The Rams are now planning for life after Marshall
Faulk.
A saga that has lasted the entire off-season is now
headed for closure with the not unexpected result that Faulk will have
additional surgery next week on a problem knee. Faulk had surgery in February on
both knees, but one didn't respond as doctors hoped.
This
surgery, tentatively scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday, will be a
reconstruction and Faulk would need an estimated 8-12 months of rehabilitation,
making it seem unlikely he would play again.
However, coach
Scott Linehan said "retirement hasn't been discussed," and that Faulk "is still
a Ram," while acknowledging that Faulk won't play this season. Linehan added
that Faulk "has to come to terms with whether he wants to try and play
again."
That leaves open the question of how the Rams will deal
with Faulk and his $2 million base salary for this season, which includes a
$100,000 reporting bonus.
"It's still TBD, to be determined,
right now," a club official told espn.com. "The guy has been a great player
here, and you want to treat this with some (sensitivity)."
Faulk
could retire, which would result in him forfeiting his salary for the season. He
could still be reinstated next year if he was ready to play again. The Rams
could release him with the designation failed physical, but they don't seem
inclined to do that.
A compromise would be for the two sides to
agree to reduce Faulk's pay to the minimum salary of $810,000 this season and be
placed on reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) or for the Rams to continue
paying him $2 million and also place him on PUP.
However the
club decides to handle the business side of the situation, they still have to
deal with the reality of having a lack of depth at running back.
"Now we have to consider some things and look at options if there are any,"
Linehan said. "When you lose a player like Marshall, you can't replace him.
Depth will be a lot different. Everyone has to step up and take on a higher
role."
Tony Fisher is currently the backup to starter Steven
Jackson, but Fisher was signed to help as a third-down back and be instrumental
on special teams.
"Fish can do it. He's done it," Linehan said.
"But (to have be No. 2) would certainly affect the special
teams."
Linehan couldn't comment specifically about players on
other teams, like Michael Bennett of the Saints, but a player like Bennett,
Linehan said, is "the type of back we'd be looking at."
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