Rams are rising up
Bulger's demotion angers teammates
With "madness" swirling at Rams Park, receiver Torry Holt is trying to put aside the turbulence after the team's 0-3 start.
Holt and other players were shocked this week when coach Scott Linehan benched quarterback Marc Bulger and made 38-year-old Trent Green the starter. In another move, Linehan cut veteran cornerback Fakir Brown.
Holt says his focus is on trying to beat undefeated Buffalo (3-0) at home tomorrow. But he and teammates are still getting over Bulger's demotion.
"I was shocked, man, I was really shocked," Holt said yesterday. "I went up to Marc immediately and apologized to him as a receiver and for our receiver group and the offense for not making enough plays to give him an opportunity to stay on the football field with us."
Running back Steven Jackson declined to discuss the issue yesterday, but on his local radio show Thursday night Jackson called the benching of his teammate the "wrong decision" and added, "I'm not the only one who feels this way."
"I don't like it at all," Jackson told radio station KLOU. "I think there's a lot more people that could take the blame for this. I don't think it's fair that one person takes the blame."
Linehan said he will meet with Jackson before tomorrow's game.
"I haven't talked to him about it, but I will," Linehan said.
"We're in this together and we're trying to find solutions to what has not been a good start to the season with our record. To sit here and not make some decisions, which are hard decisions for a head coach, I would not be doing my job."
McNabb looks ready
Quarterback Donovan McNabb returned to practice, but the Eagles could be without Brian Westbrook for tomorrow's game in Chicago. McNabb sat out practice all week with a chest contusion he sustained in the first half of the Eagles' 15-6 win over Pittsburgh last week, and is questionable for tomorrow. Westbrook injured an ankle while hurdling a teammate in the Pittsburgh game and missed practice all week, but said he plans on playing. "We'll see how he does here, over the next couple days," coach Andy Reid said. "I mentioned before that it's going to go right to the wire there." Guard Shawn Andrews and tight end L.J. Smith are both listed as doubtful . . . Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris will be a game-time decision for tomorrow night's game because of an injured left knee, coach Lovie Smith said . . . Packers cornerback Al Harris, who suffered a spleen injury in Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys, will be out at least 3-4 weeks, said coach Mike McCarthy.Favre likely to start
Brett Favre was listed as questionable for the New York Jets' game against Arizona with a sore left ankle, but is expected to start. The 38-year-old quarterback twisted his left ankle Monday night in New York's loss at San Diego. His ankle was tightly wrapped, but he appeared hardly hobbled during the half-hour of practice the media were allowed to watch. Favre has started 256 consecutive regular-season games, an NFL record for quarterbacks. Coach Eric Mangini said nose tackle Kris Jenkins's balky back has improved steadily throughout the week and he expects him to play against the Cardinals . . . Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin tweaked his hamstring during practice, but the injury is considered minor and he is listed as probable for tomorrow's game . . . The Baltimore Ravens ruled out starting cornerback Samari Rolle for Monday night's game against Pittsburgh because of shoulder and neck injuries.Surgery for Sanders
Colts safety Bob Sanders, already out with a sprained right ankle, had arthroscopic surgery on a knee. The NFL's Defensive Player of the Year last season injured his ankle Sept. 14 at Minnesota and was initially expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Colts owner Jim Irsay said the recovery period for the sprain would likely be longer than that for the knee, so the surgery was scheduled during his absence . . . Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson (knee) was ruled out for tomorrow's game against Houston.Open for business
The Texans will play their home opener against Indianapolis Oct. 5 in hurricane-damaged Reliant Stadium with the roof open. The stadium's retractable roof lost five pieces during Hurricane Ike. The roof won't be fixed in time for the game against Indianapolis, but insurance adjusters and architects said it is structurally sound to host the game with the roof open. Officials expect that all eight of Houston's home games this season will be played with the roof open.