thursday, april 22, 2004
sports
the university daily kansan 5P
Rams coach: Warner might still play in St. Louis
The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz said yesterday that Kurt Warner's agent overreacted to a conversation he had with the quarterback, emphasizing that there's still a chance the two-time MVP could stay with the team.
Martz characterized his Monday conversation with Warner as a necessary "first step" in the process after he decided to go with Marc Bulger as his quarterback for next season. He said he had promised Warner and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, that he would
inform him when he had made a decision.
"It was a very difficult conversation, the hardest one I've ever had with a player," Martz said. "He asked what his future was. I think from that point on it just kind of took on a life of its own."
Bartelstein said on Tuesday that his client expected to be released after June 1 and added he expected a lot of interest around the NFL in Warner. Messages left with Bartelstein yesterday were not immediately returned, and Warner — who was in Montana — could not be reached.
Martz said he blamed himself
for not making it clear to Warner that he still could be back. He also said he expects Warner to continue participating in offseason workouts and minicamps.
"I'm afraid in my discussions with Kurt that I got carried away and led him to believe this was it," Martz said.
It's still likely that Warner will be released. Martz said that discussions on a long-term contract with Bulger could impact what happens; reaching a deal would increase the likelihood of Warner leaving the team. Any Bulger talks also could impact whether the Rams select a quarterback in the first round of Saturday's NFL draft.
Bulger has been a big success in 11/2 seasons as a starter with the Rams. He won his first six starts in 2002 and led the team to a 12-4 record and an NFC West championship last year, then was the MVP in the Pro Bowl.
Martz declined to discuss his reasoning for going with Bulger
Warner was the NFL MVP in 1999 and 2001, leading the team to the Super Bowl each year. But he had just three touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in an injury-plagued 2002, and lost his job after fumbling six times while sustaining a concussion in the opener last year.
"There's a lot of things involved with that, a lot of factors, and I
think that's something that's better left unsaid." Martz said. "Obviously, it took a great deal of time to come to that conclusion."
The team wasn't happy with Warner's Super Bowl Sunday speech in Houston in which he said the Rams told him to concentrate more on the playbook than the Bible. Warner's wife, Brenda, caused a stir in 2002 when she said that she had asked the Rams to X-ray her husband's injured hand when Martz had taken credit for it in a news conference. In September, Brenda Warner told a radio station a trade would be welcomed if her husband remained on the bench.
But Martz said his relationship
with Warner has not been affected.
"Kurt is one of the classiest people you'd ever meet," Martz said. "People want to make this into a difficult situation where there's something between Kurt and I, and Kurt would be the first one to tell you that's not the case.
"People have a real misunderstanding about our relationship and it's really unfortunate. It's never changed, it's never wavered."
Martz said he wasn't mad at Bartelstein, the agent, either.
"people are people," Martz said. "He just got overzealous trying to represent Kurt. That's his job."
Drafting QBs far from scientific; low picks can be stars
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — This year's draft has three "can't miss" quarterbacks: Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivera
Buyer beware? Think of Ryan Leaf.
And remember that Todd Marinovich and Dan — Mark's brother — McGwire were drafted ahead of a guy named Brett Favre in 1991.
Leaf, of course, is not the only quarterback bust: Rick Mirer, Jim Druckenmiller, Akili Smith, Cade McNown, Dave Brown, Marinovich and McGwire are all long gone or at the end of some bench.
Yes, drafting is a guessing game as much as an exact science, especially when it comes to quarterbacks. How else to explain that two-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady went in the sixth round in 2000, while
"You get some that are going to study tape and keep studying. There are others who are going to get big money and think they have it made."
Gil Brandt NFLchief draft consultant
two other current starters, Marc Bulger and Tim Rattay, were chosen in the sixth and seventh rounds.
bunch that I would really like to have."
In the summer of 2000, he remarked during a casual chat that New Orleans had "a kid named Bulger I really like." A few weeks later, the Saints obtained Aaron Brooks and eventually released Bulger, who ended up with the Rams and now starts.
"There's so much focus on the top two or three quarterbacks that a lot of people forget there are more than that who can play very well," St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz said. "There are 10 of them in this year's
This year's top three QBs would seem to have a better shot at success than most first rounders.
And Martz has some credibility on the subject.
Manning comes with a great pedigree -- brother Peyton was this year's co-MVP, and father Archie was an outstanding player stuck on a dismal team in New Orleans.
percent of his passes last season at North Carolina State. But the consensus is that all are future stars.
The rap on Roethlisberger is that he needs work, while Rivers has a funky, semi-darem delivery that didn't keep him from completing 72
"I have fallen in love with these guys," Baltimore coach Brian Billick says of the trio.
Still, keep these quarterbacks in mind:
In 1998, some teams thought Leaf would be better than Peyton Manning. They brushed off reports —most recounted after the fact — that Leaf didn't get along with coaches or teammates and had no leadership skills.
— In 1999, Tim Couch was drafted first overall; Donovan McNabb second; Smith third; McNown 11th, and Daunte Culpepper 12th.
McNabb and Culpepper are stars, but Couch is still struggling, and the other two are buests. Brooks, drafted in the fourth round by Green Bay before being traded to the New
Orleans, is the third-best from that class.
In 2000, Chad Pennington was the only quarterback taken in the first round and seems ready for stardom with the Jets. The next QBs chosen were Giovanni Carmazzi (San Francisco, third round); Chris Redman (Baltimore, third) and Tee Martin (Pittsburgh, fifth).
Then New Orleans took Bulger with the 168th overall pick, and New England got Brady at 199.
The next round, the 49ers took Rattay, who almost immediately showed more promise than Carmazzi and probably will enter next season as San Francisco's starter.
"The thing about quarterbacks that nobody really knows is work habits," says Gil Brandt, the NFL's chief draft consultant.
"You get some that are going to study tape and keep studying.
There are others who are going to get big money and think they have it made."
Still, some bad picks are simply unexplainable. Some are the result of teams failing to uncover character flaws or worse in a player's background.
Ten years from now, Manning, Roothlisberger and Rivers might very well be stars.
But so might one of the guys projected lower in the draft.
Among the candidates: J.P. Losman of Tulane, Matt Schaub of Virginia; Josh Harris of Bowling Green; Matt Mauck of LSU; Cody Pickett of Washington; Jeff Smoker of Michigan State; John Navarre of Michigan; Bradlee Van Pelt of Colorado State and Jared Lorenzen of Kentucky.
Kentucky. It really wouldn't be all that shocking if one of those players owns a Super Bowl ring five years from now.
Just look at Brady.
Kansan Classifieds
To place an ad call the classified office at 864-4358 or email at classifieds@kansan.com
The Kansasan will not knowingly accept any advertisement for housing or employment that discriminates against any person or group of persons based on race, sex, age, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, nationality or disability.
Further, the Kansas will not knowingly accept advertising that is in violation of University of Kansas regulation or law. All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair House-
200
Employment
Does your summer job suck? I will take 4-5 more students to help run a business making $280/mo. For details call (402) 438-9459.
FARM HELP WANTED
Planting and care of produce, such as tomatoes, melons, blackberries, peaches.
Part-time help through June, then full time. 8 mL NE of Lawrence. 842-3558.
Get Paid for Your Opinion!
Earn $15-$125 and more per survey
www.paidonlinesurvey.com
Government jobs hiring now.
Entry level to advanced positions.
Day training/benefits. $11-$33 per hour.
Call 892-852-1680 ext. 870.
205 Help Wanted
CHILD CARE NEEDED
Loving, energetic and enthusiastic person needed to provide care for one sweet 6yr old girl. Full-time summer, flexible hrs, competitive pay, non-smoker. Call Jenny for more details at 129-691-795
Associates Needed
$500-$1000 daily potential
No selling, no explaining
1-800-595-8336 ext. 1271
Help wanted for custom harvesting. Combine operators and truck drivers. Guaranteed pay, good summer wages. Call 970-483-7490 evening.
Drummer and bassist wanted for a hard core band. Influences Lamb of God, Truth Call, Ateugy, Cell Sterling at 979-1792.
Bookkeeping job for business or accounting major. Flexible part-time hours during the school year, more hours in summer. M-F, 841-5797.
Hiring Nowl
Teachers Assistant
Monday-Friday. Fall positions avail, also.
205 North Michigan.Call 841-2155, EOF
Great Pay. Flexible Hours. Be your own boss. Call now 1-800-753-0591.
Student Technician: $8.00-10.00/hour,
20 hours/week, Deadline: 6 April,
30, 2004. Duties: Assist in removing
abandoned cable, with mold, and/or moving
telephone equipment. Required
Qualification: 1. Valid KU enrollment;
graduate or undergraduate student majoring
in Engineering, RIFV, or Architecture
eligible; 2. Good oral, written and interpersonal communication skills; 3. Ability to complete assigned work accurately and on time, with minimum supervision; 4.
Valid Drivers licenses; 5. Ability to carry
70 pounds; 6. Able to work afternoons,
evenings, and/or Saturdays. Preferred
Qualification: 1. Knowledge of electronics;
2. Experience installing phone systems;
3. Experience handling electronic
equipment; 4. Experience with video
equipment, Obtain and complete application from the Networking and Telecommunications Services reception desk. Address: NTS, University of Kansas, 101 McCollum Hall, 1736 Eagle Road, Lawrence, KS 65045; Phone: 785-864-9331, Contact Ann Rint, OE/AA.
205 Help Wanted
500 Summer Jobs/50 Camps/ You Choose! NY, PA, New England INSTRUCTORS NEeded! Tennis. Basketball, Roller Hockey, Baseball, Baseball, Lacrosse, Gymnastics, Lifeguards, WSI; Waterskiing, Sailing, Windsurfting, Archery, Mt. Biking, Rockclimbing, Ropes, Piano Accompanist, Drama, Ceramics, Woodshop, English Riding, Nature, Nurses. Arlene 1-800-443-6428; www.mercampereployment.com
Customer Service Representative.
Begin your career in the Environmental industry by hazardous waste services. Entrance to a level position at a hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage Disposal Facility offers excellent growth opportunity. Duties include clerical, phones, completing waste profiles and manifest documents, scheduling waste pickups, client contact. BS Environmental Studies or related degree preferred. Competitive wage and benefits. Apply in person, fax, or send resume to:
Act of 1968 which makes it illegal to advertise "any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination."
Our readers are hereby informed that all jobs and housing advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.
Pacific "PC"
506 St. W
Kansas City, MO 40141
816-474-1295 (FAX)
EEO-M/F DV Employer
PSC
Blue Sky Satellite Services, Regional Dish Network provider based in Lawrence, now has openings in our dispatch dept. Must have computer knowledge and excellent communication skills. Contact 1-888-677-2992.
Start your summer job today! Immediate opening for swim instructor. Indoor, heated pool in Lenaea. KS, Looking for experience teaching basic and competitive strokes, call and starts. Excellent hourly rates. Call Tern at 913-469-5554.
Summer Internships. University Directories will hold interviews on campus 4/20 - 4/21. For more information on sales-marketing internships visit www.universitydirectories.com or contact Van Nguyen at 1-800-745-5586 x375 or vnguyen@vilcom.com. Contact Career Services to sign up for interviews.
Summer to remember in Maine, Camp Androscoggin seeks specialists and cabin counselors. Openings include: baseball, basketball, hockey, archery and art. Have fun, be outdoors and make a difference. Visit www.campandro.com or call collect 914-833-5800.