38 NFL TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE Rams, Titans stay consistent

career, was released for cap St. Louis, Tennessee reasons and signed with Dallas. Kearse, who missed 14 are 56-24 over the games with injuries the past two seasons, signed a $66 mil- last five seasons lion, eight-year deal with Philadelphia BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Rams no longer have The St. Louis Rams haven’t Kurt Warner, the league MVP won an NFL title since Mike in 1999 and 2001, released Jones stopped Kevin Dyson a because Marc Bulger is yard short of the goal line to younger, cheaper and healthi- preserve a 23-16 win over er and has been more effective Tennessee on Jan. 30, 2000. the last two seasons. And it The Titans haven’t returned to would not be a shock if this the Super Bowl since. was the last year for Marshall Yet in an era where a team Faulk, MVP in 2000. (Oakland) can go to the Super None is likely to be missed Bowl one season and finish 4- much, primarily because of 12 the next, the Rams and astute personnel selection. Titans have remained the Bulger, unheralded coming NFL’s two most consistently out of West Virginia in 2000, successful teams, each 56-24 was a sixth-round draft choice over the last five years. of the Saints who was released Each has missed the playoffs in training camp that year. But only once in that period: Mike Martz spotted him in col- Tennessee in 2001 and St. lege and snapped him up, men- Louis the next year. But they tioning Bulger as a potential remain the rarest of the rare, NFL starter even before he The Associated Press teams able to avoid the yo-yo was released by New Orleans. Tennessee owner Bud Adams, center, talks with coach Jeff Fisher, left, and GM Floyd Reese. effect caused by free agency When Kearse was injured, and the salary cap. Tennessee replaced him with sons. Indianapolis with “There will be a point in a variety of players, starting Manning and Philadelphia time where you hit a wall and with Carlos Hall, a seventh- with Donovan McNabb are everyone in the league knows round draft choice in 2002 who each 51-29, with the Eagles that,” says Tennessee general had an instant impact as a going 46-18 over the past four manager Floyd Reese, who is rookie. Hall has stepped right years, although they have lost as responsible as anyone for back in at defensive end this three straight NFC champi- maintaining the Titans’ rela- year and was in on two sacks onship games. tively high level of play. against Cleveland in the exhi- New England, winner of two “You try to push it off as far bition opener. of the past three Super Bowls as you can, and if you’re lucky George’s replacement is and one of the favorites this enough to bring in enough Chris Brown, a third-round year, is also strong at quarter- young players that are cheap, pick a year ago who averaged back, proving with Tom Brady maybe you can survive. 5.3 yards a carry in last year’s as the Rams did with Warner Nobody else has, so we keep playoffs and had 46 yards in and Bulger that a top QB does- thinking it’s out there. It’s out six carries last Saturday night. n’t have to be a top draft pick there. It’s coming.” To back him up and add expe- to become a star. But maybe not this year, even rience, the Titans signed vet- “That’s why I think quarter- though the Titans ended last eran Antowain Smith, who led back is a must,” says Ernie The Associated Press season $16 million over the Super Bowl champion New Accorsi, general manager of St. Louis Rams’ coach Mike Martz, left, talks about the NFL salary cap and had to make England in rushing last sea- the New York Giants, who gave Draft as general manager Charley Armey looks on. numerous cuts. Like the Rams, son. They are paying him up a bunch of draft picks to get they draft wonderfully, the almost $2 million less than Eli Manning, the No. 1 pick in le Brad Hopkins and right “It gets more difficult as you best way to get the cheap George was asking. this year’s draft. “With the guard Benji Olson are the only win to keep your free agents young players that keep them a Another key to consistency is constant turnover this system offensive starters. Overall, because it seems like you win, contender. at quarterback. The Rams forces on you, it’s important to there are seven players everybody wants your guys,” They also know when to let have had Warner and Bulger have a keeper and a standout remaining on the team, includ- says guard Adam Timmerman, go of aging or injured stars. and the Titans have Steve at the most important posi- ing punter Craig Hentrich. who was on a Super Bowl win- The Titans enter the 2004 McNair. When injury free, tion.” The Rams also are almost ner in Green Bay and joined season without running back which is not often, McNair is Turnover is certainly the totally transformed. They pre- the Rams as a free agent in Eddie George and defensive one of the NFL’s best — he was rule elsewhere for Tennessee pare in advance, grooming 1999 just in time to play on end Jevon Kearse, who with co-MVP last season with the and St. Louis. Bulger to replace Warner and another one. “But we’ve kept a quarterback Steve McNair had Colts’ Peyton Manning. Cornerback Samari Rolle is drafting running back Steven core group of guys and we’ve been the core of the team dur- That element also applies to the only defensive player left Jackson with their first pick kept the guys we need.” ing the five-year run. George, the third- and fourth-best on the Titans from the 2000 this year as the eventual So have the Titans. clearly on the downside of his teams over the last five sea- Super Bowl. McNair, left tack- replacement for Faulk. The record reflects it.