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Folks around the league are wondering why the St. Louis Rams have allowed three of their more outspoken leaders to exit the team in the past two months.
Tight end Ernie Conwell, who has signed with the Saints, is the latest locker-room leader with ties to the 1999 Super Bowl title to scoot from St. Louis. Previously, receiver Ricky Proehl left for Carolina, and defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina signed with Miami.
Some league insiders wonder whether coach Mike Martz specifically has decided to make a break with these guys, given their links to the team's past (and fading) glory. The distinction between Conwell, Zgonina, and Proehl and guys like Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk could be (per a league source) that Warner and Faulk aren't nearly as vocal in their efforts to influence others in the locker room.
Then again, we wouldn't be surprised to see the purge continue over the next 12 months, especially if Kurt Warner's hand gets banged up again -- and if those stray rumors we hear regarding a looming salary-cap squeeze play with receiver Isaac Bruce are accurate.
Tight end Ernie Conwell, who has signed with the Saints, is the latest locker-room leader with ties to the 1999 Super Bowl title to scoot from St. Louis. Previously, receiver Ricky Proehl left for Carolina, and defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina signed with Miami.
Some league insiders wonder whether coach Mike Martz specifically has decided to make a break with these guys, given their links to the team's past (and fading) glory. The distinction between Conwell, Zgonina, and Proehl and guys like Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk could be (per a league source) that Warner and Faulk aren't nearly as vocal in their efforts to influence others in the locker room.
Then again, we wouldn't be surprised to see the purge continue over the next 12 months, especially if Kurt Warner's hand gets banged up again -- and if those stray rumors we hear regarding a looming salary-cap squeeze play with receiver Isaac Bruce are accurate.
