ST. LOUIS — The Rams and Steve Spagnuolo agreed Saturday on a four-year contract to make the Giants’ defensive coordinator their coach. The team said in a release that Spag- nuolo 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.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said Spagnuolo would be paid just less than $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.
“Billy did a spectacular job of presenting some fabulous candidates,” owner Chip Rosenbloom said. “We’re very excited that Steve will be our head coach and are looking forward to an exciting season.”
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. Devaney was impressed with Spagnuolo’s no-nonsense demeanor during an interview in Los Angeles on Thursday.
“There’s just a toughness about him,” De- vaney said. “He represented what we were looking for when this process began.”
Morris to lead Buccaneers
TAMPA, Fla. — A day after abruptly firing Super Bowl winner Jon Gruden, the Buccaneers introduced Raheem Morris as their new coach.
Morris, 32, the Bucs’ defensive backs coach who was promoted to defensive coordinator on Christmas Day, takes over a team that won three division titles under his predecessor but hasn’t won a playoff game since capturing the franchise’s only NFL title in January 2003.
Peppers done with Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Julius Peppers, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive end, has decided he won’t sign a long- term deal with the Panthers when he becomes an unrestricted free agent Feb. 26.
Peppers, who 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.
Footnotes.
Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma was arrested in Miami for reckless driving and resisting arrest.
• The Raiders promoted assistant coach John Fassel to special-teams coordinator.
