From StL Post Dispatcher Bernie Miklasz:
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Rams have called a 5 p.m. news conference.
Players were done with their usual video study and brief meeting with position coaches. But the players were told to stick around for a special 2 p.m. meeting. That meeting was held, and the players left without saying anything.
Julie Martz (coach's wife) was at Rams Park.
One of Martz's office (not coaching) assistants was seen crying a while ago.
He's probably going to take a medical leave of absence.
That's it for now.
I must be away from my laptop for an hour, unfortunately, so I will not be able to provide updates for a while.
--B
Wow.
Interesting news.
I wonder if joe Vitt takes over. Any word, Demon?
Maybe he needs surgery or something too. Unless Vermeil passed the crying on to the entire organization.
I've heard whispers that it might be Larry Marmie, which I think is absolutely rediculous. I'd love it, but that seems stupid to me.
I'll keep checking around....
Dammit. The Rams are gonna be a threat again.
Latest and most mentioned rumor:
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Update:
He'll be out at least 6 weeks, likely for the entire season. Vitt will be the one taking the reigns.
Smart move, I don't think his heart would be able to handle the stress of losing after the infection. It's simply not healthy to coach a mistake prone team like the Rams right now.
And now it's pretty much official:
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Here's the full statement from Shaw:
Head Coach Mike Martz advised us today that after he met with his consulting physician, his physical condition has worsened and he will be readmitted to the hospital this afternoon. As a result of his condition, he will be unable to perform his head coaching responsibilities for an indefinite period of time.
After consulting with Mike, we have all agreed that Assistant Head Coach Joe Vitt will be the Interim Head Coach of the Rams during Mike's absence.[/url]
My hopes from this:
1. Torry Holt's production stays the same
My hopes from this:
Rams performance stays the same.
It takes a lot to voluntarily pry an NFL coach from his job. I think Martz is dying.
Quote from: QB Eagles on October 10, 2005, 06:30:48 PM
It takes a lot to voluntarily pry an NFL coach from his job. I think Martz is dying.
Why is that statement funny to me.
Smart move for the man and the team. Might be his first smart move, ever.
Press onference details:
Vitt is the man. Martz will be hospitalized 4 - 12 days. Health most important issue. This is not life threatening. Martz will have NO interaction with the team during his recovery. OC and DC will remain in their positions calling plays.
Little research on VItt (most of you probably already know this, but I was overseas then): From 1995-98, Vitt was linebackers' coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. In his initial campaign in Philadelphia, LB William Thomas made seven interceptions, was named team MVP, and earned his first Pro Bowl berth. In 1998, Vitt's linebacker corps helped the Eagles lead the NFL in pass defense, allowing only 170.0 passing yards per game.
From reactions I've heard, Shaw was unemotional and detached from this whole thing, mostly reading from a prepared statement, and Vitt came across as kind of an ass. I didn't see it though, since I was driving home.
Quote from: DemonchildrenOnTurf on October 10, 2005, 07:12:33 PM
Vitt came across as kind of an ass.
Sounds like a seamless transition to me.