Linehan gives bonus day off
October 31st, 2007 | by Kevin Morris |
By
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Scott Linehan threw out a hefty carrot to Rams players during Tuesday’s squad
meeting: Have a decent practice Tuesday, and they wouldn’t have to come in
Wednesday.
“So we made sure we did decent at practice,” center Andy McCollum said,
chuckling.
After the players held up their end of the bargain, Linehan made good on his
end of the deal. The players were dismissed for the bye week Tuesday afternoon,
a day earlier than scheduled. Wednesday’s light workout, conditioning and film
study were canceled.
The team won’t gather again until Monday for practice and the start of
preparation for the Rams’ next contest, Nov. 11 in New Orleans.
“I just decided to give them (Wednesday) off,” Linehan said. “I thought about
it, and I think they just need something — some kind of a spark or an energy
boost. Something.”
So he told his players to get away from football for a while.
“Get away from each other, get away from coaches, get away from the whole
schedule, the routine,” Linehan said. “Right now, we need to have a renewed
spirit and renewed approach.”
The extra day off came as a surprise to the players.
“It was a total surprise,” rookie defensive tackle Clifton Ryan said.
“It’s good. We need the rest,” linebacker Chris Draft said. “It’s mental and
physical rest. (Linehan) said, ‘Hey, just take some time to get away from the
game. Refocus. Take care of your bodies. Use this time to get rested up. And
get your minds refreshed and be ready to attack this second half of the season,
coming in fairly healthy.’ ”
Linehan’s bye-week audible left many players juggling travel schedules and
revising plans.
Ryan, who played at Michigan State, will take in the rivalry game in East
Lansing between the Spartans and the visiting Michigan Wolverines.
McCollum may pack up the kids and head to the gulf shores of Alabama.
Tight end Randy McMichael is headed back home to Georgia. His high school
jersey (No. 5) will be retired at halftime of Friday’s Peach County High
Trojans football game. On Saturday, the University of Georgia graduate will
take in the Bulldogs’ homecoming game against Troy.
“I’m looking forward to being able to spend a little bit more time with the
family,” McCollum said. “Hopefully, it’ll help everybody mentally and
psychologically to come back and be able to look for that win that we’re
looking for.”
Yes, that elusive win. Victory No. 1. It’s out there somewhere among the final
eight contests, isn’t it?
“It’s just a matter of us going out and being refreshed and being recharged
after the bye, and having sole focus on getting our first win,” wide receiver
Torry Holt said. “We’re desperate. We’re desperate for a win. So we have to
really grind it out and do what we need to do to get that.”
McMichael keeps telling himself it can’t get any worse.
“I said that two weeks ago … but we lost two more,” he said.
Tuesday normally is the players’ day off during the regular season. And it
usually takes a couple of days, at least, to get through even the normal aches
and pains of a Sunday game. That meant players worked through the soreness on
the practice field Tuesday.
“Normally, my body’s still sore on Thursday,” said McCollum, a 14-year NFL
veteran. “For me, it’s my knees, my left shoulder. Today, my knuckles are just
killing me. But you work through it and it does help. You feel better after you
force through it a little bit and get the blood going and do some stuff.”
