The Rams cut fullback Madison Hedgecock after their first regular-season game of 2007. Two days later, the New York Giants claimed Hedgecock on waivers and plugged the 265-pound lead blocker into their lineup to put additional muscle in their rushing attack.

The Giants were fourth in the NFL in rushing, and after three tough playoff road wins, they'll face New England in the Super Bowl. The Giants were so impressed with Hedgecock's work, they gave him a five-year contract extension worth $5.5 million.

Meanwhile, frustrated Rams fans might wonder why coach Scott Linehan released Hedgecock to make room for Richard Owens, an ineffective H-back.

"Because the head coach brought in a player that he'd had in college, and Minnesota," Hedgecock said Friday on our radio show (KSLG, 1380 AM). "He got rid of me because I wasn't brought in by him. And anything they say doesn't really matter, because that's the truth."

True, Owens is a FOSL. (Friend Of Scott Linehan). He had Linehan as offensive coordinator in college (Louisville) and in the NFL (Minnesota).

"They could have at least brought in somebody that was good to replace me," Hedgecock said. "They brought in a guy that didn't dress (for games). And he was the coach's buddy. I don't need that stuff. I don't want to play for a buddy. I want to play for somebody that wants to win."

To Hedgecock, that would be Giants coach Tom Coughlin, whom he calls "a fiery speaker."

And Linehan?

"He's pretty boring in my book," Hedgecock said. "I think his players would fall asleep before a game. I can't even be nice about it any more."

Hedgecock remains upset by something Rams teammates told him after his release: Rams coaches disliked his attitude. "I might be too slow, or not too fast, or too pretty, or whatever you want to call me, but my attitude has never been a problem," he said. "I've never had a bad attitude. To say that is a joke.

"(In 2006) I had a high ankle sprain and a broken thumb and I played the whole year. I don't think I was as highly as effective as I could have been, but I had to play through a lot of pain. That was a rough year for me as far as staying healthy, but I never missed a beat. And then they repay you for playing hard and hurt by cutting you."

Well, Hedgecock got his revenge in the form of respect, a new contract and a chance to play in the Super Bowl.

"I don't know what the Rams were thinking," Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said. "But I'm glad they kicked him out of the house and onto the streets and threw his clothes out. One man's trash is another man's treasure, and St. Louis' trash has most definitely been our treasure."

Habe ich mich damals auch immer wieder gefragt was das eigentlich sollte. Wenn das so weiter geht mit den FOSL müssen wir noch mindestens 1 Jahr ertragen. Und danach wieder aufräumen.

Zwar nicht der Hauptgrund aber da ist was dran, schade um Hedgecock.

Es scheint so als ob M.H. noch immer ziemlich sauer ist....When Giants fullback Madison Hedgecock hits the field for the Super Bowl, odds are he will think about the Rams and how he got cut.

“There ain’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about what they did to me,” Hedgecock said Tuesday during media day in Glendale, Ariz. “I ain’t lying either. I think about it every day, at least once.”

This was one of those defining moments in an athlete’s career. Hedgecock is highly motivated by nature, but this rejection drove him to work harder.

His dismissal from the Rams also proved to be a terrific career break; the Giants signed him, gave him plenty of work to do and eventually offered him an extension.

It’s funny how things work out sometimes . . .

“It’s kind of like the Rams didn’t want me any more,” Hedgecock said. “I come to a place that ends up playing in the championship game. I kind of stick my tongue out at them. How do you like me now? Isn’t that what Toby Keith says? How do you like me now?”

So what went wrong in St. Louis? Hedgecock’s more recent Rams career was marred by injuries. He couldn’t play up to his full ability.

“I feel like when I was there, I felt like I had to battle hurt,” he said. “It wasn’t like I could just take off and everything would be rosy. I felt I like I had to go out there and continue.

“That’s the way I am. I always play hurt. I don’t like to miss . . . I’m just one of those guys. It’s not smart, it’s not healthy. See how far it got me?”

He obviously failed to impress Scott Linehan and his coaching staff. One game into this season, he got the short haircut.

When he got The Call on his cell phone, telling him to bring his playbook to Rams Park, Hedgecock was shocked and crushed.

“It was definitely trying,” he said. “I’ll look back on it one day . . . I’m already a little proud how I’ve overcome the obstacles I had to overcome.

“It’s kind of disrespectful how it happened. If they had cut me before the year . . . it was kind of weird timing how it happened.”

Who picked up his spirits during that time of trouble?

“I kind of didn’t want to talk to a whole lot of people at that time, to tell you the truth. It was kind of like I tripped and fell and was embarrassed,” Hedgecock. “But I got pushed to fall. So I wanted to get up and prove I could still run . . . now I’m winning the race.”

Journeyman Richard Owens ended up filling his role as the Rams’ run-down blocking fullback. The Rams tanked and the Giants rolled to the NFC Championship -– making Hedgecock feel much better about the turn of events.

But the bitterness remains. Hedgecock ripped the hapless Linehan last week during an earlier interview with Bernie Miklasz on KSLG (1380 AM). He didn’t want to go there again Tuesday. We asked him what he would do to fix the Rams.

“I don’t know how to answer that question . . . to be their GM, that’s not my field right there,” Hedgecock said. “I’m a fullback, not a Monday morning GM.

“They had a tough year this year. They had a lot of injuries. I went to a team that got hot and went to the Super Bowl. They struggled all year with injuries and tough breaks.”

Hedgecock, meanwhile, played well enough for the Giants to earn a multi-year contract extension. In the physical NFC East, he blocks for the effective Giants duo of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs.

He has become the perfect fit for Tom Coughlin’s team.

“It worked out really well,” Hedgecock said. “It’s really been a fun year. I got a lot of opportunities I normally wouldn’t have. I went to London, England and played in the first regular season game outside the country. I get a chance to play in the Super Bowl now.”

Maybe he’ll send Linehan a postcard from Arizona.

Sicher ist es schade um ihn, aber es war wirklich nicht eines unserer "echten" Probleme...

Es zeigt vielleicht nur wie wenig Können wir bei der Talentevaluierung haben... DAS ist allerdings dann doch ein Problem!!

Tja Linehan und die seine FOSL sind vollidioten...

Mich würde ja interessieren, ob Saunders (sollte er wirklich noch kommen) in diesen Entscheidungen mitspielen darf...

Sicher nicht, ich hol mir doch niemanden der mich da ev. meinen Stamm ansägen könnte.

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Rupi schrieb am 30.01.2008 23:13
Sicher nicht, ich hol mir doch niemanden der mich da ev. meinen Stamm ansägen könnte.

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Tja, diesmal lagst Du falsch Rupi!

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