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Rams hype Bulger but worry about him, too
By Bernie Miklasz
Of the Post-Dispatch
08/28/2004
A few Rams fans probably choked on their nachos the other night when an ESPN football pundit offered this piece of information: A member of Rams management told ESPN that Marc Bulger could become the greatest quarterback in franchise history.
Please.
Can we ship some sedatives out to Rams Park?
I'm not knocking ESPN; I have no doubt that one of the Rams' insiders dished the Bulger hype to the reporter. Loose lips are easy to find at Rams Park, and front-office agendas are pushed the way offensive linemen drive the blocking sleds.
The organization is debating with itself over Bulger, and it's a peculiar, contradictory exercise. On one hand, you have head coach Mike Martz already portraying Bulger as a victim - feeling the burden of extra pressure, being punished and penalized simply because he replaced Kurt Warner, the beloved Bambi of St. Louis pro athletes.
And in the other ear, you have another Rams voice saying Bulger could be the best quarterback ever to wear the Rams horns. That's not only bonkers, it goes against Martz's desire to lessen the scrutiny on Bulger.
Both agendas are off base. First of all, Bulger isn't a baby. He has a big new contract. He's 18-4 as the team's starter. He starred in last season's Pro Bowl. He has no reason to be jittery. But why do Rams insiders feel compelled to justify the decision to invest in Bulger by overly inflating his ability? How does that help him? Early in Friday's exhibition game against Washington at The Ed, Bulger was awful. He appeared rattled, indecisive. He missed open receivers. He completed only three of his first nine passes. And then Bulger settled down and made three sweet throws for 44 yards. He capped off an impressive touchdown drive by rolling right, eluding pursuing Redskins and connecting with Torry Holt on a 7-yard touchdown pass. Bulger finished the half with a 98.6 QB rating.
Bulger will succeed, or fail, on his own merits. Bulger must prove his value, all season, good or bad. So let's put an end to the spin. Let Bulger be Bulger. Let his passes fall where they may.
Free Orlando Pace.
Michael Matsko, a freshman safety from Lake Saint Louis, is a walk-on at Mizzou. His dad is Rams offensive line coach John Matsko. ... Monday on ESPN, Rams coach Mike Martz raised some eyebrows when he said that Kurt Warner didn't help Marc Bulger last season. I asked Martz to elaborate on his comment, but he declined. ... The Rams, thin on the offensive line, probably won't like hearing that former Ram John St. Clair is a big hit in the Miami Dolphins training camp. "In St. Louis, he was moved between right tackle, left tackle, guard and center, and got no better," Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt told reporters. "He's been here now at right tackle, and he's making progress."
By Bernie Miklasz
Of the Post-Dispatch
08/28/2004
A few Rams fans probably choked on their nachos the other night when an ESPN football pundit offered this piece of information: A member of Rams management told ESPN that Marc Bulger could become the greatest quarterback in franchise history.
Please.
Can we ship some sedatives out to Rams Park?
I'm not knocking ESPN; I have no doubt that one of the Rams' insiders dished the Bulger hype to the reporter. Loose lips are easy to find at Rams Park, and front-office agendas are pushed the way offensive linemen drive the blocking sleds.
The organization is debating with itself over Bulger, and it's a peculiar, contradictory exercise. On one hand, you have head coach Mike Martz already portraying Bulger as a victim - feeling the burden of extra pressure, being punished and penalized simply because he replaced Kurt Warner, the beloved Bambi of St. Louis pro athletes.
And in the other ear, you have another Rams voice saying Bulger could be the best quarterback ever to wear the Rams horns. That's not only bonkers, it goes against Martz's desire to lessen the scrutiny on Bulger.
Both agendas are off base. First of all, Bulger isn't a baby. He has a big new contract. He's 18-4 as the team's starter. He starred in last season's Pro Bowl. He has no reason to be jittery. But why do Rams insiders feel compelled to justify the decision to invest in Bulger by overly inflating his ability? How does that help him? Early in Friday's exhibition game against Washington at The Ed, Bulger was awful. He appeared rattled, indecisive. He missed open receivers. He completed only three of his first nine passes. And then Bulger settled down and made three sweet throws for 44 yards. He capped off an impressive touchdown drive by rolling right, eluding pursuing Redskins and connecting with Torry Holt on a 7-yard touchdown pass. Bulger finished the half with a 98.6 QB rating.
Bulger will succeed, or fail, on his own merits. Bulger must prove his value, all season, good or bad. So let's put an end to the spin. Let Bulger be Bulger. Let his passes fall where they may.
Free Orlando Pace.
Michael Matsko, a freshman safety from Lake Saint Louis, is a walk-on at Mizzou. His dad is Rams offensive line coach John Matsko. ... Monday on ESPN, Rams coach Mike Martz raised some eyebrows when he said that Kurt Warner didn't help Marc Bulger last season. I asked Martz to elaborate on his comment, but he declined. ... The Rams, thin on the offensive line, probably won't like hearing that former Ram John St. Clair is a big hit in the Miami Dolphins training camp. "In St. Louis, he was moved between right tackle, left tackle, guard and center, and got no better," Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt told reporters. "He's been here now at right tackle, and he's making progress."
With Warner at QB and with Kurt listening to Martz, the RAMS win today 48-3. Bulger is a cancer on this team, and I'm very sorry to say this, because what I want, is the Rams WINNING. One more thing, Bulger is perhaps the SLOWEST QB in the league. Matt Millen kept praising this bum, seems to me Bulger's daddy paid him off, cuz Bulger showed NOTHING today. With these recievers I couldve thrown for more yards and td's.
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