Timmerman has 'no more thought of playing'

[RamWraith]

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Friday, Jan. 25 2008

There was a free-agent trip to Detroit last offseason, followed by a training
camp visit to Jacksonville. But Adam Timmerman probably knew he was done as an
NFL player when Washington wanted him to visit around Week 6 of the regular
season.

Timmerman just said no. He didn't want to uproot his wife and three children
from their home in St. Charles County.

After 12 NFL seasons, four Super Bowls, and two Pro Bowls, Timmerman has made a
seamless transition to life after football.

"No more thought of playing," he said emphatically.

He plans to submit his official retirement papers to the NFL in the coming
weeks. Last spring, Timmerman thought he would miss the game once training camp
rolled around. But he didn't. Not even when the 2007 regular season started.

"Especially as the losses started to mount — 0-3, 0-4, or whatever — I was
like, 'I'm so glad I'm not sitting in those meeting rooms, because I know how
brutal that must be,'" Timmerman said.

The injuries on the Rams' offensive line mounted as quickly as the losses.
Whether it was at the grocery store or running an errand, Timmerman ran into
lots of fans who asked, "Hey, they need you. You going to get over there? Are
they calling?"

Timmerman lives just 15 minutes from Rams Park, but he never got a call from
the club. He wasn't really surprised, given his release from the team last
February. He's not sure if he would have returned anyway.

"It probably depends on when they would've called," he said. "And depends on
how that conversation would've went. I don't know what I would've said. It was
kind of obvious that they needed help on the offensive line."

Timmerman watched some of the Rams' games, particularly when good friend — and
fellow "Donut Brother" — Andy McCollum was in the lineup. But it was tough to
watch.

"One game where I was almost embarrassed to be a former Ram was the Baltimore
game, when we couldn't hardly even get a quarterback out on the field,"
Timmerman said.

Wide receiver Marques Hagans took the final two snaps at quarterback because of
injuries to Marc Bulger and Gus Frerotte. The Rams were carrying only two
quarterbacks at the time, so there was no one else.

"It just seemed ridiculous to me," Timmerman said. "That had to be hard on the
fans. I know it would've been ripping my heart out if I was on the team and
that was going on. So maybe it was better that I wasn't there."

After four seasons with Green Bay, Timmerman spent the final eight years of his
career with St. Louis. He experienced only two losing seasons as a Ram. As to
what the future holds for the Rams ...

"It seems to me that there just has to be some leadership," Timmerman said.
"Somebody's got to step up and take control of things. It's got to be your
veteran guys. ... It's got to be the guy that's going to say, 'Hey, enough of
this losing.'"

But Timmerman added, "It's hard to change to a winning attitude once you've had
a little streak where you haven't had a lot of success. It's going to be very
hard to turn it around, especially after what I saw at the end of (2007).

"It seemed to me there was some dissension — I don't know if it was between
players and coaches — but just the way things went down at the end of the year,
it just seemed like they kind of gave it up at the end."

It was almost as if the Rams were playing for a higher draft pick, Timmerman
said.

But those no longer are his concerns. These days, he's busy changing diapers —
he has a 2-year-old daughter — and coaching son Mason's flag football team.
Timmerman is down to a svelte 260 pounds. He's taking flying lessons, remains
active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and has a couple of business
interests that take up some — but not too much — of his time. His wife even
enjoys having him around.

"I keep joking with her, 'You just think you have a live-in nanny,'" Timmerman
said.

[KoaKoi]

Take care Mr. Timmerman... thanks for everything.

[txramsfan]

I've had 4 Krispy Kreme's this morning in the Donut Brothers honor

[Mooselini]

well thanks for everything timmerman.

[laram0]

I find it interesting that he threw out the leadership card. Which player or players are the leaders of this team?

[Keenum]

I really questioned when he released him.
Thanks Adam for all you did for us and helping us get a Super Bowl win!

[RamOfDenmark]

Releasing him was questionable, but not calling him and bringing him back was much worse. Although I don't think he would have returned to play under Linehan who cut him - I think those bridges were burned. But we should have tried anyway, we sure could have used him out there this year even if he is on the downside physically he would have been much better than what we had.

[RAMS134]

Thanks for everything Timmerman and the Super Bowl trips and win

[Ram Dragoon]

Certainly timmerman belongs in the same class as a Jackie Slater, one of the great stalwards of the team. Its going to he hard to find another

[AlphaRam]

Adam and Jana Timmerman are great people.

Hey, who moved this out of the Rams topics? Last I saw, Timmerman didn't play for anyone after the Rams.

[RamFan_Til_I_Die]

Adam and Jana Timmerman are great people.

Hey, who moved this out of the Rams topics? Last I saw, Timmerman didn't play for anyone after the Rams.

That's what I'm saying...was a major piece of our 3 years of greatness, no need write him off so easily.

[jkramsfan]

I know he was at the end of his career,but not to call him when we neded line help,but yet give this group of bozos we had out there a chance just sucked,the way the whole Timmerman thing went down was disgusting to me,he will always remain one of my favorite Rams,great player and a class act,a real plus for the community also with his charity work,best of luck as you make retirement offical.