Rams put 1-3 run behind, cut eight

ST. LOUIS -- The Rams' objective for the preseason finale was simple: get out of the game without adding to the lengthy injury list.

Having accomplished that in a lackluster 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the annual Governor's Cup game Thursday night, the team can set its sights on regaining its position of dominance in the NFL.

Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Aeneas Williams didn't play against the Chiefs because the season opener Sept. 7 at New York against the Giants is infinitely more important than a 1-3 record in August.

"Everybody wants to be competitive, but the bottom line is whether you win or lose you get out healthy and you get ready to play the games that count," Warner said. "I'm ready to go."

So is an offensive line that finally played together for the first time. Tackle Orlando Pace made his preseason debut, playing most of the first half, and center Dave Wohlabaugh played the first quarter with his broken left hand in a cast.

"That first group, it was fun to have them together for a while," coach Mike Martz said Friday. "They did a terrific job."

Martz has no doubt that Pace, a four-time Pro Bowl player, will be ready to go in the opener after ending his summer-long holdout and signing a $5.73 million contract as the team's franchise player on Tuesday.

"He's motivated and he's excited about being back," Martz said. "He's done a terrific job of keeping himself in shape while he's been away."

One player who was a bit of a disappointment Thursday was backup quarterback Marc Bulger, who struggled as the starter. Martz speculated that Bulger was trying too hard to make big plays in what could be his last action for a while.

"You get in that frame of mind, you get a little greedy," Martz said. "And he did."

Record doesn't matter

Players didn't seem too disappointed about the preseason record. Last year the Rams were 0-4 in the preseason and then began the year 0-5.

"Who cares?" offensive tackle Kyle Turley said. "I was in New Orleans when we won every preseason game and everybody was thinking we'd go to the Super Bowl."

Martz pointed out that the Rams' first-stringers outplayed last year's Super Bowl participants, the Buccaneers and the Raiders.

"The two games it was important to play in, we did," Martz said.

Rams players have the weekend off before returning to practice Monday. By then, the team will have reached the 53-man roster limit.

The Rams released seven players Friday, notably fullback Brian Natkin and safety Steve Bellisari. Bellisari was a sixth-round pick last year while Natkin, an undrafted free agent, was to be the team's starting fullback.

J.R. Niklos is the only fullback remaining in camp, and he's likely to be released with an injury settlement due to concussion-related problems.

The Rams, who normally use the fullback on about a third of the plays, could skirt the shortage by using a tight end on plays that call for that sort of blocking.

The team also released offensive guard James Broyles, cornerback Todd Howard, linebacker Jason McWilliams, safety Robbie Robinson and defensive tackle Jeremy Staat, and placed center Andy Eby on injured reserve with a knee injury.

St. Louis must release eight more players by Sunday to reach the roster limit.

"We've discussed a lot of things concerning personnel," Martz said. "We're in the process of getting that done."

One player who's safe is backup running back Arlen Harris, who'll also serve as the kickoff and punt returner. Harris fielded one punt on the Rams 1 in the first quarter, but Martz raved about him after the game.

"I'm going to make a bold statement: He could start in this league," Martz said.