By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/24/2005
Defensive tackle Damione Lewis could well be a bit lighter in the pocket when interim head coach Joe Vitt gets through with him. Lewis was ejected in the first quarter Sunday after slugging New Orleans center LeCharles Bentley in the groin area.
Bentley went down in a heap - although he returned to the game a few plays later - and Lewis was escorted from the field.
After viewing the game film Monday morning, Vitt called Lewis' actions "inexcusable. We will not tolerate it. It'll be dealt with. We're going to play the game the right way, and that's not the right way."
Bentley, a fourth-year pro from Ohio State, said, "You don't do that where I'm from. But he's a (University of) Miami guy. What do you expect? I hope the league fines him to the utmost degree of the law. They should ban him for a game, too. We don't need that in this league."
Compassion for Little
Vitt was firm in declaring that first-team defensive end
Leonard Little wouldn't be sanctioned for missing Sunday's game, a 28-17 win over the Saints. Little remained out of town with his family; his 24-year-old brother, Jermaine, was shot to death Oct. 17. The funeral was Saturday.
"This is a tough, tough time for Leonard; the bereavement process for him is ongoing," Vitt said. "Our thoughts and our prayers are with him. We know what Leonard's intent is and where Leonard's heart is. ... Leonard, when he can physically and mentally do it, will come back and help us win."
Ram-blings
Quarterback
Marc Bulger, who suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder Oct. 17 at Indianapolis and sat out vs. the Saints, threw Monday and "felt pretty good," Vitt reported. ... Offensive tackle Claude Terrell was released Monday after spending the night in a hopsital. He suffered what was described as a sprained neck in the fourth quarter Sunday. Vitt said an MRI exam showed no structural damage.
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