By Chris Jones

In today’s sports culture, outrageous player contracts and off-field problems have plagued the world of sports, setting a grim example for young athletes everywhere.

Parents, young athletes, and football fans across the globe, no need to fret! Enter St. Louis Rams’ running back Marshall Faulk, “the ultimate team player.” It is refreshing to know that the best player in the NFL also is, perhaps, the best team player as well, willing to sacrifice his personal agenda for team goals.

“Sometimes you like the guys you play with, but I love the guys I play with,” said Faulk, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. “It’s a great feeling when you have that kind of respect and feelings that are mutual between you and your teammates and you just enjoy playing with each other”

On July 29,2002, the 2000 NFL Most Valuable Player signed a seven year contract, possibly extending his career with the St. Louis Rams until he decides to hang up his cleats and retire from the game of football.

“I think it serves a couple of purposes, obviously it helps us out in signing people and keeping (the team) together,” said Rams quarterback Kurt Warner. “But I think it mentally effects other guys and younger guys who see the veteran guys and the great players do those types of things”

Faulk, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award winner since 1999, has dominated the NFL and opposing defenses. Since joining the St. Louis Rams in 1999, Faulk is third in rushing yards (4,122), and has scored more touchdowns than any other NFL player since 2000(47), 1999 (59), and 1998 (69).

Over the past two seasons, Faulk has scored more points (288) than any other player in the NFL. Faulk, along with the emergence of Kurt Warner, have transformed a once down-and out franchise into a legitimate Super Bowl contender for the past three seasons. As a result of his tireless efforts, both on and off the field, Faulk was selected as the Rams all-time team captain entering this season.

“The impact that he’s had, not just on this team, but this entire organization…and what it means to St. Louis and every Rams fan out there,” said Rams head coach Mike Martz, in his training camp press conference announcing Faulk’s contract signing. “Obviously, I couldn’t be happier that we have a new deal done with Marshall for seven years.”

Faulk’s signing may have a greater impact on the way business is conducted in professional football. The mixture of unselfish superstar and compassionate ownership could blend into the perfect ingredient for building a successful NFL franchise.

“If you look at it as a business or as a friendship, it was a merger between the Rams and myself,” said Faulk. “They were ready to make the next step, and so was I within my career and things just happened to work at the right time and we both helped each other tremendously.”

As the best player in the league, Faulk could have easily requested more zeros in his contract with the Rams or any other team in the NFL.

But what Marshall Faulk found in the St. Louis Rams is something so few professional athletes get to experience. The mixture of talented athletes, a great coach, a dedicated organization, and die-hard fans have all made Faulk’s decision to remain a Ram less trivial. It was to his advantage to sacrifice for the team, to reach that ultimate goal, claiming another Super Bowl title.

“ I think the important thing is that I get to stay here with the guys and finish up here, which is something I wanted to do and I’m glad that they wanted the same thing.” Faulk said. “I couldn’t imagine playing for anyone else.”

Jones is a Rams Training Camp Public Relations Intern. ---