Incognito welcomes Bears fans in lieu of Rams fans

ST. LOUIS -- Chicago Bears fans are likely to have a substantial presence at Sunday's game in St. Louis, if past Rams home games are any indication.

Rams guard Richie Incognito said Thursday he won't mind, as long as someone is making noise in the Edward Jones Dome. St. Louis is 2-8 overall and 1-3 at home after going 3-13 overall last season with only one home victory, a terrible run that has created apathy.

Last year, the Rams played to crowds that had a 50-50 mix -- or worse -- in late season home games against the Packers and Steelers while finishing 1-7 at home and 3-13 overall.

"It seems like our fans aren't coming to the game, so it's fun when the other fans come in and start hooting and hollering, you know what I mean," Incognito said Thursday. "At least, someone in the dome is yelling."

Coach Jim Haslett told players not to be distracted if the Bears game lacks the homefield advantage.

"You face all kinds of situations in this league, and if they have fans and they come, it's great," Haslett said. "We need to worry about trying to win games and not worrying about the fans and what everybody else is saying and doing and who's there and who's not there."

Incognito is expected to start after quickly shaking off a rotator cuff injury to his left shoulder that necessitated an MRI exam Monday. After practicing for the first time this week Thursday, Incognito said Bears fans "can be as loud as they want" because Rams players have learned to deal with it.

He recalled the New York Giants partisans occupying much of the lower bowl for the home opener, a sellout but with thousands of no-shows on a day made rainy and windy by remnants of Hurricane Ike.

"We know how our fans feel about us, and that's fine," Incognito said. "It's nice to have the other fans here. At least they cheer."

Rams fans, on the other hand, are much too quiet.

"Our fans get in their seats and they don't know how to cheer, when to cheer," Incognito said. "We get the other team's fans coming in, and they cheer real nice for us.

"It provides for a good football atmosphere having the Chicago fans down here."

The highlight of the Rams' season perhaps is a 34-14 victory at home Oct. 19 over a Cowboys team minus quarterback Tony Romo. The other home games have not been close, 41-13 against the Giants, 31-14 against the Bills, 34-13 against the Cardinals.

"They're waiting for something to cheer about," Incognito said. "Exactly. We haven't given them much to cheer about."