Martz returns to practice, ready for Sunday's game

ST. LOUIS -- Mike Martz returned to the practice field Friday, anxious to put the attention back on the St. Louis Rams' next game instead of his heart condition.

Martz, 54, missed two days while undergoing tests for a bacterial infection of a heart valve. He said earlier this week that team doctors believe he has endocarditis.

"I appreciate everybody's concern and I'm not trying to minimize this, I'm really not, but everything's fine," Martz said. "Now it's time to focus on this team and winning a game.

"Really, I'm not trying to minimize it or be a John Wayne or anything else like that. It just is what it is and you move."

Martz has been undergoing a series of blood cultures to confirm the diagnosis, but he had nothing to add on that front, repeatedly telling reporters to ask him about "Seattle stuff."

"It just takes a while to treat and get over it," Martz said. "It's so early now that there won't be any issues from it. I'm very pleased about that."

The Rams (2-2) play the Seattle Seahawks (2-2) on Sunday in a game for first place in the NFC West.

He appeared to be his old feisty self during practice, yelling at rookies.

"It was nice to hear his voice out there," said Rams defensive end Leonard Little, who is glad he's not a rookie.

And he felt well enough to joke about the team already getting accustomed to his absence, saying assistant head coach Joe Vitt had taken over his office with his feet up on the desk and clicking the channel changer when he came in every morning for an abbreviated work day.

Vitt, also the linebackers coach, directed practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

"The family pictures were still there," Martz said. "The name had been changed on the door to Joe Vitt."

Martz was hospitalized late last week with what doctors believed to be a sinus infection, but he coached the Rams on Sunday in a 44-24 loss to the New York Giants.

Players were happy to have him back.

"He had a little twinkle in his eye," defensive lineman Tyoka Jackson said. "I didn't know what that was all about, but he looks better, sounds better, so I think he's ready to roll on Sunday.

"We need to go out there and make sure he didn't fight to get out of the hospital for nothing."

Martz said the only difference this week for him was he wasn't on the field for those two days. He's kept abreast of developments by watching practice tape, and also was present for meetings.

"I was very proud of the way they practiced," Martz said. "They didn't skip a beat. There's good news and bad news in that, I guess."

Martz was much more comfortable talking about his team's opponent. The Rams will be trying to beat the Seahawks for the fifth straight time, counting a first-round playoff victory last season.

He wanted players to know all of those victories won't mean much on game day.

"From season to season, from game to game, nothing that you did the week before has any bearing on what you're doing right now," Martz said. "If you ever blink or slow down or assume anything, you won't win. Period."

Noteworthy

* One of the last remaining Munchkins from the 1930s movie "Wizard of Oz," Mickey Carroll of St. Louis, watched practice on Friday. The 4-foot-7 Carroll, 86, met Jackson and Martz.

* Martz said new tight end Cam Cleeland, signed earlier this week, has quickly picked up the offense. Cleeland played for the Rams last season. "Cam's retained just about everything," Martz said. "It's amazing."

* Wide receiver Isaac Bruce (turf toe) is doubtful and likely will be sidelined for a second straight week.