St. Louis Rams Richie Incognito apologizes — sort of — to fans
A day after chiding Rams fans — “they don’t know how to cheer, when to cheer” — Richie Incognito sought to clear the air Friday, two days before the Chicago Bears and their noisy supporters visit the Edward Jones Dome. Here’s what Incognito had to say after practice:
“Yesterday, I was not trying to take a shot at Rams fans. That’s the last thing I’m trying to do. I fully understand that this team has not given a single St. Louis Rams fan a single thing to cheer about this season. I understand where we’re at this season.
“All I was trying to say is, we’ve got Chicago fans coming down, there’s going to be a lot of them, they get excited for their football team, they get excited to come to the game. So, in turn, them coming to the game brings a football atmosphere that I’m used to, and that gets me excited . . . to go out there and get a win and keep them quiet.
“The fact of the matter is, it really doesn’t matter who’s in the stands, our fans, Chicago fans. We need all the support we can to get some wins around here. What I said yesterday was, the Chicago fans are coming down and they’re going to bring a buzz into the dome, they’re going to get it excited. Everything beyond that was . . . taken the wrong way.
“I’m excited to play in this game. I play my heart out. I leave everything I have on that field. And I want as many Rams fans there to enjoy it with us. We have not been good this year; I’ll be the first to say it. But you know what? I’m here thick and thin. I’m going to play my heart out no matter what our record is. And we are trying to get as many wins as we can, and we want as many people as possible to come out and support us.
“I just look forward to every Sunday waking up and doing the thing I love, going out and playing football. I just want people to enjoy the product we put on the field and get excited about what we’re doing. I want everybody involved in what we’re doing, because I’m excited about what we’re doing. So hopefully feed off me and get excited about Rams football.”
How about it, Rams fans? Is Richie forgiven?
Here’s what coach Jim Haslett had to say about Incognito’s initial rant:
“I think it’s bad (to criticize the fans) when you’re 8-2 (and not 2-8), to be honest with you. These fans are awesome. I love the city, I like the fans here. They’ll support this team. Obviously, I’d be disappointed, too, if we were 2-8. I’d probably have a hard time (as a fan) coming out and watching us also. That’s just the way it is.”
Haslett added: “I remember when I came here (as coach of the New Orleans Saints) how hard it was to play because of the fans. Obviously, we were coming in to play a good football team, and we’re struggling right now. But we need our fans. I know that there are loyal fans out there that come to games and support us. I know how hard it is to play here when (the Rams) are playing well and the place is rocking.”
All for now . . .
Joe, I am gonna have to disagree with you. With an average ticket price of $83 and an average attendance this year of 62,000+ that comes to a little over 5 million per game, times 10 homes games that comes to a little over 51 million so I would say the fans pay a significant portion of the players salaries.
As far as the dome, the atmosphere, the fans who fold their arms and tell you to sit down, there is a great article on ESPN.com about this exact same thing. It talks about how in Indy, New England, Houston and all the teams with new stadiums have pushed the average fan out of the stadium or to the nose bleeds and that they have all turned into the wine and cheese crowd. I find the same thing in a good portion of the lower bowl and of course club seats.
I sold my seats to Sundays game back in October for twice the face value, have no guilty feelings or regrets for doing it.
We actually left at halftime during the Arizona game, just couldn’t take the lack of effort on the field.
To answer the question, no I don’t forgive Richie, he is backtracking plain and simple.
1999 through 2004 the dome was a nightmare for opposing teams and can be that way again if we just would have something to get excited about, I’m sorry three and outs just don’t do it for me.
waaaaaaaa…..what a bunch of Cry babies. Anybody on this board ever play football? Dudes like incognito are a rarity in football and every team would be happy to take him. wwcg…what would the cog do?
Lets be honest does anyone really care about the Rams. Maybe they should go back to LA and suck.
— Dylon 2:53 pm November 21st, 2008
Let me ask you a question . . . what’s better, bad live football, or no live football? Get back to me on that would you?
Or are you so lost in trying to pipe up and express your disgust with the only pro football team within 275 miles, that you would trip on your own di@k to make an assenine comment . . . buy a clue.
And yes . . . I care a great deal about this team, and I show that by showing up at each home game . . . fans like you can stay at the sports bar or at home, and drink yourself back to the rock you crawled out from under.
there isn’t going to be many rams fans at this game, meaning the bears have another home game!! this may be a worse season than the Tony Banks, Laurence Phillips teams of the mid 90’s
Professional football players are paid entertainers and nothing more. If the show isn’t good no one pays to see it and those who are there do not applaud. Suppose I was the fan of a band and paid to see them perform in a local bar every Saturday night. If the lead singer left the band and the replacement wasn’t very good would I be required to continue paying to see this band simple because I am a fan? This whole fan requirement thing is ridiculous. Players sign contracts to be paid for performing at a professional level. The fans didn’t sign a contract obligating them to spend money and support a football team regardless of their play. If the players play well people will pay to see them and will applaud their performances.
Just win, Richie. The atmosphere will fix itself.
Andrew,
I could not disagree with you more. The atmoshere at the dome is fine when the product is good. If you were at the Dallas game you would agree.
Matt,
I was at the Dallas game and you’re right, the atmosphere wasn’t that bad, which makes me wonder why a good chunk of the crowd left early, like they always do? Absolutely have at it and boo when the team isn’t doing well. That is your right as a ticket holder. At least if you’re booing, you’re there and if your there, why not stick around to the end when the team does well? Post game traffic isn’t that bad in this town, so why do people feel like they have to beat the rush? For that matter, try being in your seats in time for the kickoff.
I wish the hell i lived in stl cheering on the rams. They feed off of that. If u dont cheer u are just as bad as the loosing team. Im in ga and i will cheer them on till i die . GO RAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How many Pro Bowls has Incognito been to?