The Rams' plans to play one home game in London the next three years violates the team's stadium lease, according to the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission. The CVC said in a release Friday that the lease requires the team to play all its home games at the Edward Jones Dome.

The Rams will play home games in each of the three next seasons in London. One league office source said teams receive a payment from the NFL that is above what is made for a regular home game. The number is at least $5 million per home game lost.

The Rams have hired Brian Schottenheimer as their offensive coordinator.

The Rams took a step to becoming Britain's "home" team Friday, agreeing to play a regular-season NFL game in London in each of the next three seasons. The Rams and Patriots meet at Wembley on Oct. 28, about two months after the closing ceremony of the London Olympics. That will be followed by games at Wembley against undetermined opponents in 2013 and 2014.

The Rams will host the Patriots in late October as the NFL continues to hold a regular season in London next season. London is the home of Rams owner Stan Kroenke's Arsenal soccer team of the English Premier League. The 2012 game will be a Rams "home" contest, meaning they will play only seven games next season in the Edward Jones Dome. It is also believed that this could be a multi-year arrangement with the Rams, not unlike the Bills playing in Toronto.

Former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo has agreed to become defensive coordinator of the Saints, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. The 52-year-old Spagnuolo was head coach in St. Louis the past three seasons/ Before that he was defensive coordinator for the Giants, a stint that included a Super Bowl upset of the Patriots. NFC South blog ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas writes about all things NFC South in his division blog. • Blog network: NFL Nation Gregg Williams, who was New Orleans' defensive coordinator the past three seasons, has joined Jeff Fisher's staff in St. Louis. Spagnuolo and the Saints do not have a contract yet.

Jason Smith is due to earn a base salary of $10 million in 2012, but just $1 million is guaranteed. Sources say the Rams won't hesitate to release Smith as he hasn't lived up to his billing as the second overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. Smith was picked as a left tackle, but has already been moved to the right side.

Former Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz resigned his post with the team on Jan. 3, and is now retiring from the coaching profession, according to a report by the NFL Network. A 20-year coaching veteran, Martz, who also served as head coach of the Rams, directed Chicago's offense to a pair of mediocre seasons in which it ranked 24th in total offense in 2011 and 30th in 2010, culminating in the coach leaving the Bears over what team president Ted Phillips called "philosophical differences."

Gregg Williams has agreed to terms with the Rams to be the team's defensive coordinator under new head coach Jeff Fisher. Williams, previously the defensive coordinator of the Saints, had a contract that expired after the season. The Saints sent five or more pass-rushers 51.1 percent of the time in 2011, most in the NFL. The percentage was a league-leading 49.5 in 2010 and a runnerup 48.2 in 2009.

Brian Schottenheimer had an interview with the Rams scheduled for Sunday. Schottenheimer also interviewed for the offensive coordinator position with Alabama. Schottenheimer told the Jets on Tuesday that he will not return next season.