Michael Sam went unclaimed on waivers after his release by the St. Louis Rams on Saturday.

Sam is now to sign with an NFL team's practice squad.

Sam arrived at Rams Park on Sunday for a face-to-face exit meeting with Jeff Fisher. The meeting was postponed a day so Sam could attend Missouri's opening victory over South Dakota State.

Bill Belichick is ranked as the best coach in the NFL, according to a poll of 30 league insiders.

Pete Carroll and Sean Payton are ranked second and third and are also in their first tier.

"The most important thing to me is the ability to control the offense, the defense and the special teams," a GM said in describing the ideal coach. "You can change and you can coach multiple things and you have the ability to teach almost every position group. Then you can lose any coach you want and replace from within because the head coach is the talent. Belichick is the ultimate model of that."

Belichick commmanded a 1 vote on 28 of 30 ballots.

In Tier 2 are Andy Reid at No. 4, Tom Coughlin at No. 5, Mike McCarthy and Mike Tomlin at No. 6, Jim Harbaugh at No. 8, John Harbaugh at No. 9, John Fox at No. 10 , Jeff Fisher at No. 11, Chip Kelly at No. 12, Bruce Arians at No. 13, Lovie Smith at No. 14 and Mavin Lewis at No. 15.

Tier 3 is led by Chuck Pagano At No. 16, followed by Rex Ryan (17), Mike Smith (18), Gus Bradley (19), Ken Whisenhunt (20), Mike McCoy (20), Marc Trestman (22) and Ron Rivera (23).

Tier 4 features Mike Zimmer (24), Jay Gruden (25), Bill O'Brien (26), Jim Caldwell (27), Doug Marrone (28), Joe Philbin (29), Jason Garrett (30), Mike Pettine (31) and Bruce Allen (32).

Mark Sanchez has been linked to a trade ot the St. Louis Rams following the season-ending injury to Sam Bradford, but he reportedly wants to remain with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sanchez would have a chance to start and play in Brian Schottenheimer's offense if he were to go to the Rams.

Sanchez believes he has a chance to remake his career at the age of 27 with Chip Kelly and has played well in the preseason.

Shaun Hill will enter 2014 as the Rams' starter.

The St. Louis Rams are prepared to play 2014 with Shaun Hill at quarterback following the season-ending injury to Sam Bradford.

Jeff Fisher dismissed rumors that the Rams could be on the market for an outside quarterback who could challenge Hill.

"I’ve heard that there’s speculation we’ve been on the phone," Fisher said. "That’s not true. It doesn’t mean to say we won’t but we haven’t done it to this point. Keep in mind these guys understand our system. Shaun is ready to play." 

The Rams could conceivably pursue someone like Mark Sanchez, Ryan Mallett or Kirk Cousins.

"It makes no sense to jump and react right now and try to fill the hole, whatever it costs," Fisher said. "We’re going to take our time and evaluate this. There’s going to be some quarterbacks that are getting released and there may or may not be some quarterbacks that have trade value. We just don’t know. It’s way too soon." 

Sam Bradford suffered a torn ACL in his left knee when he was hit by D.J. Swearinger.

"[This is] devastating for Sam," said Jeff Fisher.

It is the same injury that sidelined Bradford in the middle of last season.

"Anyone that's gone through that procedure and the rehab understands and to have it happen again within the calendar year is very, very difficult," Fisher said. "We're thinking of Sam. I met with him this morning. He's left the building to spend time with his parents. I really can't give you any timetable as to when he's going to have this procedure done."

The St. Louis Rams are confident that Sam Bradford did not sustain a serious knee injury on Saturday.

"I can't speculate but it appeared just to be a hyperextension of the same knee," Jeff Fisher said. "He's walking around fine inside right now. That's all I can tell you."

A league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that initial tests did not show any damage to Bradford's surgically repaired left ACL, adding that the Rams "dodged a bullet."

Bradford will undergo an MRI no later than Sunday, Fisher confirmed Saturday night.