It’s been 10 years since the Rams went from league laughingstocks to Super Bowl champions. Each week through the 2009 season, Post-Dispatch football writer Jim Thomas looks back on St. Louis’ one and only NFL championship team.


As camp opened in Macomb, Ill., coach Dick Vermeil was even more optimistic than usual. "At this time of year, I’ve never felt as good about what we have to do and what we have to do it with," he said.

That optimism was tested from the get-go. Vermeil hardly had an open-door policy, locking out at least five players -- including starters Orlando Pace (LT) and Dexter McCleon (CB) -- who showed up late for the first meeting at Western Illinois University.

Starting DT D’Marco Farr was lost for at least a month due to knee surgery. RB Marshall Faulk, acquired in a pre-draft trade with Indianapolis, was a holdout.

Vermeil tried to act like Faulk’s absence was no big deal, but five days into camp, Vermeil couldn’t hold his tongue.

"Enough is enough! The time is now. Let’s go to work," Vermeil snarled.

Camp at a Glance: DE Leonard Little took part in his first practices since the Oct. 19, 1998 drunk-driving accident resulted in the death of an Oakville woman. . . . A power failure before a Sunday practice forced players to dress in the dark, save for two flashlights and a strawberry-scented candle. . . . Vermeil announced he was getting into the wine business. "I promise you, it’ll be good," he said.