We’ve talked about Clinkscales already since he was on the original list, but Paton is a new name. For anyone who doesn’t remember, Clinkscales was the director of college scouting for New York. Paton was the director of player personnel in Minnesota, and his inclusion could be connected to Jeff Fisher. Fisher will reportedly have at least some involvement in who the next GM will be, so don’t be surprised if a couple more new names surface.

Now that the coaching staff has been dealt with, we should all be interested in the GM position. The Rams have been awful in the draft for years, so getting someone to turn tat around is vital to future success. I still like Clinkscales, but it will be interesting to see what role Fisher plays. Whatever happens, I hope they get their guys soon with draft prep already getting going.

I think it’s safe to say that St. Louis still has a pretty significant edge over Miami and some of the other teams rumored to be interested, because their situation is actually really great for an incoming coach. They have a franchise QB, good talent at important defensive positions, and maybe most importantly, they don’t have a GM. If Fisher would take the job here, he would almost certainly have a say in who the Rams bring is as general manager. That’s a major selling point.

Speaking of GM candidates, a few names that the Rams plan to speak to about the opening have already come out. According to reports, the team plans to interview Les Snead of Atlanta and Eric DeCosta of Baltimore. Both of these guys are directors of player personnel with their current teams, and I think both would be decent candidates.

I really like DeCosta, who has been the “right-hand man” to Ozzie Newsome for years. Newsome is probably the best personnel man in the game right now, and his draft record has been impeccable. Any time you have a chance to get a guy who has learned from Newsome, I think you have to jump on it. Obviously the GM position might be up in the air until we know what’s going on with the coach, but keep an eye on DeCosta.

I know that’s a lot to digest. I tend to be skeptical most of the time when these things come out, but I think this might actually be possible. Several sources chimed in saying they thought it was possible, and those sources have also said Gruden fully intends to return to coaching in 2012. By no means am I saying to expect this scenario to play out, but it certainly is something to watch for after the season is over. Plenty of dominoes have to fall for something like this to happen, but just keep it in mind as the offseason begins.

As far as my thoughts on the situation, obviously I would love Gruden to be our next coach. The man is a proven winner and brings instant credibility to this franchise. As far as Smith goes, I can’t say I’m a huge fan. He has had a recent history of butting heads with his players, and his draft record has been less than stellar recently. With that being said, I would still take this deal if it happens. Smith has been a very good GM over his career in the past, and a new landscape here in St. Louis could be just what he needs. Plus, Gruden is likely enough to entice some free agents to town, which would make Smith’s job easier. This is one of those things that’s fun to think about, and that’s exactly what we need here in St. Louis after this awful season.