Haslett brings back Bulger
R.B. Fullstrom- AP
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Sports
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger ducked the media last week, afraid of what he might say after getting benched by Scott Linehan.
Bulger got his job back on Tuesday, the biggest development of new coach Jim Haslett's first full day in charge of the winless team. The highest-paid player in franchise history, who ran the scout team offense last week, also broke his silence.
But he exercised care, declining several opportunities to torch his former coach. Linehan was fired on Monday after four straight lopsided losses to start the season, and was 11-25 overall in two-plus seasons.
Bulger wouldn't say whether he approved of the change and chuckled before replying, "I'm smarter than that one." He added, "It wasn't a happy day by any stretch of the imagination."
Backup Trent Green started Sunday's 31-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Linehan's final game as coach. Bulger was back with the starters in practice Tuesday, and Haslett said he'll be the starter the rest of the season.
The Rams have a bye week before playing at Washington Oct. 12.
"I talked to Marc and Trent about it and it's more a gut feeling on my part," Haslett said. "I thought Marc would give us the best opportunity to win games the next three months."
Haslett added that Bulger knew what was expected. The two-time Pro Bowler has completed 58 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
"Obviously, Scott was accountable and now it's the players' turn to step up," Haslett said. "Marc understands that and he understands I have full confidence he's going to go out there and do the job."
Bulger, who's in the second year of a six-year, $65 million contract, denied a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last week that he no longer wanted to play for Linehan. He said addressing that issue and the benching during the buildup to Sunday's 31-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills might have distracted the Rams (0-4).
The quarterback said he made sure Linehan knew it, telling the coach in his office and showing him with a good attitude in practice.
Bulger got his job back on Tuesday, the biggest development of new coach Jim Haslett's first full day in charge of the winless team. The highest-paid player in franchise history, who ran the scout team offense last week, also broke his silence.
But he exercised care, declining several opportunities to torch his former coach. Linehan was fired on Monday after four straight lopsided losses to start the season, and was 11-25 overall in two-plus seasons.
Bulger wouldn't say whether he approved of the change and chuckled before replying, "I'm smarter than that one." He added, "It wasn't a happy day by any stretch of the imagination."
Backup Trent Green started Sunday's 31-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Linehan's final game as coach. Bulger was back with the starters in practice Tuesday, and Haslett said he'll be the starter the rest of the season.
The Rams have a bye week before playing at Washington Oct. 12.
"I talked to Marc and Trent about it and it's more a gut feeling on my part," Haslett said. "I thought Marc would give us the best opportunity to win games the next three months."
Haslett added that Bulger knew what was expected. The two-time Pro Bowler has completed 58 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
"Obviously, Scott was accountable and now it's the players' turn to step up," Haslett said. "Marc understands that and he understands I have full confidence he's going to go out there and do the job."
Bulger, who's in the second year of a six-year, $65 million contract, denied a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last week that he no longer wanted to play for Linehan. He said addressing that issue and the benching during the buildup to Sunday's 31-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills might have distracted the Rams (0-4).
The quarterback said he made sure Linehan knew it, telling the coach in his office and showing him with a good attitude in practice.
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