Wilkins back in Martz's good graces -- at least for now

ST. LOUIS -- Rams coach Mike Martz says all is forgiven with struggling kicker Jeff Wilkins, who was 3-for-3 and hit the game-winner last week.

Wilkins doesn't know if that means he'll be around for his seventh season with the team, though.

"I'm done worrying about that," Wilkins said Wednesday. "I'm just going to keep worrying about myself and just go out there and try to keep putting them through.

"I've got two games to play here and I'm going to approach each one and just try to do the best I can and it's pretty much out of my hands what happens."

A week ago, a day after the defending NFC champions were eliminated from playoff consideration, Martz lashed out at a convenient target after Wilkins scuffed the turf on a 42-yard field goal attempt that never really took flight. Martz said he'd "lost a lot of confidence" in Wilkins, who's 17-for-23 this year with two misses inside the 40 and tinkered with going barefoot early in the season.

He apologized for those remarks on Monday, saying it was wrong to publicly call out his kicker. And on Wednesday, he was all positive, also complimenting Wilkins for deep kickoffs.

"He answered the bell in the clutch and I'm very proud of him after the tough week he went through," Martz said. "Watching him in the pre-game warmups, he was nailing them like the Jeff Wilkins of old."

Wilkins, who had made 86 percent of his kicks entering the season, said he never lost confidence in himself.

"Personally, I don't think it ever left," Wilkins said. "I don't know as far as the coach goes. It's kind of the life of a kicker, isn't it? You know, hero or goat, and there's really no in-between."

The Rams' 30-28 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday came down to his foot on the 26-yard game-winner with 20 seconds to go. It was a gratifying moment for Wilkins, even if it was only a chip shot, and one that he had anticipated after the Cardinals took the lead in the fourth quarter.

Wilkins said he and wide receiver Ricky Proehl joked about it on the sideline.

"How about this, it's going to come down to a kick," was Wilkins' first thought. "It was definitely the way I'd want it to be, and it all worked out."

Martz said he'd make one change in managing Wilkins in the future, however long that lasts. He said he wants Wilkins near him on the sidelines as the Rams drive into field goal position so the two can communicate, particularly outdoors because of wind factor.

"This is what I want to do the rest of the time he's here," Martz said. "I want to talk to him as we're moving the football and let him know what I'm thinking about, and talk to him after he kicks in pre-game warmup and all that stuff."

Wilkins got back into good graces a day after Martz said he wouldn't fire embattled special teams coach Bobby April. Wilkins said last week he'd be kicking for April.

"Obviously, we've both been through some tough times," Wilkins said. "The longer you're with somebody, the more you get to know them and know what they're thinking.

"I think the guys love playing for him."