I received a pink slip as well from the ST Louis Rams organization that bans me from photoshoping the rams ever again.

Bring back Jesus boy 1.0

Should've stuck with the Giants there Steve-o.
/Can we take him back?

Raheem Morris also a victim of Black Monday. Ironic.

Rams equipment manager Todd Hewitt arrived to the team's Earth City complex at 5:50 a.m. -- 20 minutes late by his standards. It'd been a long week. The previous Sunday the Rams had dropped their season-ending game to the Seahawks, losing their bid to the playoffs. Hewitt had spent the next four days getting to work early so he could wash the final loads of laundry, strip down the locker room and help players prepare for their exit physicals. That Friday morning he was about to begin taking inventory for next season when he received a 7 a.m. call from head coach Steve Spagnuolo summoning him to his office.

Since Spagnuolo joined the team at the start of the 2009 season, he and Hewitt never warmed to each other; Spagnuolo had earned a reputation as a control freak, and it's possible he resented Hewitt's close relationship with the players. Hewitt, of course, was a Rams fixture, having served 10 different head coaches since 1978. He'd been appointed equipment manager in 1986, succeeding his father, the late Don Hewitt, who'd held the position since 1967.

When Hewitt entered Spagnuolo's office on Friday, he took a seat. But the head coach remained standing. General manager Billy Devaney hovered nearby.

Moments later, Hewitt experienced something he'd never anticipated in his 32-year career. He was fired.

"[Spagnuolo] said, 'There's no sense prolonging this. We're not going to bring you back,'" recalls Hewitt during an interview with Daily RFT at his Ballwin home.

It was a firing, pure and simple. No explanation. No negotiation. Not even a deftly crafted message by the team's spokesman along the lines of "Todd has decided he wants to spend more time with his family." The conversation lasted three minutes. Hewitt had until the end of the day to clear out his office; his request to do so over the weekend was denied. With the wind knocked out of him, Hewitt called his wife, who woke his three sons; they arrived at the complex in a moving truck. A security guard stood watch to make sure Hewitt didn't depart with anything that didn't belong to him.

In just one morning it had come to this: The man who'd spent more years with the Rams than anyone else since the '70s -- who joined the organizational family in 1967 as a ten-year-old ball boy, who screwed the face masks onto the helmets of Jack Youngblood, Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk, who in 1997 earned the NFL's Equipment Manager of the Year Award, who helped usher the team into a new city, fourteen playoff appearances and three Super Bowls -- was consigned to shuttling boxes into a moving truck in the freezing cold, as the clock ticked and a security guard stood watch.

Last week the team also decided to let go of assistant strength coach Chuck Faucette. Shortly after Hewitt's firing, a statement attributed to Spagnuolo went out to the media: "We have decided not to retain Todd Hewitt and Chuck Faucette going forward in 2011. We appreciate their efforts in the past and wish them well in the future."

Now, after five days, the 54-year-old Hewitt has had time to unpack some of his boxes and emotions. Sitting on his couch in jeans and sneakers, he described the way the firing went down.

"[Spagnuolo] said, 'You gave me two good years of great service, and we've decided to move in a different direction,'" Hewitt recounts. But the subtext ran deeper.

Over their two years together, the relationship between head coach and equipment manager had grown frosty. To hear Hewitt tell it, Spagnuolo brought a militaristic dysfunction to the locker room. He criticized the way Hewitt distributed socks. He questioned the way he hung wall fixtures. He scoffed at him for loading the team plane too slowly. He warned him never to talk back to him. By the second year, Hewitt couldn't assign a number to a new player without checking upstairs first. "He made life miserable," Hewitt sums up.

At one point last off-season, Spagnuolo told Hewitt he'd considered firing him and implied that he didn't take good care of the players. But he never elaborated as to how, says Hewitt. "He was paranoid."

A Rams spokesman declined to comment for this article beyond directing RFT to Spagnuolo's public statement.

Hewitt says his spirits are up now. He's received calls from most of the players. Dick Vermeil called. So did Faulk and Youngblood. So did the presidents of Nike, Rawlings and Riddell. But it's clear he's still in shock. He says the anger will come later, but signs of it are already showing.

"To be honest, I'm praying they lose every game next year," he says, adding that he has vowed never to watch another Rams game with Spagnuolo at the helm.

"What upsets me more than anything is that I did the job, I worked hard, I did things right, there was never a problem. It's not like I got fired because I forgot the footballs or didn't give players their shoes. I got fired because he wanted to move in another direction."

But when the talk turned back toward the players, the equipment manager's tone changed. And his eyes grew misty. "They're a tremendous group of guys," he said. "I'll miss them."

The only life Hewitt has ever known is Rams football. The majority of his memories, relationships and mementos come from the locker room that is clad in the carpeting that Hewitt laid down himself. "[Since the '60s] there are only two people who ever put a gold decal on those Rams helmets: Todd, and his father," says Hewitt's wife, Kathy. At this Hewitt laughs. "They'll figure it out," he quips. "But it kills the wrists. Gives you carpal tunnel."

Hewitt choked back emotions as he reflected on the good times. Over the course of 32 years, he never missed a game -- not even during the birth of one of his kids. He thought about the memories of his dad, who once advised him: "Never get married, get sick or die during the season." He talked about the first time he walked through the tunnel at the Los Angeles Coliseum, right beside Vince Lombardi before a Packers-Rams game.

"What I did wasn't anything earth-shattering," Hewitt reflects. "I just hope I made a good impression on people's lives."

Then he gets up. He has boxes to unpack.

Flying Lasagna Monster: Rams equipment manager Todd Hewitt arrived to the team's Earth City complex at 5:50 a.m. -- 20 minutes late by his standards. It'd been a long week. The previous Sunday the Rams had dropped their season-ending game to the Seahawks, losing their bid to the playoffs. Hewitt had spent the next four days getting to work early so he could wash the final loads of laundry, strip down the locker room and help players prepare for their exit physicals. That Friday morning he was about to begin taking inventory for next season when he received a 7 a.m. call from head coach Steve Spagnuolo summoning him to his office.

Since Spagnuolo joined the team at the start of the 2009 season, he and Hewitt never warmed to each other; Spagnuolo had earned a reputation as a control freak, and it's possible he resented Hewitt's close relationship with the players. Hewitt, of course, was a Rams fixture, having served 10 different head coaches since 1978. He'd been appointed equipment manager in 1986, succeeding his father, the late Don Hewitt, who'd held the position since 1967.

When Hewitt entered Spagnuolo's office on Friday, he took a seat. But the head coach remained standing. General manager Billy Devaney hovered nearby.

Moments later, Hewitt experienced something he'd never anticipated in his 32-year career. He was fired.

"[Spagnuolo] said, 'There's no sense prolonging this. We're not going to bring you back,'" recalls Hewitt during an interview with Daily RFT at his Ballwin home.



Would be sweet if they rehired him and let him work long enough to train his son to take over. But then I'm the sentimental type.

It was reported in one of our local San Diego papers recently that the Rams are looking to bring on AJ Smith as GM (assuming he is fired), and that AJ Smith would bring on Gruden as coach.

The Gordie Howe Hat Trick: Flying Lasagna Monster: Rams equipment manager Todd Hewitt arrived to the team's Earth City complex at 5:50 a.m. -- 20 minutes late by his standards. It'd been a long week. The previous Sunday the Rams had dropped their season-ending game to the Seahawks, losing their bid to the playoffs. Hewitt had spent the next four days getting to work early so he could wash the final loads of laundry, strip down the locker room and help players prepare for their exit physicals. That Friday morning he was about to begin taking inventory for next season when he received a 7 a.m. call from head coach Steve Spagnuolo summoning him to his office.

Since Spagnuolo joined the team at the start of the 2009 season, he and Hewitt never warmed to each other; Spagnuolo had earned a reputation as a control freak, and it's possible he resented Hewitt's close relationship with the players. Hewitt, of course, was a Rams fixture, having served 10 different head coaches since 1978. He'd been appointed equipment manager in 1986, succeeding his father, the late Don Hewitt, who'd held the position since 1967.

When Hewitt entered Spagnuolo's office on Friday, he took a seat. But the head coach remained standing. General manager Billy Devaney hovered nearby.

Moments later, Hewitt experienced something he'd never anticipated in his 32-year career. He was fired.

"[Spagnuolo] said, 'There's no sense prolonging this. We're not going to bring you back,'" recalls Hewitt during an interview with Daily RFT at his Ballwin home.



Would be sweet if they rehired him and let him work long enough to train his son to take over. But then I'm the sentimental type.

What does one do after being an NFL equipment manager for 32 years? It just seems like it wouldn't prepare you for a terrible lot of jobs.

Neeek: The Gordie Howe Hat Trick: Flying Lasagna Monster: Rams equipment manager Todd Hewitt arrived to the team's Earth City complex at 5:50 a.m. -- 20 minutes late by his standards. It'd been a long week. The previous Sunday the Rams had dropped their season-ending game to the Seahawks, losing their bid to the playoffs. Hewitt had spent the next four days getting to work early so he could wash the final loads of laundry, strip down the locker room and help players prepare for their exit physicals. That Friday morning he was about to begin taking inventory for next season when he received a 7 a.m. call from head coach Steve Spagnuolo summoning him to his office.

Since Spagnuolo joined the team at the start of the 2009 season, he and Hewitt never warmed to each other; Spagnuolo had earned a reputation as a control freak, and it's possible he resented Hewitt's close relationship with the players. Hewitt, of course, was a Rams fixture, having served 10 different head coaches since 1978. He'd been appointed equipment manager in 1986, succeeding his father, the late Don Hewitt, who'd held the position since 1967.

When Hewitt entered Spagnuolo's office on Friday, he took a seat. But the head coach remained standing. General manager Billy Devaney hovered nearby.

Moments later, Hewitt experienced something he'd never anticipated in his 32-year career. He was fired.

"[Spagnuolo] said, 'There's no sense prolonging this. We're not going to bring you back,'" recalls Hewitt during an interview with Daily RFT at his Ballwin home.



Would be sweet if they rehired him and let him work long enough to train his son to take over. But then I'm the sentimental type.

What does one do after being an NFL equipment manager for 32 years? It just seems like it wouldn't prepare you for a terrible lot of jobs.

Locker Room attendant at a swanky golf or fitness club?

Neeek: The Gordie Howe Hat Trick: Flying Lasagna Monster: Rams equipment manager Todd Hewitt arrived to the team's Earth City complex at 5:50 a.m. -- 20 minutes late by his standards. It'd been a long week. The previous Sunday the Rams had dropped their season-ending game to the Seahawks, losing their bid to the playoffs. Hewitt had spent the next four days getting to work early so he could wash the final loads of laundry, strip down the locker room and help players prepare for their exit physicals. That Friday morning he was about to begin taking inventory for next season when he received a 7 a.m. call from head coach Steve Spagnuolo summoning him to his office.

Since Spagnuolo joined the team at the start of the 2009 season, he and Hewitt never warmed to each other; Spagnuolo had earned a reputation as a control freak, and it's possible he resented Hewitt's close relationship with the players. Hewitt, of course, was a Rams fixture, having served 10 different head coaches since 1978. He'd been appointed equipment manager in 1986, succeeding his father, the late Don Hewitt, who'd held the position since 1967.

When Hewitt entered Spagnuolo's office on Friday, he took a seat. But the head coach remained standing. General manager Billy Devaney hovered nearby.

Moments later, Hewitt experienced something he'd never anticipated in his 32-year career. He was fired.

"[Spagnuolo] said, 'There's no sense prolonging this. We're not going to bring you back,'" recalls Hewitt during an interview with Daily RFT at his Ballwin home.



Would be sweet if they rehired him and let him work long enough to train his son to take over. But then I'm the sentimental type.

What does one do after being an NFL equipment manager for 32 years? It just seems like it wouldn't prepare you for a terrible lot of jobs.

More importantly, how do you "go in a different direction" with an equipment manager? Was Spagnulo gunning for that job or something?

Neeek: The Gordie Howe Hat Trick: Flying Lasagna Monster: Rams equipment manager Todd Hewitt arrived to the team's Earth City complex at 5:50 a.m. -- 20 minutes late by his standards. It'd been a long week. The previous Sunday the Rams had dropped their season-ending game to the Seahawks, losing their bid to the playoffs. Hewitt had spent the next four days getting to work early so he could wash the final loads of laundry, strip down the locker room and help players prepare for their exit physicals. That Friday morning he was about to begin taking inventory for next season when he received a 7 a.m. call from head coach Steve Spagnuolo summoning him to his office.

Since Spagnuolo joined the team at the start of the 2009 season, he and Hewitt never warmed to each other; Spagnuolo had earned a reputation as a control freak, and it's possible he resented Hewitt's close relationship with the players. Hewitt, of course, was a Rams fixture, having served 10 different head coaches since 1978. He'd been appointed equipment manager in 1986, succeeding his father, the late Don Hewitt, who'd held the position since 1967.

When Hewitt entered Spagnuolo's office on Friday, he took a seat. But the head coach remained standing. General manager Billy Devaney hovered nearby.

Moments later, Hewitt experienced something he'd never anticipated in his 32-year career. He was fired.

"[Spagnuolo] said, 'There's no sense prolonging this. We're not going to bring you back,'" recalls Hewitt during an interview with Daily RFT at his Ballwin home.



Would be sweet if they rehired him and let him work long enough to train his son to take over. But then I'm the sentimental type.

What does one do after being an NFL equipment manager for 32 years? It just seems like it wouldn't prepare you for a terrible lot of jobs.

Manage a Foot Locker?

B-b-b-ut Steve was so proud of the effort his players put forward!

I would love to read what Mike Kearney had said about Spagnuolo.

DubyaHater: Should've stuck with the Giants there Steve-o.
/Can we take him back?

Sounds like a plan. How about this trade: Fewell as Rams HC for Spags back as Giants' D-Coordinator.

Win, win for everyone.

Neeek:

What does one do after being an NFL equipment manager for 32 years? It just seems like it wouldn't prepare you for a terrible lot of jobs.

i read somewhere he went home and finally watched the "hurt locker".

Harv72b: basemetal: Poor Bradford, now there will be three different offenses in three years. That's how you ruin a QB.

Well, that and their offensive line.

What offensive line? We had one?

12:59:00 MST and Norv Turner still has a job.

basemetal: Poor Bradford, now there will be three different offenses in three years. That's how you ruin a QB.

Mrtraveler01: Harv72b: basemetal: Poor Bradford, now there will be three different offenses in three years. That's how you ruin a QB.

Well, that and their offensive line.

What offensive line? We had one?

Sam Bradford: The new Alex Smith?

With constantly changing O-Coordinators and no O-Line?

12:06 PST and Norv Turner's job is still there.

robsul82: Hey, Polians, step into my office...because you're farking fired! (new window)

That pretty much guarantees they will cut ties with Manning, too. Let the bidding begin!

20:17 GMT and Norvelle still has a job

12:20 PST and Norvette is still driving around.

1:51 Mumbai time and Norvita still has a job

Lost Thought 00: robsul82: Hey, Polians, step into my office...because you're farking fired! (new window)

That pretty much guarantees they will cut ties with Manning, too. Let the bidding begin!

No, it means pretty much the opposite. Irsay and Manning are very tight, it means the Polians are gone and Manning is staying.

Coach_J: Lost Thought 00: robsul82: Hey, Polians, step into my office...because you're farking fired! (new window)

That pretty much guarantees they will cut ties with Manning, too. Let the bidding begin!

No, it means pretty much the opposite. Irsay and Manning are very tight, it means the Polians are gone and Manning is staying.

Polian was hired to oversee Manning's career. Polian is gone, therefore Manning's career is done. The new guy will want to draft his own wunderkind, so he can ride his coattails and be Polian 2.0. If he keeps Manning around, then he is guaranteed to get fired when Manning does finally retire.

Neeek: What does one do after being an NFL equipment manager for 32 years? It just seems like it wouldn't prepare you for a terrible lot of jobs.

Hewitt filed an age discrimination suit against the Rams, then moved on to a job as equipment manager with the Univerisity of California Golden Bears. His contacts and experience proved to be of great value when attempting to outfit oversized Cal freshman Viliami Moala. Link

15:33 EST, and Mr. Turner still has a job.

12:35 in San Diego and NorvTurn has not filed or visited umemp.ca

Lost Thought 00: Coach_J: Lost Thought 00: robsul82: Hey, Polians, step into my office...because you're farking fired! (new window)

That pretty much guarantees they will cut ties with Manning, too. Let the bidding begin!

No, it means pretty much the opposite. Irsay and Manning are very tight, it means the Polians are gone and Manning is staying.

Polian was hired to oversee Manning's career. Polian is gone, therefore Manning's career is done. The new guy will want to draft his own wunderkind, so he can ride his coattails and be Polian 2.0. If he keeps Manning around, then he is guaranteed to get fired when Manning does finally retire.

Except when Polian was hired Manning was still in college.

And last time I checked, great players retire all the time and the GM doesn't get fired. You really have no idea WTF you are talking about do you?

1:00 PST and NorvWatch is still in full effect.

5:20 in Nova Scotia and the Norv Turner Watch has moved to the Polians thread

I'm glad Spagnuolo and Devaney are gone, because keeping them would have been a clear sign the owner (Stan Kronke) was doing everything to kill fan support in St. Louis and justify a move back to Los Angeles.

Really got my fingers crossed for Jeff Fischer. That and maybe bring back Vermeil in an advisory role as he's the only person who's ever been able to bring any sense of order to that shiat mess.

varmitydog: Neeek: What does one do after being an NFL equipment manager for 32 years? It just seems like it wouldn't prepare you for a terrible lot of jobs.

Hewitt filed an age discrimination suit against the Rams, then moved on to a job as equipment manager with the Univerisity of California Golden Bears. His contacts and experience proved to be of great value when attempting to outfit oversized Cal freshman Viliami Moala. Link

Thanks. That was interesting.

Neeek: What does one do after being an NFL equipment manager for 32 years? It just seems like it wouldn't prepare you for a terrible lot of jobs.

Considering some of the jobs discussed in the article and the fact that presidents of major equipment manufacturing companies called him, I'm betting anything involving logistics or purchasing. It looks like "equipment manager" is one of the high level background jobs where no one knows you're there until you screw up. It's probably on par with head grounds keeper (not the low level assistants).

I also want to reiterate the question posed by someone else. How the heck do you take a sports team in a new direction with a new equipment manager, unless he's a total klutz?