Green not surprised he's a backup again

ST. LOUIS -- Even after his quick demotion back to the St. Louis bench, Trent Green is glad he's still playing.

Green was at quarterback Sunday when the Rams lost to Buffalo, 31-14. The loss dropped St. Louis to 0-4. Coach Scott Linehan was fired the next day, replaced by defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.

Haslett reinstated Marc Bulger as the starter Tuesday. Still, Green said the experience was a good one.

"It just reconfirms that I made the right decision," Green said Wednesday. "I wouldn't still be here if I didn't think I could still do it. My wife was glad to see that I took a few hits and was able to respond well."

The 38-year-old Green knew the change back to Bulger was coming after Linehan was let go.

Benching Bulger, Green said, was Linehan's last-ditch idea to spark the winless franchise.

"When the change was made at head coach, I had a good feeling that's what was going to happen," Green said. "I think it was pretty clear last week that the one behind the whole thing was Scott."

Another sign that it wouldn't last: The move was not popular with teammates. Running back Steven Jackson criticized Linehan's move on his weekly radio show.

So Green said he wasn't surprised when Haslett gave him the news Tuesday.

"Oh no, I just loved playing," he said. "I tried rallying the troops, but we just didn't get it done."

The first half of Sunday's 31-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills was the Rams' most competitive stretch by far. They scored on their first two drives with a go-for-broke attitude, using an assortment of trick plays and getting a 37-yard touchdown run by rookie wide receiver Donnie Avery.

The Rams led 14-6 at halftime before fading for their 17th loss in 20 games. The key play was a 33-yard interception return by Jabari Greer on the first play of the fourth quarter, a turnover Green blamed on miscommunication with wide receiver Torry Holt.

"The disappointing thing was we were very close to getting a win and that momentum swing cost us," Green said. "We're not at a point right now where we can handle that, and we will be at some point."

Green was throwing to a spot on the pattern in question, but Holt altered his route due to coverage.

"I put it to the spot that I thought he was going to be, and he ran to the spot he was supposed to be," Green said. "That's football."

Noteworthy

• Players and coaches will get the next four days off, although Haslett indicated it wouldn't be a long break for him, and offensive coordinator Al Saunders said he'd use the time to review the first four games play by play.
• WR-KR Dante Hall missed practice Wednesday with a minor hamstring injury, but is expected to be ready for the next workout.
• OT Orlando Pace was a full participant after being held out Tuesday due to general soreness. During regular game weeks, the team is off Tuesday. "Tuesdays are pretty sore days for me," Pace said.