Bulger's ribs, knee feel much better after bye week

[RamWraith]

By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Friday, Nov. 09 2007

Upon returning from the Rams' bye week, quarterback Marc Bulger assessed his
battered body and liked what he found.

"My thumb is still a little sore, but my ribs are just about 100 percent. And
the swelling is down in my knee," Bulger said. "So those days off helped a lot."

Bulger suffered two broken ribs in the opener and banged up his right knee in
the next game. Two weeks later, coach Scott Linehan decided to sit Bulger for
two games.

"He was playing with a lot of discomfort, and it was bothering his ability to
throw the football," Linehan explained. "When you've been popped a few times
and you've got broken ribs, there's not a lot of things more painful than that."

In his second game back, Bulger bruised the thumb on his throwing hand against
Cleveland, the final outing before the break.

Bulger has had a wrap on the thumb in practice "to keep the swelling down," he
said. But he plans to play without the wrap Sunday in New Orleans so that he
can have "complete control of the ball."

ROMBERG IN LIMBO

Brett Romberg could wind up in any of three places Sunday: center, right guard
or on the sideline. It depends on how his sore ankles progress and how the
coaches decide to deploy their depleted personnel on the offensive line.

Romberg has sprained both ankles. His most recent injury, to his right ankle,
is of most concern. He has had limited work in practice, and his availability
remains in question.

"I think we have to see him do some more (today) and possibly work him out
prior to the game on Sunday" before making a decision, Linehan said.

Romberg started the first seven games at center. Veteran Andy McCollum filled
in at center vs. the Browns after three starts at left guard.

With Richie Incognito (knee) out for a month or more after being injured in
that game, Romberg has been taking snaps at right guard. "The last couple of
years at Jacksonville, I played a little bit more guard than I did center," he
said. "It comes back a little bit faster than normal."

HALL IS IFFY

Wide receiver/returner Dante Hall, who on Wednesday participated in his first
full practice since sustaining a high-ankle sprain a month ago, was excused
Thursday to attend to a personal matter out of town. He's expected back on the
field today.

Whether he will be ready to face the Saints, however, is not guaranteed,
Linehan said. "He looks real good straight ahead; that's not the problem. There
are certain lateral cuts that are still causing him to be uncomfortable."

LOOKER LAUDED

Wide receiver Dane Looker is the Rams' winner of the Ed Block Courage Award,
which honors a player from each NFL team who has overcome devastating injuries
or personal tragedies. The 32 recipients will be feted at a banquet in March in
Baltimore.

Looker spent three nights in a Dallas hospital after suffering a severely
bruised thigh Sept. 30 vs. the Cowboys. He stayed in the game despite the
injury before finally coming out.

Blood built up in his leg, and he needed several transfusions. "I was kind of
groggy the first night, and the specialist came in and I heard him ... saying
something about amputation," Looker said. "If your blood shuts off to the rest
of your leg, you can lose it. That kind of woke me up."

Block, a native St. Louisan and Washington University graduate, was a longtime
trainer for the former Baltimore Colts.

RAMBLINGS

Tight end Aaron Walker (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game. ...
Running back Steven Jackson (back) was unlimited at practice.

[Keenum]

I'm concerned over Bulger's thumb. If it's still sore, he won't be able to grip that ball right, and we have a really good chance this week to put up some big points.

[ramsanddodgers]

I'm concerned over Bulger's thumb. If it's still sore, he won't be able to grip that ball right, and we have a really good chance this week to put up some big points.

I'd settle for a reasonable amount of points. Like just enough to win points.

Big points can come as we get this albatross off our back and turn the season on it's ear.

[Guam rammer]

If the line holds, i'm pretty sure that thumb will feel juuuust fine.