[RamWraith]

Since reaching the top of the mountain in 1999, the St. Louis Rams have lost more free agents than any team in the NFL.


TONIGHT ON KTRS FROM 6:30-9:00 P.M., STEVE SAVARD AND JIM THOMAS WILL JOIN ME TO BREAKDOWN THE RAMS SEASON AND PREVIEW THE SUPER BOWL. IN ADDITION, WE'LL REPLAY CUTS FROM OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RAMS COACH MIKE MARTZ


ON THE SIDELINES: Many of the Rams coaches have endured harsh criticism in recent years with head coach Mike Martz in the middle of the storm.

Despite relative success across the board, the Rams are a favorite target for the vocal minority that craves the opportunity to condemn coaches, players and sports organizations.

Allow me a few moments to review some very simple facts before delving into personnel numbers that highlight the changeover Rams coaches have carried through to reach a point where stability is awaiting them in 2005.

Since 2000, the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles are the only two teams in the NFL to play in more postseason games than the Rams.

Since 2000, the Rams are the fifth winningest team in the NFL.

The Rams have registered three double-digit winning seasons since 2000.

The Rams have won seven or more games every year since 1999, Baltimore and Green Bay are the only other two organizations to accomplish the feat.

The Rams have won seven or more games every year since 2000, the Ravens, Packers, Denver, New Orleans and Philadelphia are the other five organizations in the NFL that hasn't dipped below seven wins in the last five years.

The harshest of critics reference the last three years for reasoning of the Rams demise.

Consider the following: Since 2002, the Rams are the third winningest team in the NFC with a mark of 27-21. Overall, the Rams rank ninth in the NFL in wins over the last three seasons.

That's right, over the last three seasons, the Rams rank in the top three in the NFC and the top 10 in the NFL in wins... and by the way earned two playoff bids, during a three-year window considered horrendous by many.

Coach Mike Martz & Co., led the team to division titles in 2001 (playing into the Super Bowl) and 2003.

On the flip side, the focus is the fact that the Rams didn't reach the promise land in 2000 and 2002 when they were favorites to reach the Super Bowl.

Many now point to the Patriots playing in the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.

I preface the following the question with the fact that I have the greatest admiration for the accomplishments of the Patriots. That noted, had the Pats lost Tom Brady for five games last season and 10 games this season... what might've been?

Over a four period both teams (Rams 2000-2002; Pats 2001-2004) missed the playoffs once, with New England reaching The Super Bowl three times, the Rams played in the season finale twice.

I broach the question for one simple reason. The two years the Rams failed to play into the Super Bowl, Kurt Warner was wrecked by injury crippling a team built on a high-octane offense.

Consider in 2000, Warner was on his way to the greatest season in NFL history. Through the first six games of the season (the Rams were 6-0), Warner was on pace to throw for over 6,000 yards, 45 touchdowns with 53 completions of 25 or more yards. The yardage total would've been 25 percent more than what Peyton Manning threw for this season, Warner would've been just four TDs shy of Manning's record set this season, and for comparative purposes, Manning had 41 completions for 25 or more yards this season.

Yes, Warner did return for the playoffs, however, the five games he missed after injury (in game seven vs. Kansas City) determined the Rams fate. Had Warner remained healthy, it's safe to assume the Rams would've won the NFC West and likely earned the number one seed in the NFC. Hence, instead of opening the playoffs on the road at New Orleans, the Rams would have enjoyed the comfortable confines of the dome in postseason play.

Even with a defense that was injured and aged quickly (Ray Agnew, D'Marco Farr, Todd Lyght, Keith Lyle, Todd Collins, etc.), had Warner remained 100 percent healthy in 2000, the script for the season would've been completely altered.

Warner returned healthy in 2001 operating Martz' offense... the Rams advanced to The Super Bowl.

Do I even need to relive the 2002 seasons?

Therefore, when Warner was at his best and running Martz' offense, the Rams reached the Super Bowl on two occasions. Before being injured in 2000, Warner was on pace for his greatest season and in 2002 the clock struck midnight on the fairy tale that was The Greatest Show on Turf.

So, I ask again, with all due respect to the Pats... if the injury bug had bitten Tom Brady as deeply and severely would the Pats be playing in The Super Bowl for the third time in four years?



HARDCORE NUMBERS: Having backtracked to show that in relative terms the Rams truly have been successful in comparison to others in the NFL since 2000... digest these personnel facts.

Note that despite the talent drain, the Rams have overcome to reach the playoffs four of the last five years, win two division titles in the last four years and reach the Super Bowl in 2001.

The Rams have lost 30 players via free agency since 2000 (the end of the 1999 season). That is the most in the NFL.

The Rams have signed 10 free agents since 2000 (the end of the 1999 season).

On the other side, New England has signed 26 free agents since the end of the 1999 season. The 11 teams that participated in the playoffs this season (in addition to the Rams) have signed an average of 17 free agents since the end of the 1999 season.

The 11 teams that participated in the playoffs this season (in addition to the Rams) have lost an average of 16 free agents since 2000 (the end of the 1999 season).

In summation, the Rams have lost 30 players via free agency since the end of the 1999 season, and have signed 10... totaling a minus 20 in free agent personnel.

The 11 teams that participated in the playoffs this season (in addition to the Rams) signed, on average, 17 free agents since 2000 (the end of the 1999 season), and averaged 16 free agents losses for a ratio of plus one since the 2000 (end of the 1999 season).

Since 2002 (end of the 2001 season), the Rams have lost 20 free agents (signing just five).

The Patriots have lost 13 free agents during the same timeframe while signing 15 free agents.

Since 2002 (end of the 2001 season), the Rams have lost 20 free agents. During the same timeframe, the other seven teams that participated in the NFL Divisional playoffs (in addition to the Rams) lost an average of 10 free agents (or 50 percent fewer).

To amplify the personnel loss, since 2002 (end of the 2001 season), the Rams have signed five free agents. During the same timeframe, the seven teams that participated in the NFL Divisional playoffs (in addition to the Rams) signed an average of 12 free agents.

In summation, since 2002 (end of the 2001 season), the Rams have lost 20 free agents and signed five free agents.

During the same timeframe, since 2002 (end of the 2001 season), the other seven teams that participated in the NFL Divisional playoffs lost an average of 10 free agents while signing an average of 12 free agents.

In wrapping the take on the Rams personnel drain over the last five years, consider since 2000 (the end of the 1999 season). The Rams have signed or retained 20 free agents... again, during the timeframe the Rams have signed or retained 20 free agents.

There are just two teams in the NFL having signed or retained fewer free agents during the timeframe... just two.

During the same timeframe (since the end of the 1999 season), 19 teams in the NFL have signed or retained 31 or more free agents (or 61 percent of other 31 teams). FYI, New England has signed or retained 40 free agents during the timeframe... twice the number of the Rams.

Over the weekend, I will put faces to the numbers that will highlight two complete facelifts for the defense and an overhaul of the offense. The free-agent trail will offer a glimpse at how individual positions were simply decimated by injury and free agency.

The point of offering these numbers directly ties to the coaching staff and how the team has at least maintained over a five-year period despite losses and injuries without hitting rock bottom... and in fact reaching postseason play in four of the five seasons.

Most importantly, this offseason, key losses will be at a minimum, while circumstance could offer the team a chance to add one or two top-drawer free agents to bolster a roster that has the key components necessary to again advance in postseason play next season.



MAKE SURE TO TUNE INTO KTRS WEEKNIGHTS FROM 6:30-9:00 P.M.