BillyCarpenter1

Rams' Turley Dominates in Training Camp
By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer


MACOMB, Ill. (AP)--Surrounded by born-again Christian teammates, Kyle Turley, the tattoo-covered, helmet-tossing offensive tackle for the St. Louis Rams, felt right at home.

``Certain people have certain viewpoints on life and certain people have others,'' said Turley, who in this case had the ``other'' viewpoint.

``You always get debates and people voice their opinions, and we were just having a friendly conversation. I don't shy away from confrontation. When put in the thick of it, I tend to do well.''

That goes for the field, too.

Acquired from the Saints to fill a huge hole at offensive right tackle, Turley has been dominant in training camp. He draws the toughest assignments in pass protection drills, often taking on sack specialist Leonard Little, and almost always wins the battle.

``He's a gifted athlete with an attitude, and that's what you want,'' coach Mike Martz said.

The addition of Turley and center Dave Wohlabaugh makes the Rams' line potentially one of the NFL's best, once All-Pro Orlando Pace ends his. Rams quarterbacks absorbed a pounding last year, with Kurt Warner (broken pinky, broken hand) and Marc Bulger (back) both missing a lot of time.

Turley takes over for John St. Clair, a disappointment last year. The addition of Wohlabaugh allows Andy McCollum, the center last year, to move to guard to replace Tom Nutten, who left as a free agent for the New York Jets.

``You bring in a guy like Kyle who's an all-Pro type guy, you've got to be excited about that,'' Warner said. ``Dave is going to be a great player for us, too. I think it's going to be the best offensive line we've had.''

While with the Saints, Turley was best known for a helmet-tossing episode in a nationally televised game in 2001.

Turley confronted New York Jets safety Damien Robinson, who had grabbed the face mask of Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks. Turley ended up with Robinson's helmet, flinging it down the field, and then made an obscene gesture, getting ejected from the game and drawing a 15-yard penalty just as the Saints appeared set to score the winning touchdown.

Besides the tattoos that cover both arms, Turley has wild, stringy hair and a menacing glare.

``That's game day, man, that's what people don't understand,'' Turley said. ``As soon as you cross that line on game day it turns up another notch and it's all business from there.''

Especially in training camp. These are his teammates, after all.

``Going out here and trying to be some wild and crazy guy, I guess what people think I am, and fighting all the time and whatnot is not productive,'' Turley said. ``It's not going to get it done.''

The professional wrestling pose positively melts when it comes to off-field discussions.

He's is the Rams' player representative after serving in the same capacity with the Saints. A leadership role opened with the Rams after former player rep Ernie Conwell departed, coincidentally, for New Orleans.

``I'm in a position to make a difference,'' Turley said. ``I'm one of those guys that can have a voice and be a player that cannot only make things better for the players but be a voice with the coaches as well.''

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sh...ms-Turley.html