| Faster than a speeding bullet,
those fast-track Rams — a team everybody but the most brainwashed Buccaneers
loyalists thinks is an air-tight cinch to represent the NFC on Super Sunday — shot
down the likelihood that it could take awhile before all the NFL’s remaining
head-coaching vacancies are filled. One day after the Rams ran roughshod over Minnesota
in a 49-37 second-round barn-burner, they granted 48-year-old Mike Martz, their "mad
scientist’ offensive coordinator, a sweet two-year contract extension and promised
Martz he would become the team’s head coach after Dick Vermeil, the current boss man,
retires for good in 2001.
Quick thinking. And very smart indeed.
Martz, whose wild and wooly offense oftentimes looks as though it came out of the
nearest video arcade, was arguably the NFL’s hottest head-coaching candidate. By
assuring Martz he will definitely be taking over for Vermeil just two short years from
now, the Rams nipped what could have been a big-time distraction in the bud.
Without having to worry about answering pesky reporters’ queries regarding his
possible interest in any of the four remaining head-coaching vacancies, Martz’s head
is totally clear to concentrate on devising the latest goodies for his high-powered
offense on the road to Atlanta.
Marshall Faulk, an absolutely perfect fit in Martz’s multifaceted attack, inferred
after St. Louis’ victory over the Vikings that the Rams have hardly scratched the
surface of his offensive coordinator’s "War and Peace" playbook.
That’s a scary thought.
The 63-year-old Vermeil, meanwhile, adds a real sense of security to the Rams’
organization for the next two years. While figuring that the Rams will still need him when
he’s 64 (sorry, but the temptation to throw in a reference to one my favorite Beatles
songs was impossible to resist), Vermeil has made it clear he’s through coaching once
he reaches the mandatory retirement age.
"I owe it to my wife, to my grandkids and myself (to retire then)," Vermeil
explained. "I don’t want to see someone as qualified as Mike go somewhere
else."
Does the move put pressure on Martz to keep producing? What if Kurt Warner suddenly
turns into Stoney Case? These are questions worth pondering, especially in a league where
dramatic fluctuations have become commonplace.
But Martz’s track record indicates he will keep the Rams traveling in high gear,
and the feeling here is that, by eliminating any mixed signals regarding their direction
the next two years, the Rams have pretty much assured themselves of remaining heavyweight
Super Bowl contenders the next couple of seasons.
On the subject of the Dolphins’ and Packers’ newest head coaches, a few quick
thoughts.
- It came as no surprise whatsoever when Jimmy Johnson quickly announced after the
Jacksonville debacle that his best buddy Dave Wannstedt was taking over the coaching
reins.
Armed with a three-year, $3.9 million contract, Wannstedt says he feels "totally
prepared to step forward with this challenge," adding that he will have more
resources to work with — especially in the way of front-office financial backing
— than he had with the Bears.
I say the verdict is still out. While Wanny did an admirable job early in his Chicago
stint, there were lots of people close to the scene his last couple of years in Chicago
who thought his penchant for talking out of both sides of his mouth really hurt the Bears.
Wannstedt must first come to grips with what to do about Dan Marino, his aging
gunslinger. Already, he is playing it very coy. His handling of the Bears’ QB
situation after Chicago traded for Rick Mirer was shaky from the get-go. It will be very
interesting to see how he handles the sensitive Marino.
- As far as Green Bay GM Ron Wolf’s quick hiring of Seattle offensive coordinator
Mike Sherman — the Packers’ TE coach for two years under Mike Holmgren — to
replace Ray Rhodes, I’d be shocked if a strong endorsement from Packer QB Brett Favre
wasn’t a key consideration.
Put simply, Favre needs to feel whole again for the Pack to get back on track. He was
always on the same page with Holmgren — at least on the football field — and
Sherman is a detail-oriented hard-ass cut from the same cloth.
- As far as those vacancies on the Cowboys, Saints, Patriots and Jets are concerned, the
only clear thing at the moment is that Mike Martz is out of the picture.
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