Rams quarterback Kurt Warner has been virtually a forgotten man since
he last played in the first game of the season. It seems like ages ago that
Warner was the quarterback of record in a 23-13 loss to the Giants in which he
fumbled six times, losing three, and suffered a concussion that no one really
knows how serious it was.
Marc Bulger has been the starter ever since, and Warner has bided his time on
the scout team. There were a few instances where coach Mike Martz thought of
going to Warner in games where Bulger struggled, and then a game in Chicago when
Warner was asked by Martz if he was ready to play.
Warner answered in the affirmative, but also said his coach should stick with
Bulger so he would gain the experience of playing through the tough times.
Now, the Rams are on the verge of clinching home-field advantage throughout the
NFC playoffs, and Warner is hoping for a chance to play in the season finale
against Detroit. Especially if the Eagles lose to Washington Saturday night, a
result that would give the Rams the home field. If Philadelphia wins, the Rams
would have to beat the Lions.
"Would I want to play? Sure," Warner said Wednesday. "If Mike wants me to play,
I'm ready to play. But that's all up to him. And I know how that is, too, as a
starter. Knowing you have a (playoff) bye the next week -- you don't want to sit
out and not play at all. That's for sure. You don't want to go two weeks, three
weeks, before you throw again (in a game)."
Even if Warner played, it would likely be in the second half so Bulger would get
some work. But keeping Bulger in for an entire game wouldn't be prudent. It
would make sense for Warner to get some snaps with the first unit in the event
he was needed in the post-season.
Martz adeptly avoided any questions about personnel moves he would make should
the Eagles lose. When a question he was to be asked about it was prefaced by the
comment, "We know you don't like to think about such things ... " Martz
responded, "You're right what you said at first." When the line of questioning
was pursued, he said again, "You're right what you said at first."
It was clear Martz didn't want to get caught up in discussing hypothetical
situations or go public at this point with possible plans that might not be
needed.
He said, "We're going to make the assumption that Philly wins, and then we'll go
from there."
But almost under his breath, he said, "You always have a plan."