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 . . .
This guys is dillusional. He just doesn’t get it. Why would fans pay $50+ dollars for tickets to watch their team get blown out week after week, year after year. These guys get paid millions of dollars to play a game. Why would fans who make a small fraction of whay they make spend their hard earned money of this? This guys is way out of touch because all he does is play a game and get paid. Put a better product out there and we’ll come.
Hey Incognito… You backed down awfully fast, what’s the matter? Coach hit you on the soft spot in your head and tell you to shut your yap? You are an EMBARRASSMENT to PROFESSIONAL football players. What’s the over under for penalty yards on you THIS week? I’ll bet your good for at least 30 penalty yards all by your big boy self!!!
I think I would rather hear Incognito speak than Haslett. Do not forget the things Haslett has said about the Rams in the past. He is a loser and should go away. Along with the loser GM.
It’s one thing to compete and lose, but when you are getting whipped game in and game out that is another story. It is bad enough to watch your team lose, but the lack of hustle and desire and the team’s willingness to quit so easily makes it hard for fans to accept.
i forgive him..its been hard on on my beloved rams players too..i dont like to see them lose….but what ever…through thick and thin..im with them….go rams
Where, oh where, is Tom Mack when we really need him?
I’ve lived in the metro east area my whole life. I grew up listening and watching the “Big Red” games. At the time I really wasn’t interested in football (my dad was and I didn’t get it) and then the Cardinals were gone. Along come the Rams. Big harry deal. So the Rams sucked for a few years and I still didn’t pay much attention. One year sometime before the 99 Super Bowl I decided to actually sit and watch a game and ever since then, I was hooked. I guess cause we were winning and it was actually FUN. So, I got tickets to a game one year and it was THE MOST FUN I had ever had! I don’t know, but anyway, I’ve tried to go to at least 1 home game ever since then and I would love to have PSLs but I’m not rich like some people. I agree with some people on here that there are a lot of people in the lower bowl that are just boring and don’t even seem to care about the game. Not sure why they’re there. I know the team totally sucks right now and has for a few years for whatever reason(s) but I am still a Rams fan and will be till I die. If I could go to every single game, I would and I would cheer them on no matter what. Oh, I don’t leave till the game is over either. (I was at the Cardinals game til the very bitter end)
Basically, I don’t want to give the team any reason to leave STL. If you can go to a game, (and are cheering for the Rams) then please go and scream your lungs out! Boo and curse if you have to, but just go for our team. GO RAMS!!!!
You’d think his coach would tell him to shut up.
At least he seems to be a little passionate about the game
It was a really stupid comment yesterday…indeed, it prompted me to call the team to leave my season ticket account ID and leave contact information for my personal apology, which was not delivered (no great surprise). Nonetheless, I do applaud the team for not letting him just sit there without apologizing and backing off from the comment; and I even applaud Incognito for not refusing to accept the edict to do so, as some players seem inclined to do.
Ultimately, the fans do cheer when the team does something worth seeing, and it is really depressing to sit there while other teams’ fans are outcheering us due to their teams’ superior play. Hopefully the Rams will give us something to root for this Sunday.