Eric Dickerson Says He Won't Attend Rams Games At Coliseum 'As Long As Fisher Is Coaching'

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Eric Dickerson says he won't be attending Rams games at the Los Angeles Coliseum as long as Jeff Fisher is coaching the team.

"I won't be at the Coliseum as long as Fisher is coaching," the team's second all-time leading rusher said, according to an ESPN report Tuesday. "I'm a man of my word, and if I tell you something, I'm going to do it."

Dickerson, who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1999, has been a fixture at team events since the team returned to Los Angeles from St. Louis this season. He worked as a Rams broadcaster during the preseason and does a weekly two-hour radio show about the team, which has lost six of its last seven games to fall to 4-7.

The relationship turned sour when Dickerson says his request for field passes to an upcoming home game was denied at the groundbreaking ceremony for the team's new stadium in Inglewood earlier this month.

Dickerson said he then received a call from Fisher saying that Dickerson's criticisms of the team were making players "uncomfortable." Dickerson had criticized the team's offense as "boring" and questioned the qualifications of quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke.

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"Players feel uncomfortable with you coming on the sidelines, some of the stuff you said about the team, about coaches and the players," Dickerson said he was told by Fisher. "And as long as I'm head coach, we're not going to have that. You're not going to be saying stuff. You're not going to be coming to the sidelines as long as I'm head coach here."

Dickerson spoke publicly about the spat for the first time on his radio show Monday, defending his right to speak openly about the team's struggles.

"These are grown men," he said. "You can't talk about the players anymore?"

Rams management appeared to try to mend the relationship on Monday, with Rams COO Kevin Demoff tweeting reassurances that Dickerson is always welcome at team events. Coach Jeff Fisher also said at a Monday press conference that Dickerson is welcome to attend practice or sit in on team meetings.

RELATED: Rams Say Eric Dickerson Is Always Welcome On Sideline

"I don't know where that's coming from with Eric," Fisher said. "He's always welcome. He's welcome in the building. I'd love to have him come in. I'd love to have him come to practice. I'd love to have him come into meetings. I mean, Eddie George has been in my meetings more than Eric Dickerson has. I'd love to have him here."

Dickerson has not softened his stance, however, and on Tuesday was retweeting messages of support from his fans -- including at least one tweet calling for the ouster of Fisher.

Fisher's contract expires at the end of the season. There were reports of an extension negotiation earlier this season, but the team has not publicly commented on Fisher's status after this season.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

 

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