Marshall Faulk 's decision was easy after spending last year working for the NFL Network: At 34, his body is more suited for a television studio than for the rigors of playing running back. After sitting out last season because of a knee injury, Faulk officially announced his retirement. He's ninth on the NFL's career rushing list, 33 yards behind Jim Brown, who at one time was the standard for the position. Faulk is fourth in combined yards from scrimmage with 19,154 yards and his 6,875 yards receiving are the most ever among running backs. "Just being around the game last year, I realized how much I love it," Faulk said. "But my health is everything. And I didn't want to return if I couldn't get through a full season. It all came together when a close friend asked me 'How many 34-year-old running backs are there?'" Faulk starred at San Diego State, where he rushed for 386 yards and seven touchdowns in his first game, and led the nation in rushing as a freshman.

For the second time in two weeks, the Rams have added a veteran cornerback to compete for playing time in their nickel and dime coverage packages, reaching a one-year accord with unrestricted free agent Lenny Walls. The five-year veteran, who played for the Chiefs in 2006, is a big, physical cornerback (6-foot-4, 195 pounds) with potential, but a player whose career has been slowed by injuries.

Marshall Faulk sat out last season with a knee injury that threatened to end his career. He'll officially close the door on his playing days on Monday when he announces his retirement at the NFL owners meetings. Faulk was the NFL MVP in 2000 and offensive player of the year three years running from 1999-2001. The 34-year-old helped the Rams win their only Super Bowl after the '99 season. He is ninth on the career rushing list with 12,279 yards and tied for sixth with 100 rushing touchdowns.

A former NFL player who joined the Marines and was motivated by college roommate Pat Tillman, who died in Afghanistan, was heading for the war himself Tuesday night. Lance Cpl. Jeremy Staat, a former defensive lineman for the Steelers and Rams who had been playing Arena Football, was one of 300 Marines in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment being deployed from Kaneohe Bay. The unit is expected to be in Iraq for seven months.

The Rams added another target to their passing game Thursday, signing tight end Randy McMichael to a three-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. McMichael found a new team just two days after being released by Miami.

Wide receiver Drew Bennett signed a six-year contract with the St. Louis Rams. Bennett led the Titans with 46 receptions for 737 yards last season and ranks ninth on the team's career list with 273 catches for 4,033 yards and 25 touchdowns. He played his first six seasons with Tennessee after breaking in as an undrafted player. Bennett's 16-yard average ranked third in the AFC and seventh in the league last season among players with at least 45 receptions. He could fill a void as the team's third receiver behind Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, with Kevin Curtis expected to sign as a free agent elsewhere.