ST. LOUIS-- St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz had to be talked out of closing practice Wednesday after he was asked about using running backs Marshall Faulk and Trung Canidate together in the backfield.

Martz also shooed photographers and TV cameras from the field early in practice.

Answering questions about the Rams' opener Sunday at Philadelphia, Martz snapped at a radio reporter who had noted the coach used the two backs at the same time last week in practice.

"Why don't you just give them our game plan?" Martz said. "Why don't you just tell them what we're doing? You've got to be kidding me.

"Maybe we shouldn't let you watch practice. Why don't you just give them a telegram?"

Many NFL teams close practice. But Rams practices have never been closed in St. Louis, where the team moved from the West Coast in 1995.

Faulk, the NFL's MVP last year, was used sparingly in the preseason as a precaution after undergoing two surgeries on his right knee since November. Canidate was the team's No. 1 draft pick last year.