Jeff Fisher could afford to be stubborn, predictable, hidebound, uncreative, uninspiring, indefensibly mediocre and historically unsuccessful and still keep his job as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams.
He just could not afford to be publicly embarrassing.
The Rams relieved Fisher of his head coaching duties Monday afternoon. It would have been no surprise for most coaches. The Rams have lost eight of their last nine games, the last two by a combined score of 68-24. They amassed a 31-45-1 record under Fisher over nearly five seasons. Change was overdue the way a library book found in the attic of an abandoned house is overdue.