Two Years and Out for Brooks

Winning three of the last four games wasn’t enough to save Rich Brooks’ job.

On Sunday, a day after St. Louis finished with a comeback victory over New Orleans, Brooks was fired as the Ram coach.

The Rams were 6-10 this season after going 7-9 in Brooks’ first season in 1995. That regression might not seem so bad except Brooks started his rookie year 5-1. He also proclaimed his team a playoff contender in training camp each season.

Team President John Shaw met with owner Georgia Frontiere, minority partner Stan Kroenke and several other club executives on Sunday, then broke the news to Brooks, a former Oregon coach.

Shaw said he decided to let Brooks go after meeting with the coach for 1 1/2 hours last Thursday, adding that the final game had no bearing on the move. He said he had not yet contacted any prospective candidates.

“Rich’s view to me was that he thought I was making a mistake,” Shaw said. “I understand his view. But at this point I wasn’t terribly confident that the direction we were going was such that we would win next year.”

Frontiere said in a statement that she approved the change “with great sadness.”

Steve Ortmayer, the team’s general manager and vice president of football operations, might be next to go. Ortmayer remains, for now, but Shaw said the new coach might have a say in whether he stays.

“I don’t think we’ve said Steve is getting a second chance,” Shaw said.

Ram management also has noted that expansion teams Carolina and Jacksonville made the playoffs in their second season while the Rams languished.

“The dynamics of the NFL have changed dramatically in the ‘90s,” Shaw said. “Success does not come to those who wait. On behalf of our fans, we cannot, nor will we wait.”

Brooks, who had two years left on a four-year contract that will pay him $600,000 a year, is expected to hold a news conference today.