FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- There was no press release, no statement from the owner, not even a mention on the team's social media accounts.

Only a confirmation.

Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher is indeed signed through the 2018 season, a development his own organization does not seem overly enthused to get behind. News leaked Sunday morning, hours before the Rams were beaten handily by a New England Patriots team that is generations ahead of them in this sport. Fisher later confirmed his extension and said he signed it "well before" even the first preseason game, which took place 114 days ago.

That essentially confirms one other thing, too: The Rams didn't want this out there during the season. They wanted to see how it all played out, because they're back in L.A. and image matters so much right now. Perhaps they also wanted flexibility, because it's a lot easier to cut ties with Fisher and the money owed to him if the public is not aware he signed an extension in the first place.

All this really does is guarantee Fisher's compensation, and maybe not even so much of that. Sources told ESPN they believe the deal includes a team option for the Rams, who still could part ways with Fisher after the season and owe him only one year of salary. The Rams have dropped seven of their last eight games, and the final quarter of 2016 is coming up. If Fisher doesn't prove his team is on track to becoming a consistent winner, Rams owner Stan Kroenke still can make a change.

"I've got some work to do here to finish up strong," said Fisher, who was extended along with general manager Les Snead, who also was in the final year of his contract. "You know, we have some personnel issues to deal with and get better, and we have some issues to deal with from an offensive side."

The Rams' offense has been a continual problem under Fisher. They're 32nd in the NFL in yards per game this season, after ranking 32nd in 2015, 28th in 2014, 30th in 2013 and 23rd in 2012. On Sunday, in a 26-10 loss, they finished the first half with one first down and did not reach the end zone until less than two minutes remained in the game. It was their eighth loss, guaranteeing Fisher his 15th non-winning season in 21 full years as a head coach.

Fisher has 164 career losses, one away from the all-time leader, Dan Reeves, making him almost certain to finish this season with the record.

But the expectation all along has been that Fisher would return. And it appears as if next year is when he really needs to get this whole thing right. The excuses of relocating a franchise or grooming a rookie quarterback will no longer be in play, seemingly making the 2017 season the one when Fisher will truly sit on the proverbial hot seat. But the Rams never seemed comfortable with his short extension beyond 2016 becoming public knowledge, even amid tumultuous speculation.

The timing for it getting out could not have been worse.

Days after a 49-21 blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints, Fisher was involved in a public spat with Hall of Fame running back and Los Angeles Rams legend Eric Dickerson, who was infuriated by being denied sideline passes as a response to his criticism of the team. Fans were turning on the team, their demands that Fisher be fired growing louder. Given that, this leak -- confirmed initially through a team spokesman, though the length of the extension wasn't specified -- smelled of something that came from Fisher's camp, done as an act of self-preservation.

If the extension was done so long ago, why wouldn't the Rams simply announce it, or at least let it be known so as to quell speculation?

"I don't know," Fisher said. "It's out of my hands. You know, we had a lot going on this offseason. A lot of stuff going on, so, I don't know. It's not my place to make that announcement."

On Sunday's news, first reported by NFL.com, Fisher said, "I don't know where it came from." He denied being made uncomfortable by the Rams' decision to not announce his extension, then admitted that "the wins and losses fall on my shoulders" and said he's "excited about this opportunity" to continue with the Rams.

"Stan knows what we've been through," Fisher said, "and he knows the direction we are headed as a franchise."

Fisher got a lot of support in the locker room, which seemed genuine. The 53-year-old has never really had issues winning over a room and gaining the trust of his players, which is part of his appeal. Fisher joined a franchise that had lost 65 of 80 games over a five-year stretch and made it competitive, but is he the guy to make the Rams a playoff team?

"For sure," running back Todd Gurley said. "He’s done it before."

"He’s been to the big dance," defensive end Eugene Sims added, referencing a Super Bowl loss for Fisher's Tennessee Titans to the then-St. Louis Rams to end the 1999 season. "He knows what it takes. We just have to do our part."

"He’s put together a hell of a team this year, man," defensive end William Hayes said. "It’s just unfortunate he’s getting a lot of slack on us losing."

Losing has been a problem with the Rams for a while now, and their new city has a lot less patience for it. It's tough to say what the team's record would have to be in order for Fisher to be let go at season's end, but it's clear that very little is guaranteed -- not even with an extension.