marshall

NEW ORLEANS -- Marshall Faulk capped the most prolific touchdown season in NFL history by scoring three times Sunday to break Emmitt Smith's record.

The St. Louis Rams' star running back fueled a 26-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints and helped propel the Rams into the playoffs.

"I had a big game in the big game," Faulk said. Faulk scored on a 1-yard dive with 3:27 left to give the Rams a 26-14 lead and get the record. He then ran over to the stands and presented the ball to his mother.

"When you start a game you're never sure of the impact you'll have," Faulk said. "But coach (Mike) Martz put the ball in my hands four times on the first drive and I knew what kind of day it would be."

The record-reaking touchdown was set up by a 42-pass to Torry Holt to the Saints 1.

Faulk, who missed two games during the season with minor knee surgery, ran untouched for a 9-yard score with 2:45 left in the third quarter. He also scored on a 13-yard pass from Kurt Warner in the first period.

"He is the best in the league, definitely the MVP," Rams backup quarterback Trent Green. "He played exceptionally, especially at the end of the game when we needed the first downs."

Faulk, who finished with a career-best 220 yards on 32 carries, had five carries for 54 yards on the Rams' final drive, enabling St. Louis to run out out the final 1:03.

"He made some great runs, a lot of great plays," said Saints safety Sammy Knight. "He made us miss tackles on a couple of big runs that he had at the end. They went for the world with Marshall and they won."

The first Rams-Saints game on Nov. 26 was the second since surgery for Faulk. In that one he had only eight carries for 27 yards.

Smith scored 25 times for Dallas in 1995.

This year, Faulk became the first player in NFL history to score four touchdowns in a game three times in a season. He's also the first player in league history to score four touchdowns in back-to-back games.

By Bernie Miklasz
Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist

Here's the best Marshall Faulk story of the season: The Rams had just lost at Tampa Bay 38-35 on Dec. 18 when their defense failed to protect a four-point lead in the final minute.

The depressed Rams were flying home, and Faulk approached general manager Charley Armey to make a request. ``Put me on defense,'' he said.

What?

``I can play defensive back,'' Faulk said. ``I can knock down a pass. I can blitz. Use me on defense.''

Faulk was serious in volunteering for two-way duty. He didn't make the offer as a way of insulting the defense. Faulk just thought he had more to offer, and so he made his pitch for extra playing time. So if he could help win a game by making a play on defense, why not?

And given Faulk's tremendous athletic ability, his brains and his zest for competition, he'd probably be one of the team's best defensive players.

The Rams declined Faulk's proposal, but the story and his attitude tells you why he's the Most Valuable Player in the NFL, as named by The Associated Press. Oh, there was some silly late-season, East Coast-based media campaign to give the award to Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb, but most of the AP voters took their obligation seriously. Faulk was the obvious choice.

Let's list all the reasons:

Faulk runs the ball: 1,359 yards rushing this season.

He catches the ball: 81 receptions for 830 yards.

Faulk scores touchdowns: an NFL-record 26 this year.

He's a coach in the huddle: Rams coaches and teammates say he's the smartest player they've ever been around.

He's tough: Faulk returned to action only two weeks after knee surgery.

He's unselfish: Faulk put his repaired knee at risk by coming back so soon and then he tried to enlist on the defense to save the Rams' season.

``He's just an incredible man,'' Rams coach Mike Martz said.

Faulk could have won the award last season, when he amassed an NFL-record 2,429 yards from scrimmage. But the trophy went to teammate Kurt Warner instead, and Faulk never complained.

This year the balky knee cost Faulk another record for most combined rushing-receiving yards. And as the Rams lost games, Faulk probably lost MVP votes -- as if bad defense is his fault -- but he got a second look from voters after the Rams suddenly landed in the playoffs last Sunday.

How could they miss him? Faulk closed the regular season with a frantic burst of offense: 220 yards rushing on 32 carries in the critical 26-21 victory over the Saints. In the final three weeks, with the Rams scrambling to make it to the playoffs, their offense averaged 457 yards and 34 points a game. And Faulk went on a three-game rampage that produced 434 yards rushing, 137 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. That was his MVP campaign, right there.

``You always want to perform in big games,'' Faulk said. ``It's something you dream of.''

Sunday in New Orleans, the Rams turned to Faulk and he showed them the way. He's one of those special athletes who makes his teammates better. He gives the receivers room because defenses are usually so keyed to stopping him. He enhances the quarterback with his glorious, all-purpose play. Faulk also provides intangibles: leadership, composure in pressure situations and the indefatigable spirit of a happy warrior.

``Marshall lines up across from me in the huddle,'' guard Tom Nutten said. ``And I'm always looking at him. He's just always got this big smile on his face. When he has that big smile going, I know he's having a big day.''

And if Marshall Faulk is having a big day, the Rams will usually follow. This year, with their season on the line, they followed him right into the playoffs.

By Jim Thomas
Post-Dispatch NFL Writer

Just a couple of days before the 1999 college draft, running back Marshall Faulk was traded to the 4-12 Rams. They were the NFL's losingest franchise in the 1990s. They hadn't been to playoffs since 1989. In fact, they hadn't had a winning season since '89. It looked very much like a career dead end.

But last year, Faulk and the Rams won the Super Bowl. The Rams are back in the playoffs this year. And on Wednesday, he was named most valuable player of the National Football League.

Who'd have thought it possible?

``To be honest, I didn't,'' Faulk said. ``I think what happened was the decision I made to come to the first minicamp (in '99). I got the opportunity to see our teammates and the coaches, and let them get a feel for me, and we got a feel for each other.

``I just saw it was like something special. It was a different atmosphere from what I was used to being around.''

Faulk certainly has been something special with the Rams. He has helped get this franchise over the top, and the MVP award cements that accomplishment. Unlike major-league baseball, there is no one official MVP award. But The Associated Press award, which Faulk won on Wednesday, is generally recognized as ``the'' MVP award in the NFL.

Faulk received 24 first-place votes in balloting by a 50- member panel of sportswriters throughout the nation, easily outdistancing second-place Donovan McNabb. The Philadelphia quarterback received 11 votes. Tennessee running back Eddie George had eight votes, Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon had five votes, and Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning and Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis had one vote apiece.

``It's special,'' Faulk said. ``When I look at the list, and I think of some of the guys who have won MVP, I'm like man, there's not too many of those guys you won't see in the Hall of Fame. Or guys that didn't have the love for the game, or play the game and get everything out of every play. It's good company.''

Faulk obviously belongs in that company. He is putting up offensive numbers the likes of which the NFL has never seen. Last season, Faulk set the NFL record for total yards from scrimmage (2,429). He was on pace to break that mark this season, before undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Nov. 6 that sidelined him for two games and limited his work in two others.

Nonetheless, Faulk set an NFL record for touchdowns (26) this season, rushed for a career-high 1,359 yards, and led the NFC in yards from scrimmage (2,189). He joins the great Walter Payton as the only player in NFL history to log three straight seasons of 2,000 or more yards. Payton turned the trick in 1983-85.

Faulk appeared to be the hands-down choice before undergoing surgery to remove loose cartilage in his right knee.

``I think once I got injured, the talk went away -- that went away,'' Faulk said. ``The most important thing was getting back in enough time, and getting myself healthy to make a run for the playoffs.''

Just the fact that Faulk returned 14 days after surgery was amazing. The fact that he has been on a tear the past three games -- so soon after the surgery -- is even more amazing. Faulk has 571 yards rushing and receiving, and 11 TDs in the Rams' past three games.

``Marshall has that burning desire to compete and do the very best,'' coach Mike Martz said. ``So you can't put a limitation on what Marshall might or might not do. He's unlimited. I just have never really ruled anything out with Marshall.''

So when it came to the knee injury, and Faulk's return from the surgery, Martz said, ``We just kind of use the Marshall Gauge. `How you feeling?' ''

And Faulk, obviously, has been feeling great down the stretch.

``I think these last three weeks, I found myself back to where I was before I got hurt,'' Faulk said. ``I could feel a difference, I could see the difference. As that happened, my workload increased.'' Faulk has averaged 32 ``touches'' a game -- either carrying the ball or catching passes. Last season, Faulk averaged 21 ``touches'' a game. But Faulk's late surge, particularly his work in the critical New Orleans game last season, probably earned him the MVP award.

The vote wasn't as close as anticipated. And at least two voters on the panel, which includes the Post-Dispatch, changed their votes on Monday, after Faulk's three touchdowns and 220 yards rushing against the Saints.

``What makes it special, if (the vote) came down to the last game, was that it was a game we needed to win,'' Faulk said. ``It was a must-win game for us. You always want to perform in big games. Everybody that goes out there, you dream of, or you think about, `OK, in this game, I would like to have a game like this.'

``Sometimes it doesn't go that way. I remember in the Super Bowl, I could envision myself having a huge day, but my role was a little different, and we still won.''

And as happy as he is with the MVP, and as thankful as Faulk is for the help of his teammates and coaches in winning the award, he'd rather have another Super Bowl ring.

``Winning the Super Bowl -- that was probably the best feeling after winning that game,'' Faulk said. ``You're on top. It's like a long walk, climbing a high mountain. When you get up top, it's like, `Man, I made it. And I'm the only one up here.' ''

How does beating New Orleans last Sunday to earn a playoff berth rate with that Super Bowl experience?

Faulk paused and laughed. ``Like right below -- about four games away from that,'' he said.

You've got to hand it,
and MVP, to Faulk
By Steve Hirdt
Special to Page 2

Every rock musician would love to play with Carlos Santana. Every actor wants to work with Scorcese.

And if you're someone who tries to make an honest living by carrying, throwing or catching a football, you should be drawn to Mike Martz.

Martz is finishing his first year as head coach of the St. Louis Rams, the team that won the Super Bowl a year ago in Martz's first year as the offensive coordinator. In 32 regular-season games since Martz signed on, the Rams have scored 1,066 points and gained 13,487 yards. Those are large numbers -- more points and more yards than any team has produced in any two-year span in NFL history. He has helped make household names out of Kurt Warner and Az-Zahir Hakim. And he has taken a star player -- Marshall Faulk -- and raised him to Hall-of-Fame material.

If it's possible for anyone to be underrated in today's 24-hours-per-day, nonstop-news-cycle, scores-when-you-want-them-highlights-on-demand, streaming-video-compressed-screen sports world, Faulk fits the bill.

Think of it this way. We all agree that before he got hurt and missed the last six games of the regular season, Ricky Williams was having a pretty good year for the New Orleans Saints. He had five straight 100-yard games in Saints' wins, and amassed 1,000 yards over the first 10 games of the season before going down.

Well, put aside Faulk's contributions as a pass receiver -- certainly a big part of his game. Just consider his numbers when carrying the ball, compared with Williams' numbers for this season:

Faulk vs. Williams rushing comparison
Player Att. Yards Avg. TD
Marshall Faulk 253 1,359 5.4 18
Ricky Williams 248 1,000 4.0 8

Faulk carried five more times this season than did Williams. With those five extra carries, Faulk produced an additional 359 yards! And that's before you consider what he produced as a receiver!

Faulk has now played 30 regular-season games in Martz's offense. (He missed two games this season, and played on a limited basis in each of his first two games back in the lineup.) In those 30 games, Faulk has gained 2,740 rushing yards and 1,878 receiving yards -- an average of 154 yards from scrimmage per game!

Now consider this: Faulk's total of 4,618 yards from scrimmage in his 30 games with the Rams is the highest total by any player in any 30-game segment in the history of the league! And he holds down first place by more than 300 yards over the former record-holder, Eric Dickerson, who gained 4,309 yards over 30 games with the West Coast Rams from 1983 to 1985.

Now, if Faulk put the ball on the ground every other carry, maybe the impact of all those yards would be diluted. Oh, did I mention that Mr. Faulk has handled the ball 337 times without a fumble this season? And that he scored an NFL-record 26 touchdowns?

MVPs come in all shapes and sizes, and debates on the credentials of various players can go on and on. Just leave me out of any of those debates. My MVP is the only player in the NFL who wears No. 28 and calls Mike Martz "Coach."

Steve Hirdt is the executive vice president of the Elias Sports Bureau.

Rams 26, Saints 21: There has been little doubt in my mind that Marshall Faulk is the NFL's best player. I just struggled with the idea on whether the league MVP can come from a team that doesn't make the playoffs. This issue is all but settled . No matter that the Rams lost last week in Tampa Bay, Faulk literally carried the Rams across the finish line by scoring 11 TDs in the last three games. His 220 yards on 32 carries Sunday came against a hard-hitting Saints' defense that has shown some vulnerability against the run in recent weeks. Great drama as the Rams walked off the field; Bears kicker Paul Edinger booted a 54-yarder to beat the Lions, giving the defending Super Bowl champs an opportunity to defend their title. And that's a good thing for the NFL. The Rams' defense even showed up, playing perhaps their finest game when they most needed it. It didn't hurt that Faulk and Co. kept the ball for more than 37 minutes. I thought Rams coach Mike Martz called a terrific game, and Trent Green also delivered some big throws after Kurt Warner was hurt. This makes for an interesting rubber match in New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs. Why do I get the feeling the Giants are rooting for the Saints?

PERSONAL NOTES

CAREER NOTES
Selected after junior season by Indianapolis Colts in first round (second pick overall) of 1994 NFL draft. ... Signed by Colts (July 24, 1994). ... Traded by Colts to St. Louis Rams for second- (LB Mike Peterson) and fifth-round (DE Brad Scioli) picks in 1999 draft (April 15, 1999). ... [TIED FOR NFL LEAD WITH 1 2-pt conversion, Need cross/dagger!!!]

RECORDS
Selected after junior season by Indianapolis Colts in first round (second pick overall) of 1994 NFL draft. ... Signed by Colts (July 24, 1994). ... Traded by Colts to St. Louis Rams for second- (LB Mike Peterson) and fifth-round (DE Brad Scioli) picks in 1999 draft (April 15, 1999). ... [TIED FOR NFL LEAD WITH 1 2-pt conversion]

HONORS
Named running back on THE SPORTING NEWS college All-America first team (1991-1993). ... Named NFL Rookie of the Year by THE SPORTING NEWS (1994). ... Played in Pro Bowl (1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999 seasons). ... Named Outstanding Player of Pro Bowl (1994 season). ... Named running back on THE SPORTING NEWS NFL All-Pro team (1999).

STAT NOTES
1994_Recovered one fumble. ... 1995_Recovered one fumble. ... 1997_Recovered one fumble. ... 1998_Recovered two fumbles for 13 yards. ... 1999_Attempted one pass without a completion.