Martz Is Upset With Rams’ Management

A day after saying he would be out for the rest of the season because of a heart infection, Coach Mike Martz of the St. Louis Rams on Tuesday criticized team management and said he didn’t know whether he could coexist with Jay Zygmunt, the team’s president of football operations.

Zygmunt, the team’s second-highest-ranking official, stopped a representative of Martz at the door of the coaches’ booth during the Rams’ game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The representative, team director of security Dan Linza, had been trying to bring a cellphone to offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild so Martz could talk to him from his home.

Zygmunt brought Linza to team President John Shaw, who decided against having an open phone line in the booth.

Martz has long been at odds with Zygmunt and General Manager Charlie Armey, and he told St. Louis radio station KSLG that he didn’t know whether he and Zygmunt could coexist if he returned to coach the team next year.

“That’s a personal question that I’m not really prepared to answer,” Martz said. “There is a lot of history there. From a business standpoint, yes, from a personal standpoint, I don’t know. There have been just too many things that have happened.”

Martz had been in telephone contact from his home with Fairchild before and during halftime of the Rams’ 28-17 victory over the Saints.

“I was very, very angry to say the least,” Martz told the radio station. “I don’t understand why that happened, what the whole thought process was. And if they had an issue with that, why didn’t they tell me ahead of time?”

Martz said he was trying to help a young coach.

“There are some things as a play-caller that you need to look for,” Martz said. “Those are the things I try to talk to those coaches about.”

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With Pro Bowl kicker David Akers recovering from a hamstring injury, the Philadelphia Eagles claimed Jose Cortez off waivers from Dallas.

The Eagles released Todd France, who had been doing the kicking for them.

Cortez was waived by the Cowboys on Monday after missing a 29-yard field-goal attempt in Dallas’ 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

The six-year veteran had made 12 of 16 field-goal tries and 13 of 14 extra-point attempts this year. His 45-yard field goal in overtime defeated the New York Giants, 16-13, on Oct. 16.

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Minnesota Viking defense tackle Kevin Williams was put on a year’s probation and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct in a domestic dispute.

Williams, who entered his plea in Hennepin County (Minn.) District Court, acknowledged having a loud argument with his wife, Tasha, in their Minnetonka home in August.

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An NFL owners meeting scheduled for today and Thursday in Kansas City, Mo., has been called off because of the death of Giant owner Wellington Mara.