Former Rams RB Faulk to join Checketts group bidding for the Rams

After dropping the conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, the investment group led by Dave Checketts could be joined by a former Rams running back Marshall Faulk in bidding for the St. Louis NFL team.

Faulk, was a St. Louis fan favorite. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a part of the "Greatest Show on Turf" and the Super Bowl 34 championship team. After his retirement, the Rams also retired his No. 28 Rams jerseys. And it would be great for former Rams to become an owner of his old team.

And according to Greg Aiello, the NFL’s senior vice president of public relations, the NFL did not pre-approve Limbaugh as the Commentator said on Thursday. Aiello said Thursday that approval of an owner could only be granted by vote of the 32 clubs after complete financial and personal due diligence, which obviously has not taken place.

Rams OT Smith sprained knee and would miss home game against Packers

After the St. Louis Rams lost 9-7 at Washington on Sunday, they would have to face another big challenge-playing against the Green Bay Packers this Weekend without starting offensive tackle Jason Smith, who sprained his left knee.

Rams Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Monday that Smith’s injury did not require surgery. Even if Smith’s status would be confirmed not to be able to play the Sunday’s game, the team has been prepared. After Smith was hurt during the Rams’ touchdown drive in the second quarter, the team soon picked Adam Goldberg to play in Smith’s position. Goldberg thus became the most likely to replace Smith as the team’s starting offensive tackle.

Goldberg is an experienced starter. He started six games at four offensive line positions last year. Before Smith was named as the starter, he started at right tackle much of the preseason. What’s more, he has the experience of playing against the Packers during the three years he was wearing vikings jersey.

Rams QB Bulger expects plenty of playing time

For a starting quarterback, he usually has to ease into the preseason with playing no more than two series in the exhibition opener. But the St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger thinks that he can get much more playing time.

Bulger expects perhaps he will get as much as three quarters of playing time under new coach Steve Spagnuolo and new coordinator Pat Shurmur who has been leading the West Coast offense.

“It could be three quarters or two,” Bulger said of his playing time. “It’s a new staff and we’re all still trying to get a feel for each other. Hopefully, we’ll get a couple of good drives and see how it goes.”

This is Rams' first season under new coach Spagnuolo, who is trying to turn around a team that was 2-14 last season and 5-27 over the past two seasons. Spagnuolo did not say how much playing time Bulger or other starters will see against the Jets.

Rookie MLB Laurinaitis is getting better with Rams’ 1st-team defense

James Laurinaitis has increased time with the St. Louis Rams’ first-team defense, but he and coach Steve Spagnuolo say the added work with the first team is a reflection of his increased comfort with the system and not a move up the depth chart.

“I’m happy that (Spagnuolo) had the confidence to put me with the first group, but nothing’s changed from my mindset,” Laurinaitis said. “I’m still going out there trying to learn, still asking a lot of questions and trying to get better every day.”

Laurinaitis, a rookie middle linebacker out of Ohio State, the 35th-overall overall draft pick this spring, was three-time All-American and won the Nagurski Award, as the nation’s best defensive player, as a sophomore, and the Butkus Award, as the nation’s top linebacker, as a junior.

His stellar collegiate career does not keep him from growing pains all rookies have to deal with. But fortunately, Laurinaitis has veteran Chris Draft and fellow linebacker Will Witherspoon help him learn the system and take increased responsibility for making defensive calls.