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Spagnuolo, Rams Agree On 4-Year Deal

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 18, 2009

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Rams and Steve Spagnuolo agreed Saturday on a four-year contract to make the New York Giants' defensive coordinator their coach.

The team said in a release that Spagnuolo would be introduced at a news conference Monday morning.

"We considered some very qualified and outstanding candidates for this position, but we kept coming back to Steve Spagnuolo," general manager Billy Devaney said in a statement.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch was the first to report the hiring and said Spagnuolo would be paid just under $12 million.

Spagnuolo replaces Jim Haslett and takes over a team that finished 2-14. Haslett went 2-10 as interim coach after his promotion from defensive coordinator when Scott Linehan was fired following an 0-4 start.

Spagnuolo was the architect of the Giants' sack-happy defense that thwarted New England's run to a perfect season in last year's Super Bowl upset.

"Having a guy whose got swagger makes a difference," Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon added. "A guy who can really get guys motivated is going to be a big key."

Spagnuolo was one of five finalists for the job, along with Haslett, Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and defensive coordinators Rex Ryan of Baltimore and Leslie Frazier of Minnesota.

Peppers Wants Out Of Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - After spending his entire life in North Carolina, Julius Peppers wants out.

The four-time Pro Bowl defensive end has decided he won't sign a long-term deal with the Carolina Panthers when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 26.

Peppers, who grew up in tiny Bailey, N.C., starred in college at North Carolina and was the Panthers' first-round pick in 2002, believes Carolina's defensive system is not for him - even after recording a career-high 14 1/2 sacks this season.

"He loves the state of North Carolina. His family is there. The easier situation for him would be to stay in Carolina," said his agent, Carl Carey. "But the decision that he faced was, do I stay in Carolina and perhaps never reach my full potential?"

Carey said Peppers wants to play in a 3-4 defense. The Panthers use a 4-3 alignment.

SAINTS: Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma was arrested in Miami for resisting arrest and reckless driving.

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