Rams uncertain over QB's status
By wire services
Published October 19, 2005
ST. LOUIS - Rams interim coach Joe Vitt is unsure whether quarterback Marc Bulger will be able to play against New Orleans on Sunday.
Bulger sprained his right shoulder in the second quarter of the Rams' 45-28 loss Monday night in Indianapolis. Vitt said Tuesday that MRI results weren't available.
"I don't want to assume anything yet, I think that's a hypothetical situation," Vitt said when asked about possibly losing Bulger. "But I will say this: Jamie Martin was born and raised in this system and knows the system as good as anybody."
Results for Martin were mixed Monday night. Bulger's backup completed 17 of 21 passes for 134 yards, one touchdown and two crucial interceptions.
Martin's career with the Rams dates to their Los Angeles days. He was on the practice squad in 1993 and spent time on and off with the Rams through 1996, when he saw action in six games. He played with Washington, Jacksonville, Cleveland and Jacksonville again before returning to back up Kurt Warner in 2001 and 2002.
He was on the Jets roster but didn't play in 2003, then played one game for St. Louis last season. In 27 career games, he has started three.
PLAYER'S BROTHER KILLED: The younger brother of Rams defensive end Leonard Little was shot to death and a 17-year-old girl was taken into custody after trying to flee police.
Investigators found Jermaine Little, 24, lying on the floor of a friend's home about 5:30 p.m. Monday in Harriman, Tenn., about 40 miles east of Knoxville, where his brother once starred for the University of Tennessee.
Shot once in the side, Jermaine Little died at Roane County Medical Center.
Harriman police chief Jack Stockton said Little's girlfriend, Jessica Butcher, claimed he owed her $500, resulting in a physical altercation.
The suspect, identified by witnesses as Bianca Nicole Taylor, who accompanied Butcher to the house, went to their car "and came back with a gun, allegedly, and fired one shot at the doorway," Stockton said.
VIKINGS RB SUED: A woman who contends Vikings running back Onterrio Smith sexually assaulted her last year has sued the player.
The woman, 21, is not identified in the lawsuit filed last week for fear of retaliation, her attorney, Lori Peterson, said.
The woman is seeking $150,000 in damages. She has a mental impairment stemming from fetal alcohol syndrome.
Smith was suspended for the season weeks after he was caught with several vials of dried urine and "The Original Whizzinator," which is marketed as a way to beat drug tests.
CLUBS TRADE QBS: The Chargers and Dolphins swapped third-string quarterbacks, with A.J. Feeley going to San Diego and Cleo Lemon to Miami. The Chargers also received a draft pick, believed to be a seventh-rounder.
ARENA FOOTBALL: The Storm signed wide receiver/defensive back Bobby Sippio, arenafootball2's Ironman of the year in 2003, to a two-year contract. The Kissimmee native caught 61 passes for 863 yards and 24 touchdowns and had 301/2 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions for Dallas last season. He attended camp with the Miami Dolphins in 2004 but was waived/injured after spraining a knee during the preseason.
Former Tampa Bay lineman Kelvin Kinney signed with Columbus. One of the league's top pass rushers before injuries limited him the past two seasons, the 6-foot-7, 280-pound Kinney was released by the Storm in a salary cap move two weeks ago.
Also, ArenaBowl XX will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas for the second straight season. Fans who purchased ticket packages to ArenaBowl XIX will be contacted shortly about renewing their seats for the June 11, 2006 game. The public on-sale date will be in November.
Times staff writer Frank Pastor contributed to this report.