NFL: Faulk to have major surgery

[OMEN]

Marshall Faulk is ninth on the career rushing list with 12,279 yards.

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk will have major reconstructive knee surgery and miss the entire 2006 season, coach Scott Linehan said Friday.

The surgery could spell the end of Faulk's career after 12 years in the NFL. But Linehan said at a news conference the 33-year-old Faulk isn't ready to call it quits. Faulk didn't attend the news conference, and his agent, Rocky Arceneaux, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Faulk is expected to have the surgery on one of his knees next week, the Rams said. It was unclear which knee would be the focus of the operation. Faulk had lesser surgery on both knees earlier this year.

"We were hoping for the best, but we've been planning for both scenarios," Linehan, in his first year as the Rams coach, said.

"I think reality is setting in for sure that potentially his career is winding down," Linehan said.

The Rams will keep Faulk on the roster "because it's Marshall," Linehan said. "Some guys earn that. I believe he's one of them."

Faulk, the 2000 NFL MVP, is ninth on the career rushing list with 12,279 yards, 34 yards behind Jim Brown. But he had a career-low 292 yards rushing last year and made only one start, in the season finale when Steven Jackson was out with a hip pointer.

Faulk hasn't participated in the team's minicamps this year.

Faulk has been to seven Pro Bowls, has seven 1,000-yard rushing seasons and 38 100-yard games, and was the first player in NFL history to gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage in four consecutive seasons from 1998-2001.

But he hasn't had a 1,000-yard season since 2001 and lost his starting job in 2004 when the Rams drafted Jackson in the first round.

The loss of Faulk leaves St. Louis short at running back. Earlier this offseason the Rams signed Tony Fisher, who had 173 yards and a 2.9-yard average for the Packers last season. For now, he is the No. 2 back.

Linehan said Fisher is best-suited as a third-down back and special teams player, and he said the Rams may seek a deal to bring in someone to serve as Jackson's backup.

"You can't just play one running back and expect him to survive the season," Linehan said.

Faulk spent his first five seasons in Indianapolis before coming to St. Louis in a trade in 1999. He led the Rams to a 13-3 record and a 23-16 win over Tennessee in his first season in St. Louis.

Associated Press

[F4L]

SHIT! My boy Marshall, noooo!!! Well we have still have Action Jackson, your NFL 2006-07 NFL Rushing Champ!!!

[Appels]

DENIED! Wrongo on the Rushing Leader...

*cough*LaDainian "LT" Tomlinson*cough*