"The Rams didn't greet Jeff Fisher with a helicopter ride and a photo opportunity Thursday in Denver, as was the case in Miami. That's not Stan Kroenke's style.

But the Rams' owner did meet with Fisher, the former Tennessee Titans head coach and the No. 1 target on the Rams' list to replace Steve Spagnuolo. Fisher spent the better part of the day meeting with Kroenke and left Thursday evening. The meeting was scheduled in Denver because the Rams didn't want to create a circus atmosphere with a St. Louis meeting.

All indications are that it's a two-horse race between St. Louis and Miami for Fisher's services. He apparently will not interview in Tampa Bay, as had been speculated.

But the rest of the NFL has taken notice of Kroenke's serious pursuit of Fisher. With Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden seemingly intent on sitting out this hiring season, and no real hot coordinators on the market, Fisher is the belle of the ball in this year's NFL coaching carousel.

In conversations with a variety of sources around the league, one recurring theme has been that Kroenke must be serious about winning in St. Louis if he's going after Fisher. This will be Kroenke's first coaching hire as Rams controlling owner, and for better or worse, it will help define his ownership style to his competitors in the NFL.

It's not just others around the league who are taking notice. So are Rams players, many of whom are hoping their next boss is someone with prior head-coaching experience after the team went 0-for-2 going the hot coordinator route with Spagnuolo and Scott Linehan.

One Rams player, when told Kroenke would open his wallet to get Fisher, replied: "He better!""