[bigboydan]

those rams coaches must have a ton of stress on the job.

Vitt undergoes angioplasty

By JIM SALTER, Associated Press Writer
October 31, 2005

AP - Oct 26, 7:37 pm EDT


ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Joe Vitt, interim head coach of the St. Louis Rams while Mike Martz recovers from a heart ailment, underwent a heart procedure of his own Monday.

The 51-year-old Vitt had an angioplasty around 6 a.m., but was expected to speak at his regular Monday afternoon news conference, Rams spokesman Duane Lewis said.

``He's doing fine,'' Lewis said. ``I think it was just a routine procedure. It had been prescheduled. It was not the result of any issues the last two weeks or three weeks.''

Vitt told players about the procedure after Sunday's 24-21 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but did not mention his plans to the media.

In an angioplasty, a balloon is inserted through a tube and inflated to open blood vessels in the heart that have narrowed or become blocked. Lewis said he did not know specific details about why Vitt had the procedure.

Martz, 54, is being treated for endocarditis, an infection of the lining or the valves of the heart. He has taken antibiotics, though some people with the potentially fatal illness require open-heart surgery.

Martz will not return this season.



Vitt has been an NFL assistant for 26 years. He was hired by Martz last season as linebackers coach and assistant head coach.

Vitt has had previous health problems. He has recovered from two bouts of testicular cancer, the first when he was 23, the second nearly 20 years ago.

The Rams (4-4) lost their first game, against undefeated Indianapolis, under Vitt, but have since won two straight, including the upset of Jacksonville (4-3).

St. Louis has is idle next Sunday before playing at Nov. 13 at Seattle.

[Shawn01]

I could understand such problems if it were the Lions coaches...

[Mudcat]

I wonder, if they gave the job to Paris Hilton, if that would finally get rid of her.

[pags11]

Martz is so damn horrible...I'm glad he is finally gone...he singlehanddedly ruined this organization...

[onlooker]

Well if it makes them better, I feel sorry for the coaching staff.

[Shawn01]

I wonder, if they gave the job to Paris Hilton, if that would finally get rid of her.

Oh...we need to name her coaching staff so we be rid of them too.
Special Teams coach: Madonna
O Coordinator: Lindsay Lohan
D Coordinator: that screaming guy that shills OxyClean
QB coach: Chris Berman
Bench coaches: the NY Yankees

[bigboydan]

I wonder, if they gave the job to Paris Hilton, if that would finally get rid of her.

if they made her the coach, everyone would have the clap and, the paternity test would be exclusive

[pags11]

let's go over Martz's career highlights:

*leave's Kurt Warner in with a concusion vs. the Saints in the playoffs, the year after they won the Super Bowl...
*leave's Kurt Warner in the next year when he could barely complete a forward pass because of his thumb...
*has Brenda Warner call in and rip him on a radio show when the guy was too stubborn to get Warner's hand x-rayed
*gives Faulk barely 20 carries a game while he was still in the prime of his career, way too pass happy
*says that Kyle Turley tried to kill him (that's a lot of team love)
*calls the press box while in the hospital (or at least while recovering from heart problems) and makes it public that the offensive coordinator wouldn't take his calls

and isn't it funny that the Rams have now won two in a row?...

[bigboydan]

isn't it funny that the Rams have now won two in a row?...

pags, they might/probly would have won 3 in a row, if bulger didn't get hurt against indy.

anyone that has read my posts over at the ogd,tow and,sportscrew knows i've said martz was the problem and, not the talent level.

[pags11]

bigboydan, I completely agree...I have been a Rams fan since '85 (through all of the 4-12 and 5-11 seasons) and have never been more frustrated than I've been over the last three years...

I watched the NFL network last night and I really like this interm coach, vittz or something like that...

[bigboydan]

joe vitt is a nfl lifer as an assistant coach. the guy does know how to coach. i just hope he's not the next comming of rick venturi, when he took over the saint job years ago.

[pags11]

dan, I just like some of the things he was saying...he was very humble about things...seemed like a good dude...

[bigboydan]

pags, i never had the pleasure of meeting coach vitt. but, i have met mike martz a few times and i will say he very arrogent to say the least.

[pags11]

I bet he is dan...where does he get off being like that? I believe up until this job he had never been a head coach at any level...remember when he did the onside kick up like 17 vs. the Jets about four years ago...what a prick...I'm sure the NFL will be glad to see him gone...

[bigboydan]

pags, this guy loved to run up the scores left and right back in 99-2002 if he could. then something really changed him but, i'll be damn if i know what did it

[pags11]

Dan, you have got me talking about one of my favorite subjects to talk about in the whole world...I remember it was about three years ago that we got dismantled at SF, by a very average SF team...I knew right then Martz had to go...he is also master of not getting the plays in on time and then having to burn timeouts...what an idiot!...

[bigboydan]

your right pags, martz is the king when it comes to clock mismanagement. this guy uses his timeouts frivalously. he always seems to be out of them about the 10 minute mark of the 2nd quarter or, is very lucky to have 1 timeout left at the 2 minute warning.

[pags11]

he's master of passing the ball 60 times a game too, which never equates to many victories in the NFL...

[onlooker]

he's master of passing the ball 60 times a game too, which never equates to many victories in the NFL...

Thats Reid and McNabb now.

[pags11]

I love his press conferences too...never admits to making a mistake whatsover...he should retire as the coach that never did anything wrong, ever...

[bigboydan]

your 100% right pags, he never admits fault in his coaching of a game. but, he never has thru out his whole coaching carreer though. why would we expect him to start doing it now.

[pags11]

geeze dan, this is the best thread ever...5 years of frustration taken out on one thread...it's like therapy for me...thanks bro...

[bigboydan]

geeze dan, this is the best thread ever...5 years of frustration taken out on one thread...it's like therapy for me...thanks bro...

pags, whos saying this threads done yet. so, who do you think will be the rams coach next year

[pags11]

I think they should go with a young guy, possibly even a college guy...like the Dolphins did with Nick Saban...all I know is that I'm so happy Martz is gone...

[bigboydan]

I don't know if they the rams will do that or not pags. the rams met there terms of the lease agreement to the city of st.louis by winning the superbowl. so, odds are there gonna start the rebuilding cycle by getting a "yes man" for a coach and, dumping salary. i'm thinking they will get some flunky type assistant coach.

[pags11]

it'll be interesting to see how they go about things...with Georgia still around, you never know, right?...good night guys...

[bigboydan]

pags, not only with Georgia still being around, but the NFL hating her and the city of st.louis in general.

[pags11]

dan, alas, they go and lose another one today...heartbreak city...

[bigboydan]

dan, alas, they go and lose another one today...heartbreak city...

i bet thats the last time they play against a bunch of nuns on there by week uh

[pags11]

I still say they have a shot for the playoffs though...who knows, maybe they will get it together here...

[bigboydan]

well not that martz is out for the year, i feel they still gotta shot at the playoffs.