RAMS THANK FANS: The Super Bowl XXXIV champion St. Louis Rams will say "thank you" to their fans at their first-ever Fan Appreciation Day in early June. The Rams will conduct minicamp practices on the weekend of June 2-4 at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. On Sunday, practice will be open to the public. After practice, Rams players will sign autographs and mingle with fans.

"We look forward to our Sunday practice at Lindenwood," said Rams head coach MIKE MARTZ. "It gives us a chance to thank our great fans for their support not only in 1999, but during our five years in St. Louis."

LIONS NEW O-LINE COACH HAS UNIQUE APROACH: When new Detroit Lions offensive line coach PAT RUEL was an assistant at Michigan State in 1998, he had a unique way of motivating players. Prior to a game against Northwestern, Ruel told his players that if Michigan State lost, he would wear pads in practice and show them the real way to play football.

"I was saying it in a light-hearted way," says Ruel. "But I was also saying it because I was serious. I wanted us to win and if I had to put on the pads to help accomplish that, I would do it."

The Spartans won the game but Ruel extended a similar challenge a few weeks later. This time, he said that if Michigan State defeated the nation’s top-ranked team, Ohio State, he would don the pads in practice for fun. Michigan State went on to upset the Buckeyes.

"I lined up at practice with the first guy and kind of jumped out of the way," says Ruel. "The players all laughed. I took the challenge and stepped in front of the next guy, a freshman, and he buried me."

Prior to the 1999 season, Ruel again challenged his players. This time, if the squad started the season 5-0, he would let them shave his head. "They knew I kind of liked my hair," says Ruel. "To me, it wasn’t about my hair. It was about that goal."

The Spartans won their first five games. "We were up something like 35-0 (in the fifth game) at halftime," remembers Ruel. "I was trying to go over some halftime adjustments and I was getting a little upset because I kept hearing guys in the background making clipper noises. I told the guys to concentrate on the game, but in the back of my mind I was thinking, ‘Wow, I’m going to be bald.’ Right after the game, the whole offensive line got around me. They each took a turn."

INCENTIVE TO RETURN HOME HELPS PANTHERS: Carolina Panthers owner JERRY RICHARDSON believes that strong ties to the Carolinas’ region account for three of the Panthers’ key offseason acquisitions. Running back NATRONE MEANS (Harrisburg, North Carolina; University of North Carolina), cornerback JIMMY HITCHCOCK (Concord, North Carolina; University of North Carolina), and defensive end JAY WILLIAMS (Wake Forest) are all either from the Carolinas, attended college there or both.

Richardson thinks having local players on the team is in the best interests of both parties. "People from the Carolinas that are in the NFL, they know about the Carolinas," said Richardson. "The possibility of being with us and being back in the Carolinas is a real incentive. It would just be common sense to me that if a guy is from the Carolinas and he’s got a contract renewal coming up, both of us would want to get the contract signed."

STECKEL MAKING PRESENCE KNOWN IN TAMPA: Their stifling defense led them to the NFC Championship Game last season, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope their new additions on offense can take them to a Super Bowl victory.

The highly publicized free-agent signings of KEYSHAWN JOHNSON, RANDALL MC DANIEL and JEFF CHRISTY are almost certain to improve the Bucs’ 28th-ranked offense, but one man who may have just as big an impact as the new signees is new offensive coordinator LES STECKEL, who served as offensive coordinator for the AFC Champion Tennessee Titans in 1999.

Steckel has already tweaked the Bucs’ offense and streamlined practices. "Les has brought discipline," says quarterbacks coach CLYDE CHRISTENSEN. "Plus, any time you get some fresh blood, it injects new energy in your people."

"Practices now are shorter," says head coach TONY DUNGY. "We run a limited number of plays and guys have to think and work through it quickly. We get a lot of work done in one hour and guys appreciate that. It makes us work sharper."

It shouldn’t take Johnson long to learn the new playbook. He played in a similar system to the one Steckel is employing when he was with the New York Jets.

"It reminds me so much of what I’ve already done," says Johnson. "A lot of the positions that I’m being put in and a lot of the routes that I’m running are the same things that I ran in New York. All the concept is down. Once I learn what everybody on the field is doing, then I’ll be able to contribute as far as if somebody lines up wrong or if I line up wrong. I’ll be able to recognize it."

Steckel also has plans to utilize the diversity of Pro Bowler MIKE ALSTOTT as a fullback, tailback and H-back. "We’ve got to find different ways to get Mike the ball in open space," said Dungy. "That’s what Les is trying to accomplish."