[RamWraith]

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Wednesday, Mar. 21 2007

Punter Matt Turk revived his career in St. Louis last season after a groin
injury in training camp in Miami wrecked his 2005 campaign. After not punting
at all in '05 because of the injury, Turk averaged 43.5 yards per kick last
season, the best gross average for a Rams punter since Rick Tuten's 44.2
average in 1998.

Even more impressive was Turk's 38.3 net punting average — a figure that
subtracts return yards and yards lost on touchbacks. That was the seventh-best
total in the NFL last season, and the highest for a Rams punter since the
franchise moved to St. Louis in 1995.

So as he entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, Turk had every
expectation of playing for more than the veteran's minimum of $810,000 (for a
10-year veteran) that he earned in '06. But it hasn't happened yet. Nearly
three weeks into free agency, Turk and the Rams are at a stalemate in
negotiations, leaving Turk puzzled and frustrated.

"I'm just a little confused," Turk said in a telephone interview from his
Florida home. "Usually after a punter has a year like I had, you expect your
team to step up to the plate. ... Teams get a good punter and they usually want
to keep 'em."

Turk made his comments one day after the Rams brought in five punters — all
street free agents — to work out at Rams Park. None of those punters was
signed, but earlier in the offseason, the Rams signed former Green Bay punter
B.J. Sander to a one-year deal.

Meanwhile, Turk has been working out in south Florida.

"I feel great," he said. "I'm in better shape right now than I was last year at
this time. I'm just very confident in my own abilities. So to settle for
something that's really not fair just doesn't make sense.

"If there was any flexibility on the part of the Rams, I would be flexible as
well. But (the Rams) just really haven't budged at all. It was more or less a
stance of: 'This is our offer, take it or leave it.' "

Turk said he has told his agent that he doesn't want to be greedy — but that he
does want a fair deal. Turk said he would prefer a multiyear deal but would
agree on a one-year deal if the numbers were right.

"I'm not going to sell myself short," he said. "By signing a contract that puts
you outside the top 10 punters, you're saying you're not as good as those guys.
And I think I'm as good as any punter in the league. I really do.

"We proposed numbers that were lower than the top seven punters, and it wasn't
accepted. And that was on a one-year deal. We proposed a two-year deal where
the (average) numbers were even lower, and they didn't want to do that. That's
just the stance that they're taking right now. I'm hoping that they change
their minds."

Rams president of football operations Jay Zygmunt could not be reached for
comment Tuesday.

From a Rams standpoint, the team could be concerned about Turk's age — he turns
37 in June. Or they could be concerned about his past groin problems.

Turk said a couple of other teams have shown some interest. He thinks teams
needing a punter might wait until after the draft to address their needs. But
he'd still like to make it work with the Rams.

"I love St. Louis," Turk said. "I would love to come back to St. Louis and move
my family there. And give them the best punter in the league for the next few
years.

"I'm a man of faith. I pray about everything. I'm patient. And I still have
hope it'll get done with the Rams."