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http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... 0f31a.html
[wrapimg=left]http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/17/017ae104-2db2-11e0-aa32-00127992bc8b/4d47f63582e5a.preview-300.jpg[/wrapimg]* Jerome Bettis still loves St. Louis: The retired Rams-Steelers running back, a finalist for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second consecutive year, told me that he'd be upset to see the Rams move from St. Louis. Bettis moved to St. Louis with the Rams in 1995. It wasn't a satisfying year for him on the field; Bettis struggled with a foot injury and wasn't on good terms with head coach Rich Brooks. Though Bettis was traded to Pittsburgh after one season, he still has fond memories of St. Louis.
"The fan support and the excitement level was unbelievable," Bettis said. "That city embraced us and gave us a great home. I'll never forget the way we were treated by the fans. And it would be disappointing if they moved, because that city really galvanized around that team. When the Rams got to St. Louis there was a lot of fanfare, and the fans and the players really enjoyed it. They won a championship there. There's a lot of loyalty that's been built up through the years and to take that team away would be disappointing. St. Louis did a lot to get that team to come there."
Bettis noted the Rams' horrible record (15-65) over the last five years. "A team has to live up to its end of the deal," he said. "You've got to put a winner on the field so the people can come out and feel good about rooting for you."
* Eddie George on Jeff Fisher: I literally bumped into the retired Tennessee Titans RB this week and asked him what the Rams and their fans can expect with Fisher as their coach. As a Titan from 1996-2003, George led the NFL in rushing attempts (2,733) and touches from scrimmage (2,992). In the NFL, only Curtis Martin rushed for more yards than George between 1996 and 2003.
"The Rams will be a physical team. They will be tough. They will not give you an inch. And he will cultivate that personality," George said. "If he doesn't have the players in place that can fit that mentality, he will find players that can."
George doesn't believe Fisher will be too conservative in returning to a changing NFL after a year off. The passing game is soaring like never before, with QBs throwing for 5,000 yards and defenses scrambling to defend the pass.
"Sure, a lot of what we did was based on the power running game," George said. "But (quarterback) Steve McNair didn't get to three Pro Bowls or win the league MVP award just by handing the ball off. We did a lot of damage with our passing game. He (Fisher) likes to take shots down the field."
* I asked Eddie George if he had any advice for Rams RB Steven Jackson, and he laughed. "Tell him to stock up on pain reliever," George said. "He's going to be sore."
[wrapimg=left]http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/17/017ae104-2db2-11e0-aa32-00127992bc8b/4d47f63582e5a.preview-300.jpg[/wrapimg]* Jerome Bettis still loves St. Louis: The retired Rams-Steelers running back, a finalist for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second consecutive year, told me that he'd be upset to see the Rams move from St. Louis. Bettis moved to St. Louis with the Rams in 1995. It wasn't a satisfying year for him on the field; Bettis struggled with a foot injury and wasn't on good terms with head coach Rich Brooks. Though Bettis was traded to Pittsburgh after one season, he still has fond memories of St. Louis.
"The fan support and the excitement level was unbelievable," Bettis said. "That city embraced us and gave us a great home. I'll never forget the way we were treated by the fans. And it would be disappointing if they moved, because that city really galvanized around that team. When the Rams got to St. Louis there was a lot of fanfare, and the fans and the players really enjoyed it. They won a championship there. There's a lot of loyalty that's been built up through the years and to take that team away would be disappointing. St. Louis did a lot to get that team to come there."
Bettis noted the Rams' horrible record (15-65) over the last five years. "A team has to live up to its end of the deal," he said. "You've got to put a winner on the field so the people can come out and feel good about rooting for you."
* Eddie George on Jeff Fisher: I literally bumped into the retired Tennessee Titans RB this week and asked him what the Rams and their fans can expect with Fisher as their coach. As a Titan from 1996-2003, George led the NFL in rushing attempts (2,733) and touches from scrimmage (2,992). In the NFL, only Curtis Martin rushed for more yards than George between 1996 and 2003.
"The Rams will be a physical team. They will be tough. They will not give you an inch. And he will cultivate that personality," George said. "If he doesn't have the players in place that can fit that mentality, he will find players that can."
George doesn't believe Fisher will be too conservative in returning to a changing NFL after a year off. The passing game is soaring like never before, with QBs throwing for 5,000 yards and defenses scrambling to defend the pass.
"Sure, a lot of what we did was based on the power running game," George said. "But (quarterback) Steve McNair didn't get to three Pro Bowls or win the league MVP award just by handing the ball off. We did a lot of damage with our passing game. He (Fisher) likes to take shots down the field."
* I asked Eddie George if he had any advice for Rams RB Steven Jackson, and he laughed. "Tell him to stock up on pain reliever," George said. "He's going to be sore."