Updated

Before hiring Gregg Williams as his defensive coordinator for the second time, St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher cleared it with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Williams was part of Fisher's first staff with the Rams in 2012, but only for a few weeks before getting suspended for his role in the Saints' bounty scandal.

Fisher said at a news conference Thursday that he and Williams spent a few days together coming to terms with the past. Williams, who grew up in Missouri, said he hoped this was his last coaching stop.

Williams scoffed at a claim from a player who said the coach bragged about using a stolen playbook to help Tennessee beat Jacksonville in the 1999 AFC championship game. Williams called the story a joke and said he had every team's playbook.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org