Fisher: Redskins have bigger worries

EARTH CITY, Mo. - St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher made no apologies Monday for his choice of coin toss captains against the Washington Redskins.

Before Sunday's 24-0 win against the Redskins, Fisher strayed from sending the team's normal captains to midfield for the pregame coin toss. Instead, he sent the six players who the team drafted with picks acquired in the 2012 trade with Washington to handle those duties.

Asked about the anger that the gesture might have stirred up in Washington, Fisher didn't flinch.

"I think they've got more issues than the coin toss yesterday," Fisher said.

Receiver Stedman Bailey, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, running back Zac Stacy, left tackle Greg Robinson and linebacker Alec Ogletree represented St. Louis.

All six came to the Rams via draft picks the Rams either acquired from Washington in that trade or with subsequent picks gained from trading those choices from the Redskins.

That deal, of course, is the one that landed Robert Griffin III in Washington with 2012's second overall pick. Griffin didn't start against the Rams but entered in the fourth quarter after Colt McCoy suffered a neck injury. Griffin was three-of-four for 33 yards and sacked once on the day.

In addition to the six players, Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams previously served the same role on the Redskins' staff and Fisher himself is good friends with former Washington head coach Mike Shanahan.

Fisher pointed out that it's pretty common for him to change up his game day captains. The Rams four season-long captains are end Chris Long, linebacker James Laurinaitis, quarterback Shaun Hill and punter Johnny Hekker.

But Fisher has made a habit of letting other players handle those chores. Many times, it's a player who is going against his former team as Fisher did with end William Hayes, tight end Jared Cook and cornerback Cortland Finnegan when the team played Tennessee in 2013.

And in 2000 when Fisher was coaching the Titans, he had the special teams unit announced before a game against Buffalo in a nod to the "Music City Miracle" in which the Titans eliminated the Bills from the playoffs on the strength of a tricky kick return the previous season.

"It made too much sense for us to go ahead and recognize the guys that probably wouldn't be here had it not been for that trade so we wanted to do that before the game," Fisher said. "It was a memory that will last them for a lifetime. It's a good idea. I've sent other people out for different reasons as well. I'm glad you guys all noticed it."

Despite speculation (and an answer) to the contrary, Fisher said he wasn't trying to take a shot at anyone in particular.

"No, not at all, we're not like that," Fisher said. "We don't do that."