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ST. LOUIS -- Jeff Fisher has never been afraid to buck a trend, draft a troubled player or grant a second chance. The coach of the Rams stuck with Adam "Pacman" Jones and Kenny Britt when he was at Tennessee, despite their off-field problems. Britt is now reunited with Fisher in St. Louis. Fisher recently rehired Gregg Williams, the defensive co-ordinator who was given a one-year suspension by the league for the bounty scandal with the Saints. It was not a surprise that it was Fisher who helped Michael Sam make history as the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team. "He is an amazing leader, and even better, hes a better man," said Wade Davis, the head of an advocacy group for lesbian and gay athletes. Davis currently is doing some work with the NFL. "He looks at everything from all angles and hes not afraid to take on a challenge." The 56-year-old Fisher deflects any praise for being a trailblazer, insisting it was simply a football decision to upgrade one of the NFLs top pass rushes by taking Sam at No. 249. "In our world, nobodys going to agree with what you do 100 per cent of the time because everybody has opinions, and thats fine," Fisher said. "Im concerned about whats going on in the building, with the staff and players, the direction were headed. Thats always been the case." At least on the field, Fisher can relate to the challenge for Sam. He also was a seventh-round pick, the fourth wheel of a star-studded Southern California secondary that featured Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith and Joey Browner. He then carved out a career playing under Mike Ditka for a Super Bowl winner in Chicago and is entering his 19th season as an NFL head coach. Lott, a Hall of Famer, recalls Fisher smoothly making the switch from wide receiver to cornerback. "To me, its easy to play wide receiver because you know where youre going," Lott said. "Having to react, respond and do it with confidence and knowing youre not going to win every play, thats the mindset on defence. The determination he had then has stayed with him." Not long after Sam came out in February, Fisher said hed have no problem having him on the team, that this was an age of diversity. Turns out it wasnt just talk. Several picks before the Rams took Sam, Fisher broached the subject with owner Stan Kroenke and general manager Les Snead. Ditka said he wasnt surprised it was Fisher who stepped up when every other team was backing away from Sam. Ditka, who once traded all his draft picks to land Ricky Williams, called it a "pretty gutsy move." Players have fallen in lockstep with their coach on the question of picking Sam. Defensive end Chris Long called it a "football move" and so did linebacker James Laurinaitis. "I dont think it was courageous," Laurinaitis said. "I think its a calculated move by the organization. ... If you have the opportunity to draft a guy that you think is extremely productive and maybe you had a higher grade on him than where he is, you go ahead and take that. I think football-wise, it was a very smart decision." Fisher wouldnt say how far Sam slid on the Rams draft board. The coach joked that divulging that information might affect Sams rookie contract. Titans broadcaster Thom Abraham remembers Fisher in 2009 after Tennessees 0-6 start removing his sport coat, tie and shirt at the podium of a civic function to reveal a Peyton Manning jersey underneath. The punch line: "I just wanted to know what it felt like to be a winner." "Picking Sam did not surprise me one bit," Abraham said of Fisher. "Hes confident in his ability to be out front, and almost represent the NFL." Sam has had several off-season workouts and more practices are on tap this week with the veterans. Long said Sam was working hard and former Missouri teammate, receiver T.J. Moe, said the team viewed Sam simply as someone trying to make it in the NFL. "He is on the team. Theres a 90-man roster, it doesnt go 89 and then Michael Sams over there, this is the gay team, this is the straight team," Moe said. "Michael Sam is on this team and hes treated just like anybody else." And if Sam struggles, nobody that knows Fisher well doubts the coach will have any problem cutting him loose. "He doesnt like doing that part of it," said Brad Hopkins, a former Pro Bowl offensive tackle who played his entire NFL career under Fisher. "But he knows it has to be done, and that you cant make everybody happy." Authentic Brandon Graham Jersey . -- On any given day here at his companys Silicon Valley headquarters, Vivek Ranadive is ready to compete against any employee who wants to challenge him to any contest. Authentic Corey Graham Jersey . 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Globo TV and other news outlets said early Monday that Scolari will not remain as coach after the national teams failure to win the World Cup at home. WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- With traffic ahead and teammate Juan Pablo Montoya closing in from behind, Will Power stepped on the accelerator. The IndyCar points leader manoeuvred through the high-speed gridlock to claim a crucial victory Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile. Power added a little breathing room in the standings over second-place Helio Castroneves and boosted Team Penskes hopes for a season title with two races to go. "Were a well-oiled machine right now with all three cars," Power said about the team that also includes Castroneves. "If we have a couple more days like this, of course, its going to be a great finish." A Penske driver has finished second each of the previous four seasons and five of the last six. Power raced to his third victory this season, and his first on an oval. Montoya finished second, while Tony Kanaan was third. After coming into Milwaukee with a four-point lead, Power heads to the road course at Sonoma next week with 602 points, 39 more than Castroneves. Plus, Power proved doubters wrong who said he couldnt win on ovals. It was Powers third career oval victory, following Texas in 2011 and Fontana last year. "Yes! I love winning on ovals! I love winning on ovals!" he yelled on his radio after taking the checkered flag. The season could be decided on an oval with the final in two weeks at Fontana. Now brimming with confidence, Power said he especially wanted to win at Milwaukee. "This is the first year that I can say to myself that I am ... a better all-around driver," the 33-year-old Australian said. "I guess, it just comes with age, you know." Powers victory ended Ryan Hunter-Reays two-year winning streak at the Mile. Hunter-Reay won the Indianapolis 500, but his championship hopes took a hit after exiting following 168 laps with mechanical problems. Hunter-Reay was third in the standings entering the race. His day had started on a high note after signing a three-year extension with Andretti Autosport to stay in the No. 28 car. The day belonged to Power, who led for 229 laps. He is in familiar territory in contention late in the season affter also having led the standings with three races to go in 2012 and 2010.dddddddddddd. Power crashed in the finale both years. Once again, hes in control going into this seasons final two races in California. "Ive been in this situation before -- the difference is, I dont have a weakness anymore," Power said. "Its just a matter of executing on a weekend." Power led by 2 seconds late Sunday before Montoya was able to shave about a half-second from the lead around lap 238. Soon, Power and Montoya were the only two cars on the lead lap, with traffic ahead. It could have provided Montoya with a prime opportunity to get by. Instead, Power started pulling away and won by 2.7 seconds. While each praising Power, Montoya and Kanaan also groused about the traffic late with less room to pass at Milwaukee. Power said he got by from saving gas, then flooring it after hearing on the radio that Montoya was closing. "We asked him today to drive on an oval like he would on a road course," team president Tim Cindric said about the fuel strategy Power used. Montoyas momentum slowed just as he was gaining. "I really killed my tires, trying to pass traffic," Montoya said. "If you asked me at the beginning of the year if I would be mad (finishing second), I would have said you were crazy," he added. "But here I am." Castroneves finished 11th in the race. Simon Pagenaud, finished seventh, allowing him to move up to third in the driver standings, 92 behind Power. Hunter-Reay fell to fourth place, while Montoya is fifth. Sixth-place Scott Dixon is the only other driver who remains eligible for the season title. The odds look good for Team Penske with three drivers still in contention, led by Power and Castroneves at the top. "Weve been good everywhere weve been. Weve always been there," Montoya said. Montoya and Kanaan did finally catch up to Power on championship podium, pummeling him with celebratory cream puffs on each side of his head. They had direct hits on Powers ears, so bad that the winner had to get medical personnel to clean them out. ' ' '