It's football season again.

Doesn't it seem like last month that the Rams paraded down Market Street? On Friday, they'll begin training camp in Macomb, Illinois.

Here's a look at how the 2000 edition of the St. Louis Rams is taking shape:

QUARTERBACK: Kurt Warner is the starter, but there will be questions entering camp. First of all, will the NFL and Super Bowl MVP even be in Macomb? Apparently so, but there continues to be a disagreement between Warner and the Rams as to how much he'll get paid in 2000 and beyond. The Rams are trying to work a deal that would pay him a large sum up front as a signing bonus....but the tricky part will be structuring a long-term deal to comply with future salary cap considerations. Warner's backup, Trent Green, knows the offense better than any Rams player. That fact - combined with Green's rapidly improving knee - has made coping with the Warner situation somewhat easier for the team. Expect the Warner deal to get done, whether it's for the long-term or just a one-year deal. There will be no quarterback controversy - at least not for now.

RUNNING BACKS: Marshall Faulk reportedly hit the weights quite a bit in the offseason. The result should be an even more confident, deadly offensive weapon - if that's possible. Faulk didn't expect to have the record-breaking season he had in 1999. He simply goes about his business and helps the Rams offense take advantage of defensive mistakes and misreads. Robert Holcombe is a quality back because of his versatility in playing both RB and FB. Derek Loville is a decent third-down back. James Hodgins is a monster-sized fullback. Trung Canidate offers explosiveness and speed, but will need time to become seasoned.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt make up one of the top two or three WR tandems in the league. Holt appears destined to have a breakout season - his performance in the postseason may have been a glimpse of what's ahead. There isn't a coach in the NFL that wouldn't want Az-zahir Hakim and Ricky Proehl
as their 3-4 receivers. With Mike Martz calling the plays, you never know when Tony Horne might get a ball in the open field. While Horne isn't an experienced receiver at this level, he's electric once he sees daylight. Keep an eye on Darrius Blevins in training camp. Some insiders say he's a sleeper.

TIGHT ENDS: This is going to be a lot of fun to watch. Roland Williams was the starter last year, and while he isn't a stellar blocker, he's adequate. What makes Williams the front-runner is his ability to fit right into the offense and catch the key ball. Remember the Cleveland game? The Browns left Williams alone in the middle of the field and paid for it. Meanwhile, Ernie Conwell is back from knee surgery, and the former starter wants his job back. He's a devastating blocker and a load to bring down once he catches the ball. Add the impressive Jeff Robinson to the mix, and you have yourself a good old-fashioned battle at TE.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The Rams lost C Mike Gruttadauria and T Fred Miller to free agency, but inserted in those spots are capable players. C Andy McCollum is good, and he'd better be, because another center, the newly-acquired Steve Everitt, is going to try to take his starting spot. Everitt is a seasoned run-blocker with a reputation of being a slacker. Could a new environment put him at another level? You bet it could. Ryan Tucker is finally getting a shot at tackle, a position he filled admirably last season, twice: when Miller lost his mind in Tennessee, and when LT Orlando Pace lost his cool against the New York Giants. Tucker will get the nod at RT. Include the underrated LG Tom Nutten, Pro Bowlers Adam Timmerman (RG) and Pace, and this starting line is as good or better than last season's version.

DEFENSIVE LINE: While this unit has depth, the status of the starters is still up in the air. DE Kevin Carter is threatening to hold out of training camp in order to get a new contract. The '99 NFL sack leader wants to be paid as high as the top defensive ends in football. Carter may indeed show up to camp, but an ongoing contract saga is never good for a player or his team. The Rams and Carter's agent, Harold Lewis, have struggled in getting a deal done. At the other end, Grant Wistrom continues to recover from offseason surgery. After dropping nearly 20 pounds, Wistrom has been
working on getting back to an ideal playing weight, which is in the neighborhood of 265-270. DT D'Marco Farr missed some of the June minicamp due to irritation in his knee. When healthy, he is lightning-quick off the ball and a force inside. Dependable DT Ray Agnew fills the other spot, unless the Rams strike a deal with Eric Swann, the recently released Arizona Cardinal. Swann is entertaining offers from several NFL teams. The depth is strong at both DE and DT. Free-agent pickup Sean Moran (Buffalo) is a workhorse at DE, and the team has been impressed so far with rookie Brian Young (UTEP, 5th Rd). On the inside, Jeff Zgonina fits in well at tackle, and watch out for Gaylon Hyder - who, like Young, impressed his coaches at the latest minicamp. A second-year player, Hyder is a 6'5", 290 lb. monster who saw limited action in '99, but who can also fill holes at DT and DE.

LINEBACKERS: It starts with MLB London Fletcher, who won the role in the '99 preseason and since has blossomed into one of the best at his position in the NFL. Fletcher's speed defines this Rams defense. OLB Mike Jones is known for making perhaps the most famous tackle in Super Bowl history, but he was also the highest-scoring defensive player in the NFL last year (4 touchdowns). OLB Todd Collins is a consistent performer, but he'll be challenged by the resurgent Leonard Little, who appears primed for a breakout season. MLB Lorenzo Styles lost that preseason starter's battle to Fletcher last season, was cut from the team this offseason, and then retained. He's a quality backup. At the last minicamp, Martz seemed to be high on rookie Keith Miller, a free-agent signee from Cal-Berkeley. The head coach cited Miller's awareness on the field and aggressive tackling ability.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Again, the Rams should not fret about a contract hold-up with CB Todd Lyght, because the secondary looks be a strength. Dexter McCleon, Taje Allen, and Dre Bly are all improving and will certainly be fighting for starting jobs if Lyght is not in camp. Bly's '99 season was reminiscent of his spectacular freshman effort at North Carolina, when his anticipation and knack for making the big play were the talk of the nation. Billy Jenkins was traded to Denver in the offseason, but SS Devin Bush should fill the role nicely. Rich Coady will back up Bush - he is a coach's dream....he loves to hit and works as hard as anyone on his game. At a time last season, Keith Lyle might have been the best FS in football until a pinched nerve sent him to the sideline. Lyle says he's healthy and ready to go. While still a couple of years away, it could be a lot of fun watching the progress of the raw but talented Jacoby Shepherd (Ok.St.,2nd Rd).

SPECIAL TEAMS: As mentioned earlier, Horne is a thrilling player in the open field. He's the KR, and there may also be a spot at that position for Canidate. Hakim is flashy but prone to fumble at the PR position. The team hopes K Jeff Wilkins is 100% after offseason knee surgery. Same goes for P Rick Tuten, who suffered an agonizing leg injury midway through the season. Mike Horan wasn't anything special last year - he's gone - so don't be surprised to see a mystery punter emerge if Tuten isn't up-to-par.

See you in Macomb.