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Rams begin prepping for Vikings
Posted: Monday January 10, 2000 10:22 PM
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Throw the routine out the window for the St. Louis Rams, who had a rare day on the job on Monday. During the regular season, coach Dick Vermeil gave the players Mondays off after victories. The NFC West champions (13-3) won seven in a row before losing the regular season finale at Philadelphia, then had the next day off because the Rams got a first-round bye in the playoffs. "It does feel a little bit weird," offensive guard Adam Timmerman said about returning to work on what is usually a day off. "But it's nice to at least know who you're going to play and know you're heading toward something." The Rams got four days off during the bye week, including the weekend, for their first extended rest since their regular-season bye week after the opener. On Monday they began preparations for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, practicing for an hour-and-a-half outdoors in unusually balmy weather. It will be the Rams' first playoff game since 1989, and the first-ever playoff game in St. Louis. The city was shut out during the Cardinals' 28 years in town. Coach Dick Vermeil said he didn't sense any tension during practice and meetings earlier in the day, but it was there. "The fans are probably pumped up," tight end Ernie Conwell said. "Just take that and magnify that 100 times, and you can imagine what the players are feeling. The biggest thing is guys are just trying to keep themselves calm and relaxed." Players didn't think the team's lack of playoff experience would hurt them. Only 12 members of the 53-man roster have made it to the postseason. "No, it won't be any problem," middle linebacker London Fletcher said. "You'll see a group of guys just fired up to play, and come Sunday, it's going to be something special." When the coaches left on Friday, they had three lengthy personnel reports in their hands on possible opponents. Most figured they'd be seeing the Vikings before the games were played, since Dallas and Detroit were .500 teams. "I think we just assumed it would be them, knowing that anybody can beat anybody at this point in time," quarterback Kurt Warner said. "But I think a lot of guys figured it would be the Vikings with the way they've been playing and the weapons they have." Entering the week, free safety Keith Lyle and linebacker Leonard Little, a special teams mainstay, both were questionable. Lyle has missed seven games with nerve damage to his left shoulder and neck and Little has missed the last two games with a pulled hamstring. "Other than that, we're probably as healthy as we've been all season," Vermeil said. Lyle, a Pro Bowl alternate despite all of his down time, has been practicing with the team for several weeks but hasn't taken any hits. He was awaiting clearance from team doctors. "I'm going to be out there," Lyle said. "I want to earn my money, and that's the bottom line. Rehabbing doesn't cut it." Lyle's biggest problem Monday was getting locked out of the practice facility. The team has been closing the gate since the regular season ended, and he was admitted by a reporter after waiting for several minutes.
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