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A year ago at this time, the Rams were grumpy, and Mike Martz was grumpier. In professional football, there's no hangover quite like a Super Bowl hangover. Especially when you lose as a heavy favorite as the Rams did to New England in Super Bowl XXXVI.
Martz had trouble handling the mounds of criticism that followed that loss. His chronic back problems flared up much of that offseason. As a topper, he was drained by negotiations on his own contract extension with the team. Suffice it to say, he was hardly the bluebird of happiness when the Rams convened in Macomb, Ill., for training camp last July.
As things turned out, the players weren't much different. They talked of "unfinished business" in '02 as they hauled their pillows and air mattresses into Thompson Hall for the start of camp. It's talk that now seems hollow in light of what transpired - a winless preseason, followed by a 7-9 regular season. MORE...
Martz had trouble handling the mounds of criticism that followed that loss. His chronic back problems flared up much of that offseason. As a topper, he was drained by negotiations on his own contract extension with the team. Suffice it to say, he was hardly the bluebird of happiness when the Rams convened in Macomb, Ill., for training camp last July.
As things turned out, the players weren't much different. They talked of "unfinished business" in '02 as they hauled their pillows and air mattresses into Thompson Hall for the start of camp. It's talk that now seems hollow in light of what transpired - a winless preseason, followed by a 7-9 regular season. MORE...
