Fall from grace

By Ryan Noonan Sports Central Columnist

It took St. Louis Rams' quarterback Kurt Warner and head coach Mike Martz three seasons to build one of the most dominating football franchises in NFL history. Before the season started, Warner was being touted as "Hall of Fame bound" and Martz was labeled an offensive genius. Twelve games later, the general feeling is that Warner should be on the bench and Martz is being voted on as "Worst NFL Coach."

When Warner came into the league, it was like watching a cowboy bring a machine gun into a gunfight. From day one, he wasted no time mowing down the opposition. Once he got that first taste of NFL defensive back blood, he went right in for the kill. Passes over the middle looked more like darts thrown in a bar and Warner was throwing bulls-eye, every time, all the time. At times with those deep balls, Warner showed the power of a cannon with the delicate touch of a surgeon.

A MVP and Super Bowl ring capped off maybe the best story in sports history, but Warner wasn't done there. Determined not to be labeled a fluke, he spent his second season aiming for the end zone and the record books. Had it not been for the Rams' "sure thing" defense (opponents always knew they were going to score), Warner could have earned himself a second ring. However, a first-round playoff loss left Warner and the Rams unsatisfied and even more determined the next season.

That second year of the Rams mini-dynasty also served as an introduction to the NFL's new whiz-kid head coach, Mike Martz. When former coach, Dick Vermeil, "retired" after the Rams' Super Bowl victory, rumors flew around the NFL. Martz was the guy responsible for the Rams' success. It was his game plan that put the offense on track. Vermeil acted as the face guy, but Martz made the team go.

And in fact, for almost two years, Martz did everything right. He cranked up an already potent offense. The Rams were flying around the field like a four-year-old with a Snickers bar. He went out and got a new Defensive Coordinator and the men he needed to shore up the defense.

By the end of last season, Martz was being hailed as the best coach in the NFL. No one could figure out how to stop their offense. Call them a finesse team and they crammed the ball down your throat with Marshall Faulk. Step up to stop Faulk and Warner would beat you every time.

Then it all fell apart. Everyone has a theory for the downfall of the Rams. Martz didn't give Faulk enough carries in the Super Bowl. Warner came into the season hurt. Going for it on fourth and one when a field goal would have tied the game against the Broncos in the first game of the season. Letting Az-Zahir Hakim get away during the offseason.

Whatever the reason was, the Rams started losing. Counting the Super Bowl and pre-season, St. Louis dropped nine straight games. That's getting into Bengal territory.

Now come back and look at the scene. Martz is the laughing stock of the NFL, mostly because his arrogance rubbed everyone in the NFL the wrong way. With each loss, the criticism got louder and louder. The same man who took his team to the Super Bowl just 10 months ago is now hearing minor whispers that he needs to start winning or else.

Warner is getting it even worse. All he's done is win two MVP awards, two NFC conference championships, and a Super Bowl ring. He loses six games this year and suddenly his job is in jeopardy to an unknown guy named Marc Bulger.

As my dog, Snoop, would say, "What the hell is going on?"

What's going on for the Rams is this season is, in effect, over. There shot at the playoffs are all but out the window. Warner has a break in his hand... again. This week's quarterback will be Jamie Martin, which is the equivalent of laying down your King in chess. But what does this mean?

It means next year is it for Warner and Martz. One more bad year by the two of them, and it's over. The MVPs, championships, and Super Bowls will mean nothing. Warner will be written off as a three-hit wonder. Martz will be shuffled away as a guy who took advantage of a good situations for a few years, then screwed things up.

Or, they'll be back. Warner will show up healthy and Martz will swallow his pride and make the necessary adjustments to win in the NFL and once again the Rams will be on top.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.