His first concern is the big game

By Jim McCabe, Globe Staff, 1/31/2002

EW ORLEANS - There is one day remaining in the media frenzy that is Super Bowl week (the teams are off-limits to the press tomorrow and Saturday), one day left for reporters to probe, inquire, and delve into all matters big and small.

Lovie Smith knows this, and like dozens of others involved with both teams, he's looking forward to the cease-fire. That's because he's constantly being asked not about the upcoming game, which happens to be the biggest in which he's been involved, but rather the opening for a head coach in Tampa Bay.

''I want to eventually become a head football coach,'' said Smith. ''When that time comes, I really don't know. Right now, I'm just really focusing in on what we have to do. But, yes, I want to be a head coach as soon as I possibly can.''

Smith, the first-year defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams, was linebackers coach in Tampa Bay for four years, so the natural assumption is that it's a perfect fit. But Smith has been a coordinator for just one year and there could be resentment for the way his friend, Tony Dungy, was treated by the Buccaneers. Still, Smith knows the questions will resume following the game, so he'll really enjoy the next two days.

Rams quarterbacks coach John Ramsdell has received permission to interview with the Buffalo Bills for their vacant offensive coordinator job.

Rams running back Marshall Faulk, who led the NFL in total yards and touchdowns this season, won his second straight NFL Player of the Year award.

Other finalists for the award, sponsored by Miller Lite, and worth $30,000 to the charity of the winning player's choice, were Faulk's teammate and NFL MVP Kurt Warner, Brett Favre of Green Bay, Rich Gannon of Oakland, Kordell Stewart of Pittsburgh, and defensive end Michael Strahan of the Giants.

Since the award's inception in 1989, Faulk is the third player to win in consecutive years, joining Joe Montana(1989-90) and Favre (1995-96).

Rams wide receivers coach Henry Ellard has quite a group of pupils. But he also feels he could easily add another in the versatile Faulk. ''From what I've seen, yeah. He could be a receiver,'' Ellard said. ''Everything he does, he does well. He makes play after play after play. When God made Marshall, he broke the mold.''

The Rams play their home games in a dome on artificial turf. They're quite familiar with Sunday's venue, having won here Dec. 17 and having lost here in a wild-card game last season to the Saints.

The Rams were 9-2 in domes this year - 6-2 at home and winning in Detroit, Atlanta, and New Orleans. While they are practicing this week on grass, they are looking forward to playing in the Superdome.

''We always feel, with our home field being turf, and being a team built around speed and quickness, that it's always an advantage for us to play on turf as opposed to grass,'' quarterback Kurt Warner said. ''It doesn't mean it's not an advantage for the Patriots. They're going to be quicker as well. It just really fits what we do.''

The Patriots played twice in domes this season - at Indianapolis and Atlanta - and won both games.

One subject getting crushed to death is The Supposed Importance of The First Meeting. The Rams beat New England Nov. 18 and, well, there has been no shortage of queries about who gained what from what. We know the Rams lost some defensive players, including No. 1 draft pick Damione Lewis and, for two games, saftey Adam Archuleta. ''That was a very violent, physical football game,'' Rams coach Mike M artz said. ''It was as physical a game as I think we have been in.'' Added Torry Holt, ''I don't know if they are going to have to make too many adjustments. They are going to have to make some adjustments, but not a whole lot. We are all football players and we adjust on the run. I'm sure they will.'' ... Orlando Pace(knee) and wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim(ankle) both sat out practice yesterday, but are expected to play Sunday ... Martz on counterpart Bill Belichick: ''There are just so many things you can do out of a personnel grouping. And Bill Belichick does a great job in not looking at specifically what you do, but the overall theme of what you do with personnel groupings. He understands the concept and the weakness of it and as soon as you line up, you can almost predict that he is going to attack your Achilles' heel, and he does. He did that when we played them last time.''

Material from the Associated Press contributed to this report.