Marshall's plan

Even in high school, Rams’ Faulk knew his place

	• Storylines • Flags and Flattery • Direct Snaps • Dumbest Thing ... • The Bottom Line

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

File it under "Homer Simpson," because it's quickly becoming the biggest "Doh!" since the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth.

J.T. Curtis was coaching the 1991 LHSAA All-Star Game in Baton Rouge, La., the summer between Marshall Faulk's senior season at Carver High School and freshman season at San Diego State. And now that Curtis can laugh about it, we'll let him tell the story.

"We're walking off the practice fields later in the week, and I say to him, 'Marshall, you get serious about your business and you're going to make a heck of a pro player as a defensive back.' He said, 'Coach, I'm going to make a lot of money, but I'm going to be a running back.' I said, 'That's what I'm talking about, Marshall. You've got to get serious about your business.'"

As they say, the rest is history. It was the last game one of the NFL's greatest running backs played out of position. While big-time college programs came calling for Faulk's services, only San Diego State came hat in hand saying he could be a running back.

In case you're wondering, Roymon Malcolm, a highly recruited Auburn signee from Ruston High School, was the starting tailback.

At last U2 is the first act to have the halftime show to itself. The irony of U2 appearing at the Super Bowl: The "Elevation 2001" tour skipped N.O., even though it crisscrossed the country twice and visited some markets more than once.

Oddly enough There have been just two Super Bowls with larger point spreads than the 14 the Rams are favored by Sunday. In 1969, the Jets won against the Colts, who were favored by 18; in '95, the 49ers, the choice by 19, blew out the Chargers.

We meet again Rams G Adam Timmerman and Patriots K Adam Vinatieri were teammates at South Dakota State. Timmerman was Green Bay's starting right guard when the Packers beat Vinatieri's Patriots 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI in N.O. in 1997.

Show me the money Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, whose two-year contract expires after the Super Bowl, is believed to be asking for what former San Diego offensive coordinator Norv Turner earned, in the $500,000 range.

Flag -- Snoop The Patriots' practice was interrupted by a security alert Friday when a telescope was clearly visible in an open window on the third floor of a residence that borders the practice field. After studying the window through binoculars, it was ignored.

Flattery -- Team player Rams assistant director of public relations Duane Lewis helped the cause Friday by lining up in practice at offensive left tackle -- dressed in work clothes -- during a period when the defensive linemen were working on different line stunts.

Flag -- Greener pastures Six members of the Rams' staff were at one time connected to the Redskins: head coach Mike Martz, Bobby Jackson (off. coord.), Jim Hanifan (off. line), Ron Meeks (secondary), Mike Haluchak (LBs), and Henry Ellard (off. asst.).

Flattery -- Good to go The Rams cut their practice Friday by about an hour after doing some goal-line, short-yardage and red-zone work. Head coach Mike Martz on scrapping the final hour's 48 team plays. "We're ready to go. I'm not going to worry about it."

FOX analyst John Madden personally oversees rules changes, roster updates and play-calling strategies to his video game. Based originally on his Raiders play book, the game has sold more than 20 million copies since 1989.

St. Louis hasn't lost a fumble since Dec. 23. QB Kurt Warner has averaged only one INT a game during the eight-game win streak. The Rams, minus-10 in takeaway-giveaway in the regular season, are plus-9 this postseason.

Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington is represented by David Dunn, agent for Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe. Harrington is from Portland, Ore., and recalls, "years ago my little brothers were the altar boys at Drew's wedding."

St. Louis' offensive scheme stems from Air Coryell, and head coach Mike Martz also credits Norv Turner with helping mold his ever-evolving offensive philosophy. As for Martz, the Civil War buff traces his ancestry back to the fallen at Anteitam.

"No." -- Rams DE Grant Wistrom when asked if he'd ever heard of Mark Fidrych

Once Monday arrives, the Rams' braintrust will have three key contracts to consider: LB London Fletcher, DE Leonard Little and WR Az-Zahir Hakim. "I'm sure we won't be able to sign all of them," says team president John Shaw. "So, you start losing players and then you have to start filling holes." Newspaper reports were used to compile this feature.

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.