Star power - Greene, Slater prowling sidelines now for Rams

MACOMB, Ill. -- Kevin Greene and Jackie Slater, who frequently sparred as Los Angeles Rams teammates, are at it again.

The former stars are guest coaches on opposite sides of the ball at the St. Louis Rams' training camp, adding an interesting note to the proceedings. A lot of fire, too.

"Here are two guys who were probably at the top of the league at what they did at several points in their career," coach Mike Martz said. "Anytime you can bring just a little added expertise, I think it always helps."

The players seem to be aware they're in the presence of greatness. It didn't hurt when defensive coordinator Lovie Smith told his players in a meeting of Greene's exploits.

"That helps everybody to buy into what I'm preaching," Greene said. "The man, coach Mike, did the same thing. That gives a little weight to what I'm trying to throw to these young fellows."

Greene, who also played for the Steelers and Panthers and is third on the career sacks list with 160, honed his skills at defensive end butting heads with Slater, the Hall of Famer who played 20 seasons at offensive tackle. Both likened their situation then to that of current Rams teammates Orlando Pace and Grant Wistrom, who spar daily.

"You want to talk about fights, good heavens, go ask Jackie how many fights we got into in eight years together," Greene said. "He tried to bury me and I fought tooth and nail, and I see this competition now, and it's a good thing. Eight years with him, that was some serious violence."

Greene, 40, likes that word, violence.

"That's the way I played the game for 15 years," he said. "I was never a finesse guy, I wasn't a guy that head-slapped or spinned."

So, he loved it when Pace and defensive end John Burrough squared off one day in training camp. He wasn't too quick to break it up.

"I let it go a little bit," Greene said. "That's what we need. We need a little violence, and then get up and love one another afterwards."

In recent years, Slater, 48, has come to training camp to prepare for commentating work and it was all hands-off. Now he's back in the trenches, teaching linemen how to absorb blows and not lose their balance.

"It's fun being a part of it all," Slater said.

Since retiring after the 1999 season, Greene has dabbled at professional wrestling and broadcasting. Slater, who quit after the 1995 season -- the Rams' first in St. Louis -- also has been a broadcaster and is working for the ABC affiliate in Los Angeles this fall.

Neither are hired past training camp, and neither are sure they'd want to make coaching their life's work. Mostly, that's because of the long hours the job entails.

"I'm just getting a feel for it, and looking for the things about it that I like and the things I don't like," Slater said. "I'll just kind of weigh them all at the end."

Slater never even considered coaching during his playing career.

"When I was younger, I said if I didn't play I wanted to coach, and that kind of led into me playing so much," Slater said. "Coaching wasn't something that crossed my mind."

For now at least, it's the closest thing to playing. Greene's eyes bulge and the muscles in his neck strain when he's making a point.

"I did the ESPN thing for a while and the Fox Sports thing and NFL Europe, and that's somewhat removed from the team," Greene said. "This definitely is my passion and my love for the game is showing.

"The blood starts flowing again and it's neat because I can see the young players get better."

Greene telephoned Martz about four months ago to ask whether he could use some help.

"I wanted to get my toes wet and he said 'Come on down,"' Greene said. "I find I have the same passion I had when I played. It's still there in me, and it still comes out."

Greene's principle pupils are pass rushers Wistrom and Leonard Little. Slater, who's less vocal on the field, conducts after-practice special sessions with some of the younger ones like rookie Travis Scott, but also has wisdom to impart to the likes Pace.

"Jackie knows some of the old tricks," Pace said. "He can get you out of some jams and he can teach you some new things from his playing experience that can help you."

Pace, who's entering his sixth season, marvels at Slater's longevity.

"Oh man, I don't know how he did it," Pace said. "I don't think I can play for 20. I couldn't even imagine 20 years."