Bulger has job security

ST. LOUIS -- Life without Kurt Warner truly begins this week for the St. Louis Rams.

Marc Bulger has been the Rams' starting quarterback for the last season and a half. But when training camp begins Wednesday at Macomb, Ill., Bulger for the first time won't have a two-time MVP looking over his shoulder.

While Warner tries to rebuild his career with the New York Giants, Bulger will be getting the bulk of the action in practice. He's the unquestioned No. 1 now with 38-year-old Chris Chandler the new backup.

How Bulger -- 18-4 as the starter in the regular season -- deals with his newfound security is one of the questions surrounding the Rams' camp.

There are other issues facing the NFC West champions, coming off a 12-4 season and a one-and-out playoff experience with a double-overtime loss to Carolina. At the top of the list is finding a replacement for defensive end Grant Wistrom, who signed a free-agent deal with Seattle.

The top candidates to step in for Wistom are Sean Moran, Bryce Fisher, Tyoka Jackson, Erik Flowers and rookie Anthony Hargrove, the third-round pick this year.

The other defensive end, Leonard Little, has had a troubled offseason. Little was arrested the night before the draft and is charged with felony drunken-driving charges in St. Louis County as a persistent offender because of his drunken driving crash that killed a woman here in 1998.

The team also will have to adjust to new defensive coordinator Larry Marmie, a longtime friend of coach Mike Martz who signed on after Lovie Smith left to coach the Chicago Bears. Marmie promises a similar pursuit-emphasizing approach.

A highlight of camp is three days of joint practices with the Bears Aug. 5 to Aug. 7.