Marc Bulger's Head is Still All Cloudy

Marc Bulger passed a neurological test after suffering a concussion that forced Gus Frerotte into starters duty last week. But that test wasn't designed to see if he would play Sunday. That was just to get out on the practice field.

"Believe me, I'm the No. 1 person - I'm hoping I get cleared this week to play. (But) it will be premature to say on Wednesday, after one practice ... that I'm the starter."

The Rams better hope he can go on Sunday -- Frerotte is now hurt, and third-string quarterback Brock Berlin didn't take any snaps with the team this week. When asked about the possibility of Bulger missing the game this Sunday, Scott Linehan got testy, confidently reminding the media that the Rams have Marques Hagans and Drew Bennett -- two college quarterbacks converted to wide receiver. Great contingency plan there, coach.

But he's not that stupid. If Bulger was seriously in doubt, the team would have given more work to Berlin or signed Todd Bouman, as was rumored, for depth. Should Bulger play though? Concussions are being treated more and more carefully by the league, and if Bulger still has doubts to his availability he can't be completely cleared. It's not as if the Rams have anything left to play for, so why the Rams and Bulger are risking his long-term health is beyond me.