Dave McGinnis could be asked to lead St. Louis defense

Gregg Williams will meet with high-ranking NFL officials today at the league’s office in New York in a move that could lead to harsh punishment for him and the New Orleans Saints.

The NFL is working now to determine what type of discipline to hand out for the bounty program that Williams ran for three seasons with the New Orleans Saints and previously as the defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins.

As Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes, the St. Louis Rams now might need to consider a Plan B for their defensive coordinator this season. If Williams is suspended for a lengthy period of time, the Rams will have to adjust. New St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher hired Williams to run his defense. The two have long been friends dating back to time together with the Houston Oilers.

If Williams is sidelined, speculation is assistant head coach Dave McGinnis, who has a deep background in the defense Fisher and Williams prefer, would run the scheme. McGinnis coached with Buddy Ryan for the Chicago Bears when Fisher was a player.

The Rams obviously won’t make a move until the NFL announces punishments, and that could take a few weeks. Stay tuned. This story will not be going away anytime soon.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune