Superbowl: Teams debate muscle

Teams debate muscle

By RICK STROUD

ATLANTA -- Receiver Torry Holt still is nursing bruised ribs, but all the Rams could be hurting Sunday.

St. Louis beat Tampa Bay 11-6 last weekend, and teams are 3-12 this season the week after playing the Buccaneers.

Equally problematic for the Rams could be that teams are 5-10 the week after playing the Titans -- including St. Louis. The Rams lost 24-21 to Tennessee during the regular season, then were outmuscled 31-27 the next week by Detroit.

"Our guys have studied that film very hard and have studied our game film very hard," Titans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. "And the Tampa staff used our film a lot on the physical aspect.

"What we plan to do is continue the same physical barrage that Tampa did, and we like the fact (the Rams are) coming off a very physical game thinking about that to start with. It works right into our hands."

Titans linebacker Barron Wortham said the Rams' win over Tampa Bay took a toll on the NFC champs.

"When you look at the Tampa Bay film, the Bucs just beat them and beat them and beat them," he said. "And I think when (the Rams) come into this game, it's going to be a physical game, also. It's going to be in the back of their minds because they're really beat up. Tampa Bay really took it to them."

But Rams coach Dick Vermeil says his team will be physically prepared for another rough and tumble game.

"Tennessee had a physical game, too," he said. "They've had one three weeks in a row, so I salute them. That sure as heck won't be an excuse for not playing well Sunday. We've had a lot of physical games this year, and fortunately, we won the physical side of that ballgame.

"The physical sides of the games played last Sunday, I think, are behind us now."

Added Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, "We won last week like that, didn't we? I don't assume we can't win any style of game."

POLICE STORY: Rams defensive back Devin Bush was surprised by reports that St. Louis police are investigating a post-game fight between him and Bucs guard Frank Middleton. Police assisted in breaking up the altercation, which occurred about an hour after the game.

"My wife called me last night and told me it's all over the news that we're being investigated for fighting or whatever, and there wasn't even a fight," Bush said.

"Frank is an emotional guy. It was a very emotional game. To lose a hard-fought game like that, emotions run."

FREAK OUT: If there is one player who won't sleep the night before the Super Bowl, it's Rams right tackle Fred Miller.

That's because he'll be lining up opposite defensive end Jevon Kearse. In their first meeting, Kearse had a sack, forced a fumble and caused several false starts by Miller.

"Kearse is a curse," Vermeil said. "Whoever plays Jevon Kearse has a problem. Now, the big guy from Jacksonville did a good job. The right tackle at Jacksonville (Leon Searcy) is a man. That's why he's going to the Pro Bowl. I don't think it'll be a mental problem. If Freddy Miller doesn't move his feet and pass set properly, we'll have a problem."