QUESTION: Do you think Marc Bulger is underappreciated in St. Louis for what he did during his time here, or do you think his play had fallen off so dramatically the last couple of years that the criticisms are mostly justified?
JIM THOMAS
I think Bulger has been treated just about right. During the first five years that he was a starter, which included two playoff berths and two Pro Bowl appearances, he was certainly appreciated. After he signed his big contract, and his play fell off noticeably, it was not. The only thing that bugs me about the way Bulger has been treated lately is some fans and some media have the impression that he didn’t care. He did care. He always cared. Was he shellshocked and frustrated at the end? Yes. Did he quit? No.
BRYAN BURWELL
Bulger was clearly underappreciated for his early accomplishments. When he became a starter, the Rams won 18 of those first 22 games. But as the talent around him declined and his protection turned to mush, Bulger became the public target of that decline. It wasn’t fair, but if he got the credit when the Rams won, he had to deal with the grumbling during the franchise’s steep decline.
JEFF GORDON
His declining play – combined with his enormous contract – made him a fair target. He was getting paid top QB dollars and he couldn’t deliver. His contract kept him on the job longer than he should have stayed. He took extra heat, but that comes with the job and the pay scale. But it’s not like he led the Rams down the drain. Many, many factors led to the dramatic decline of a once-great franchise. Bulger did a fine job during good times, but he lacked the physical and mental toughness to excel during tough times. He took a beating and that impacted his play. Bulger was NOT a good bad team quarterback.
BILL COATS
When Bulger was surrounded by decent talent, he was a very productive QB. His two Pro Bowl selections prove that. But when he had to play behind a subpar line and was getting pounded on a regular basis, his performance slipped badly. His leadership abilities also were misjudged by some fans, who misinterpreted his understated nature. So, yes, I think Bulger is underappreciated here.
