CORRECTION – Ailing Rams coach Martz to miss rest of season

Please read in first paragraph … infection of a heart
valve … instead of … infection of a heart value.

A corrected repetition follows:

NEW YORK (Reuters) – St Louis Rams coach Mike Martz will
miss the rest of the season to aid his recovery from a
bacterial infection of a heart valve, the NFC West team
announced Monday.

Martz, who has already missed two games with the ailment,
told a news conference in St Louis that he fully expected to be
back coaching in 2006.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Martz said. “I love this place.”

The 54-year-old was originally expected to return to
coaching duties this season, but after his most recent
check-up, he opted to miss the remainder of the campaign on the
advice of doctors.

“I was a little stunned,” Martz admitted. “But I know it’s
the right thing to do.”

Martz has been diagnosed with endocarditis, an acute
bacterial infection of a heart valve, an illness that he was
admitted to hospital for on September 30.

He announced he had the illness to his team on October 5,
telling them he had been ill for several weeks.

Martz has a 56-37 record and is in his sixth season as
coach, leading the Rams to a Super Bowl loss in 2001, two years
after he worked as an offensive coordinator on the team’s only
championship winning side.

He has one year remaining on his contract.

“Our number one concern is his health,” Rams president John
Shaw said. “He has a contract and we expect him to coach (next
year).”

Assistant coach Joe Vitt has been leading the 3-4 Rams in
Martz’s absence and will continue in that role for the
remainder of the season.