Rams exit preseason with health, but without a win

ST. LOUIS -- All Rams coach Mike Martz wanted from the preseason was to enter the regular season with his starters healthy.

Mission accomplished.

The Rams lost no one to injury in a 23-16 loss to the Chiefs Friday night in the annual Governor's Cup game in Kansas City. The loss ended a winless preseason for the Rams (0-4).

However, coach Mike Martz isn't worried about wins and losses in preseason. There's another category he considers much more important.

"The biggest issue to me in the preseason is injuries," Martz said Saturday. "You are really trying to get your guys through the preseason.

"I wanted to give the starters just enough work to get them ready for the regular season. But I wanted to make sure I got them to the regular season healthy."

To accomplish that goal, Martz said he limits their repetitions during practice to get them enough work. Martz said the down side is some of the younger guys and reserves feel like they are in the same category as the starters, so they may not expend as much effort as is required.

"That's the price you pay," Martz said. "I'm very, very pleased with our ones (starters) and where we are right now."

Defensive end Leonard Little, who has a deep thigh bruise, is the only Rams' starter who might not play in the opener next Sunday at Denver. Wide receiver Terrence Wilkins (shoulder) was held out of the preseason finale as a precaution.

Martz was happy with the starters, who had an early 16-0 lead against the Chiefs. Kurt Warner was 17-for-27 for 213 yards and a touchdown. Marshall Faulk rushed for 50 yards on 11 carries and caught two passes for 37 yards. Tory Holt caught three passes for 33 yards and Isaac Bruce got three balls for 36 yards.

"What people don't realize is they have been like that the whole camp," Martz said. "We practice very well. We go like crazy in practice.

"We just handcuff these guys pretty much in the preseason games. All they really need is one solid half of football. You don't want to throw Isaac and Tory the ball and expose them. But they need one real solid half of football. The same with Marshall. So he's tackled and comfortable out there."

Martz said he would like to win games, but said it's best to keep the big picture in mind.

"You'd like to win those games, but more importantly, your starters have got to play well before you open up the season," Martz said. "I thought we established that against Kansas City."

The Rams released eight players Saturday and will release six more on Sunday to reach the 53-man limit.

Cut were defensive tackles Luis Almanzar and Terry Jolly, wide receivers Will Blackwell (injured), Chris Taylor, and Anthony Tucker (injured), safety Willie Gary, linebacker Michael Hawkes and running back Dustin McClintock.

On Friday night, the Rams acquired wide receiver Troy Edwards from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a sixth-round draft choice in 2004. Edwards, a first-round pick of the Steelers in 1999, caught 19 passes for 283 yards last year and also returned kickoffs and punts.

"There was such great value there in Edwards that we had to get him," Martz said. "We had to take a look at him."