Gateway to the Worst: dissention in the ranks at St. Louis?

Yeah, I have heard all the punchlines. It's sure as hell not easy being a St. Louis Rams fan this season, given an 0-3 start where I myself, by myself, could score 17 points against them (why, what are they going to do about it, score a touchdown?) The way they have played this season, playing a game against me, myself, and I might be their best shot.

Much has been made of the decision by Rams' coach Scott Linehan to bench QB Marc Bulger for week 4, even if that means starting concussion magnet Trent Green in his place, but now reports are coming out that RB Steven Jackson openly criticized the move on an St. Louis radio station earlier this week. Jackson's statements were to the effect that you do not bench their "general," a guy that's being overpaid to the tune of $60+ million over the course of his contract. I do not know if Jackson finished college, but someone needs to point out how lousy Bulger has played this season. Two touchdowns in three weeks? How many touchdowns does Jackson have? Oh, yeah...he ain't talking about that, now, is he?

Bulger, who reportedly does not want to play for Linehan anymore, has so far not commented on the benching or Jackson shooting his mouth off. At least there's a little class left in this struggling franchise, at least at present.

Jackson's remarks were exactly the kind of primadonna behavior I thought the Rams franchise was above. No more, apparently. Especially when it comes from Jackson, a guy who went the holdout route at the beginning of the season, only to put up mediocre (yes, Steven Jackson, mediocre is the word I used) numbers since deciding to play this season. Granted, Linehan is struggling himself to right the ship, but to have a player so openly disrespect him, serves the players, the team, its coach, and the fans no favor.

Bottom line, there are two things Steven Jackson needs to do: apologize to Linehan and the team, and then start playing like he's worth the money he held out for in the first place.

Either that, or Linehan should bring Bulger back for week 4, and bench Jackson, so he could see the game from the perspective of someone who should be playing, but has done little to prove why that is.