Rams' Karney set to face his former team, the Saints
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By Jim Thomas
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
(MCT)
ST. LOUIS — Other than the timing — he was cut last spring on the day before his wedding — Rams fullback Mike Karney harbors no ill will toward his former team, the New Orleans Saints.
"I've completely moved on from that whole situation," Karney said. "There ain't none of that left in my system at all. That was eight months ago, and does you no good."
Even so, Karney admitted he has a little extra motivation playing his old team Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
"You have a little bit more of an edge, but it's the National Football League," he said. "Every week you've got to get up and get ready to play, because you're going against the best of the best."
Karney was a fifth-round draft pick by the Saints in 2004 out of Arizona State and was the team's primary blocking back for five seasons. With a pass-oriented offense, the Saints opted for a more versatile fullback last offseason, signing Heath Evans in free agency. Now the Saints have developed into one of the league's better running teams so far this season, and Evans was placed on the injured reserve list after six games because of a knee injury.
The Saints (8-0) come to town as one of only two unbeaten teams in the NFL. Meanwhile, Karney's new team has stumbled to a 1-7 start. But he has enjoyed blocking for Steven Jackson in St. Louis and says the two are forming a bond.
"We watch film together. We eat dinner together. We do a lot of things together," Karney said. "The offensive line, and he and I, we're tied to a string. ... We've got to be on the same page to be successful."
Jackson is coming off back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, posting back-to-back season high yardage totals in the process.
"I think we're definitely getting into a groove," Karney said. "But every week presents a new challenge. And New Orleans is our new challenge. That defense is playing very, very well."
Danny knows best
Until getting signed off the Saints' practice squad Nov. 3 by the Rams, cornerback Danny Gorrer had the "pleasure" of trying to cover Marques Colston & Co. every day in practice.
"Some of those guys, well, all of them, made me better," Gorrer said, referring to the Saints' fleet of talented wideouts.
"If you don't get that perfect leverage on Colston, you're like, 'I have to just make the tackle,'" Gorrer said. "Because his body's so big, it's hard to get around him. But what people don't realize is Colston can run with the best of them, too. ... With Devery (Henderson)'s and (Robert) Meachem's speed, it's just crazy. It's like a track meet every day."
Injury update
As expected, RG Richie Incognito (foot) was officially ruled out of Sunday's game. DE C.J. Ah You (ankle) is listed as questionable. Things looked encouraging earlier in the week for Ah You's return, but he now looks iffy. "He didn't do a lot today, very limited," coach Steve Spagnuolo said Friday.
Donut Bros. return
Right guard Adam Timmerman and center Andy McCollum, aka the Donut Bros., will be featured guests for Sunday's game as part of the Rams' new alumni program. Now retired, Timmerman started 124 regular-season games for the Rams from 1999-2006 and made two Pro Bowls; McCollum started 109 regular-season games for St. Louis from 1999-2007. Timmerman and McCollum will join club level ticket holders at 9:30 a.m. for a pregame brunch and autographs in the Rams Club; make an appearance at the Bud Light Party Zone around kickoff; be introduced on the field during the game; and visit some VIP suites.
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(c) 2009, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
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Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
