Martin prepares for rare career start at QB

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Jamie Martin goes from getting none of the repetitions to getting almost all of them this week, now that he's the Rams' starting quarterback.

He'll try to follow in the footsteps of Kurt Warner, who rose to stardom after Trent Green had a season-ending knee injury in the 1999 preseason, and try to help rescue the Rams' lost season. The winless Rams (0-4) play Sunday at San Francisco.

"As a backup you're always waiting for a chance like this, and you want to take advantage of it," Martin said Wednesday. "I'm not going to compare it to another situation. I just know I have a chance to go out and play, and I've got to play well."

Warner sees some of himself in 32-year-old Martin, who in his eighth year is preparing for his second career start. Warner was an obscure, undrafted third-string quarterback out of Northern Iowa before getting his big break.

"We're both in the pocket-type guys, accurate guys that really our greatest strength is our head, making decisions and getting the ball to the right guy," Warner said. "It's not going to be a huge changeup for the guys in there playing with him."

Teammates are confident that Martin, who is 99-for-152 for 1,187 yards in his career with eight touchdowns and four interceptions, can do the job.

"Jamie's got the ability to lead this team," wide receiver Ricky Proehl said. "He's been around this system, and I think we're excited he's here."

Martin steps in at a hectic time for his family. His wife, Kelly, gave birth to the couple's second child on Monday. A Caesarean section had been previously scheduled for that day for that time.

But family life might have to take a bit of a backseat for the time being because Warner will be out eight to 10 weeks with a broken little finger on his throwing hand. Warner has been reduced to a highly paid assistant coach and will wear a headset on the sideline on game days, relaying in plays instead of being on the receiving end.

"Anything I can possibly do, I'll be there to do," Warner said. "Everything I see, I'll try to pass it on."

The Rams are hopeful Warner can come back sooner than the doctors' estimates. Four pins will stabilize the injury and the entire hand was heavily wrapped on Monday.

"They are very encouraged that it may not be quite as long as they initially expected," coach Mike Martz said. "But we will have to wait and see how that goes."

Martin was 24-for-37 for 262 yards with a touchdown and an interception in last week's 13-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, stepping in after Warner was injured in the first quarter. He had been getting no reps in practice the first four weeks of the season and missed most of the preseason with a separated shoulder.

Warner believes the work he's getting now will be a big help Sunday.

"It's a complex offense and it's hard enough when you go into a game having not run half your plays," Warner said, recalling his usual scenario. "Having not run any of your plays is even more difficult.

"He's just going to get a better feel for what we do and he's just going to get better and better."

Martin's only start his first seven seasons in the NFL came in 1998 when he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and that one went badly. He tore ligaments in his right knee Dec. 13, 1998, against Tennessee, knocking him out the rest of the season.

Being a career backup apparently hasn't been too tough to deal with. Martin was a communications major at Weber State and was assistant sports editor of "The Signpost," but never got desperate enough to put that journalism background to use.

"I think I just believed in myself that if I got a chance, I'd be ready," Martin said. "This is my chance. I think I'm ready."