of last season with a back injury, but flashes elite talent when healthy. He should instantly step into a starting position, provided that he’s fully healthy.

• After releasing linebacker Channing Crowder, the Dolphins signed ex-Charger linebacker Kevin Burnett to a four-year, $21 million contract ($9.8 million guaranteed). While he’s not a household name, Burnett played very well for the Bolts in recent years, both as a run-stopper and in pass coverage. Signed exclusively as Crowder’s replacement, Burnett will line up at inside ‘backer for the Fish.

• Although he’s not on the same level as Santonio Holmes or Sidney Rice, Mike Sims-Walker landed himself a new contract: a one-year pact with the Rams. In fact, he was so excited that he broke the news himself. St. Louis was expected to acquire a wideout, and hope they can catch lighting in a bottle with the 27-year-old. He’ll get to prove his worth to a team that desperately needed a receiver, but will have to avoid injury for that to happen. That could be a tough task for a player who barely saw the field last season.

• Confirming what most have already presumed, Vikings coach Leslie Frasier reiterated that recently-acquired quarterback Donovan McNabb will be the team’s starter, “barring some unforeseen circumstance.” McNabb was dealt to Minnesota in a trade on Wednesday and will get the nod this season over rookie Christian Ponder and second-year man Joe Webb. The only way Ponder or Webb get their shot would be if McNabb gets injured or looks totally ineffective. Based on his play from the last few seasons, that should not be ruled out at all.

So that’s that. The bigger signings and transactions were already covered in greater detail; I just wanted to make sure these other tidbits didn’t get lost in the frenzied fray of free agency. There are still a few major prospects left on the open market — including Braylon Edwards and Cullen Jenkins — so make sure to stay tuned on Saturday for more news as it breaks.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Jason Cole, the Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams is “highly unlikely” to be played due to ongoing labor negotiations.

Because both teams are expected to push back the start of their training camps, it’s “looking more and more likely” that the NFL’s annual preseason opener in Canton, Ohio will be canceled. The game is scheduled to kick off on August 7.

“The decision is probably going to be made for us,” a coach from one of the teams said. “You get past a certain point and you can’t play that game … the way things are going right now, I don’t think we’re going to have the time to travel for an extra game, let alone all the other stuff you’re talking about.”

There have been recent reports that a new collective bargaining agreement will be agreed to by the end of next week, with July 21 as a target date for the deal to be finalized.

While that’s certainly good news for the rest of the league, it does not bode well for both teams involved in this matchup. The players will have very little time to get back in the swing of things after a whole offseason inactivity. Not to mention an expedited free agency period will cause a whirlwind of movement within a short period of time.

Giving the Bears and Rams a little over two weeks — assuming a deal is indeed struck by the 21st — to go from stagnation to suited up for a real, full-fledged game isn’t practical, to say the least.

The Hall of Fame game has taken place every season for the last 49 years. Unfortunately, there’s a very realistic chance that streak comes to an end this year.

Once the current labor situation is resolved, and transactions are allowed once again, teams in need of an elite wideout will have their pick of the litter, as Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Sidney Rice, Chad Ochocinco, and Steve Smith — just to name a few — should be available via free agency or trade.

So where does that leave Plax?

He’s 33-years-old (34 in August), hasn’t played in the NFL since 2008, and looked to be on the decline even before shooting himself in the foot – both in a figurative and literal sense. The days of him starting atop the depth chart are behind him, but that doesn’t mean he’s totally useless. The lanky, 6’5″ Burress still has much to offer — both physically and mentally — to any organization that’s willing to take him on.

Despite the obvious red flags, Burress’ natural ability would be a welcomed addition to a team in need of talent at the position.

Here’s five clubs that meet the above criteria, and may be a potential landing spot for the former Super Bowl hero.

1. Philadelphia Eagles.

While wide receiver is far from a need for Philly, they’re the one club that’s been linked to Burress the most in recent weeks. When Plaxico walked out of the Oneida Correctional Facility, he sported a Philadelphia Phillies baseball cap. Did he wear the hat because his name starts with a ‘P’, or was he trying to send some sort of subliminal message to the Eagles? Hmm.

Philadelphia has two elite talents in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Barring injury, Burress would have no chance to be a starting option there. However, in three receiver sets, he would make an excellent complement to those two homerun threats, especially when they’re being double-teamed by the opposition. Not to mention, Burress and Vick share a bond: they’ve both been to prison and worked their way back into the league.

2. New York Jets.

New York is facing the prospect of losing their two best receivers — Edwards and Holmes — in free agency and will be in the market for a replacement should that occur. The Jets were said to be eyeing a stop-gap measure of sorts, with Randy Moss and Burress on their early shortlist.

Burress is obviously familiar with the Big Apple and the pressures of playing in such a big market. His size would be good for quarterback Mark Sanchez, who struggles with his accuracy at times, as a go-to target, especially in the red zone.

3. New England Patriots.

If Burress doesn’t land with the Jets, don’t discount their AFC East rival from pulling the trigger on Plax (no pun intended). Despite boasting a juggernaut offense last season, no Pats receiver is over 6’1″, which provides little productivity in jump-ball scenarios.

Coach Bill Belichick has an uncanny way of getting the most out of his players, and is known to take chances on those with previous baggage (see: Moss, Randy). Burress could add yet another element to an already deadly offense.

4. St. Louis Rams.

One of the most important aspects of developing a franchise quarterback is surrounding him with as many weapons as possible. Sam Bradford looks to be the real deal for the Rams, but the receiving talent around him is questionable at best. Names like Mark Clayton, Danny Amendola, and Donnie Avery don’t exactly instill fear in opposing defenses.

Although St. Louis has a few promising prospects, such as Mardy Gilyard and Danario Alexander, they’re in desperate need of a veteran to lend his talents to a young corps of wideouts. Burress knows what it takes to win in the NFL and his knowledge of the game is unmatched by any one of the Rams’ receivers.

5. Minnesota Vikings.

Like in the Jets case, the Vikings could possibly lose their best receiver when the lockout is lifted. Sidney Rice, an impending free agent, is looking for a lucrative contract and might not get it in Minny. If Rice departs, it would be a big blow to an offense that’s undergoing a youth movement in 2011.

Last season, the Vikings acquired Randy Moss to offset the absence of Rice, who was injured for a majority of the season. Even though the move eventually blew up in their face, it proved Minnesota was not opposed to bringing aboard a troubled veteran. Plaxico is a proven man in the NFL and the Vikings could use him to show their young offensive players the ropes. If rookie quarterback Christian Ponder wins the starting job, he’ll need a safety blanket on the field. Plax can be just that, and more.

So, now that you’ve heard my five, it’s your turn to give your best guesses. Vote in the poll below, or, if you don’t agree with the choices, leave a comment and tell us who you think Plax will end up with.

Last year, Rams free safety O.J. Atogwe tested the free-agent waters and was unable to find a suitor other than St. Louis, who eventually re-signed him to a five-year, $32 million deal.

He’ll get another crack at the open market this year.

According to NFL.com, the Rams released Atogwe today, due in large part to an $8 million roster bonus that was set to kick in on February 21.

He is now an unrestricted free-agent, allowing him the ability to speak to and possibly sign with any team of his choosing.

Atogwe, who turns 30 in June, has been in the league for six years (all with the Rams). He was drafted in the third-round in 2005, and played in 12 games during his rookie campaign. He began to make his mark in 2007 when he led the NFC in interceptions with eight. Since then, he’s been a solid, but unspectacular, defender for a squad that’s routinely sported below-average defenses.

Last season, Atogwe started 15 games and recorded decent numbers: 73 tackles, two forced fumbles, two sacks, and three interceptions. His play-making ability in the secondary will appeal to a team in need of a rangy safety, though he’s unlikely to be paid anywhere near what his previous contract stipulated.