Former Rams receiver and current broadcaster Jack Snow was in critical condition Friday with a staph infection. The 62-year-old Snow was at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Hospital spokesman Jason Merrill said he could not discuss details of the illness. Rams spokesman Duane Lewis said Snow became ill in November. He was getting better, but was hospitalized last week. Lewis said Snow's family was with him at the hospital. He believed Snow's son, San Francisco Giants first baseman J.T. Snow, was among them.

It's too soon to say whether the Marshall Faulk highlight montage the St. Louis Rams ran at the finish of their home finale was a going-away tribute to the running back. Faulk, a former NFL MVP who has been used sparingly this year behind Steven Jackson, said he hasn't decided if he wants to keep playing. Earlier this year he agreed to a pay cut in a restructured contract with a new four-year deal. After the Rams (5-10) were swept by the 49ers for the first time since 1998 in a 24-20 loss on Saturday, Faulk said it wasn't the right time to discuss his future. "I've been playing football for a long time and it's something I love doing," he said. "So to just give you a quick answer after a hard loss to a division opponent wouldn't even be right." Then again, he also noted, that it might not be his call. "You have to understand that although it's a game and it's my career and it's my life and it provides a living for me and my family, it's a business to the people who own it," Faulk said. "And they have to run it. "There comes a time when they have to make decisions, business decisions," he said.

Mewelde Moore, who sprained his right ankle in the first quarter of Sunday's win over the Lions, returned to carry the ball once late in the second quarter but lost six yards, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. With Moore ailing, Michael Bennett saw the bulk of the work at running back for the Vikings, recording 22 carries for 79 yards with a touchdown.

St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Dexter Coakley will miss the rest of the season after dislocating his left ankle and breaking his leg in a 24-9 loss to the Redskins on Sunday. Coakley was hurt pursuing on a running play with 1:01 to go in the first quarter, and got rolled over from behind. He was down for several minutes, and among those who came over to check on his status was interim coach Joe Vitt. Vitt said Coakley would undergo surgery as soon as Monday. "He's a heck of a player, a heck of a leader," Vitt said. "We're going to miss him. It's a shame, it really is."

St. Louis Rams rookie quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was finally declared the starter for Sunday's game against the Redskins. "Do you want a drum roll?" interim coach Joe Vitt said Friday. "Yes. I think he gets better every day, he really does." Two days away from a likely playoff elimination game between the Rams (5-6) and Washington Redskins (5-6), the status of several teammates remained unclear. Offensive tackle Orlando Pace is expected to return to the lineup, but he left in the first half of last week's overtime victory over the Texans with hamstring and hip flexor injuries. Safety Adam Archuleta and offensive lineman Blaine Saipaia are still experiencing symptoms relating to concussions and cornerback Travis Fisher is out for a third straight week with a groin injury. Fitzpatrick getting the start turned out to be a no-brainer because Jamie Martin, who also sustained a concussion after starting last week in place of injured Marc Bulger, had blurred vision and headaches much of the week and hasn't practiced. Martin said the concussion symptoms didn't clear up until Thursday and said he'd "probably" dress as the backup. "Yesterday was a lot better and today, I felt fine when I woke up," Martin said. "They say it takes a few days and then everything is pretty much fine."