With Marc Bulger sidelined for 3-to-6 weeks with a fractured shin bone in his left leg, the St. Louis Rams have decided to go with just Kyle Boller and Keith Null at quarterback this week against Seattle. If the Rams decide to add a third quarterback at a later date, general manager Billy Devaney told the Post-Dispatch it would most likely be Brock Berlin. Berlin lost a close battle to Null for the No. 3 quarterback job coming out of training camp, and was with the Detroit Lions practice squad earlier this season.

Because of his familiarity with the offense, Berlin could get up to speed quickly. Almost any other QB might take a few weeks to get comfortable with the playbook, and by that time the season would be almost over.


(stltoday.com)

Brock Berlin was released from the Detroit Lions Practice Squad with the return of Drew Stanton from injury.





(profootballtalk.com)

proCanes Week#1 Inactives:

Orien Harris: Detroit Lions

Phillip Buchanon, with a neck injury: Detroit Lions

Spencer Adkins: Atlanta Falcons

Brock Berlin just made a major statement in his battle with rookie Keith Null for the No. 3 QB job. Berlin directed the St. Louis Rams on a clinical, 15-play, 85-yard drive that knocked 7:29 off the clock and culminated with a 6-yard touchdown pass to TE Daniel Fells. Berlin hit on seven of nine passes during the march, and the two incompletions both were drops. Berlin made a large stride in keeping the third string QB role, leading the Rams on an impressive touchdown drive.  His only blemish?  An interception.

Berlin finished the game 9-17 for 97 yards with one touchdown and one interception.



(ramblinram.com)

CINCINNATI — Brock Berlin has been at this now for five preseasons, striding that fine line every August between the life of an NFL quarterback and the unemployment line.

For all those two-a-days spent looking up on the depth chart and those cutdown days hoping the phone doesn't ring, he has only two regular-season games and 31 regular-season passes to show for it.

Berlin's one true moment on center stage came two years ago in Paul Brown Stadium, where the Rams play the Cincinnati Bengals tonight in their third preseason game of 2009. On Dec. 12, 2007, Berlin made his NFL debut and one and only NFL start for the Rams.

The results weren't overwhelming, but they weren't disastrous. Especially considering Berlin had been on the active roster less than two weeks before his start and had exactly one practice day with the first-team offense before kickoff.

With both Marc Bulger (concussion) and Gus Frerotte (shoulder) sidelined by injury, Berlin completed 17 of 28 passes for 153 yards and an interception that day in a 19-10 loss to the Bengals. The Rams' only touchdown came on an interception return by cornerback Fakhir Brown.

"It'll be neat to go back and play there," Berlin said. "Really, it's just another preseason game but obviously, it's the first place I've started. Maybe it'll be a little better weather this time."

That's a certainty, considering it was 38 degrees and rainy at kickoff in '07.

This August, nothing has changed about

Berlin's job status. Once again he's fighting for a roster spot. This time the competition for the No. 3 job comes from Keith Null, a sixth-round draft pick from West Texas A&M.

"You really don't have time to worry — I've always said that," Berlin said. "I've been in this position every year. You just go out and you play and you handle your business, and at the end of the day, you let things fall the way that they will."

Null might have an edge because he was brought in by the current regime. Berlin, whose only other regular-season passes (three) came off the bench last season against Chicago, is a holdover from the Scott Linehan era.

But Berlin, 28, isn't making it easy on Null. He completed five of eight passes for 71 yards and a 130.7 passer rating last Friday against Atlanta. He accounted for the Rams' only touchdown on a 20-yard pass to Derek Stanley in the third quarter.

A week earlier against the New York Jets, Berlin's night ended early when he was brought down on a questionable hit by Jets defensive end Zach Potter and left the game with a sore knee.

Null replaced Berlin and made the most of the opportunity, rifling a game-winning TD pass to Sean Walker midway through the final quarter. Berlin responded by strapping on a knee brace and getting right back to work last week.

Null had a chance for more fourth-quarter heroics in Game 2 against the Falcons, but a potential game-tying TD drive ended with an interception in the end zone in the final minute of play. Once again, the intended receiver was Walker.

"They brought some pressure, and I didn't have a lot of time," Null said. "I probably should've hit another read, but I just tried to take a shot at the end zone and get a score."

Sensing blitz, Null made a pre-snap read at the line of scrimmage, deciding to throw it to Walker before the ball was even snapped. Trouble was, Walker was bumped off his route by a defender. Another Rams receiver, Nate Jones, was open on an underneath route but Null never looked his way.

Nonetheless, Rams coaches have been impressed with Null's moxie. Despite the interception, at least Null drove the Rams into position to tie the game (or win on a 2-point conversion) in the 20-13 loss.

"Oh, gosh," Null said. "The last two weeks, I've been right in the action having to go down and score. It's great work as a rookie to go in. ... You've got to love to have the ball in your hands at the end of the game, to try and make something happen."

As coach Steve Spagnuolo sees it, the race for No. 3 remains too close to call.

"It's a continued battle," Spagnuolo said. "We've got some time here still, so we'll see."

Tonight against Cincinnati, Berlin and Null should have most or all of the second half to themselves once starter Kyle Boller is done for the evening.

Berlin feels he's a better quarterback than he was in December 2007. He seems more accurate and more comfortable in the pocket.

"The more reps you get, the more you're around, the more mature you become as a quarterback," Berlin said. "I've definitely learned a lot. I've been around a guy like Marc Bulger and learned from him."

But now, he's got the young gun in Null, 23, to contend with.

"It's nothing against the person," Null said. "We actually both get along real well. So we just come out, we both compete, and may the best man win. I'm sure he feels the exact same way."



(stltoday.com)

Berlin rebounded from an injury with a terrific performance in the Rams 20 - 13 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.  He went 5/8 for 71 yards and a TD. Berlin is fighting for the third-string QB spot.



(ramblinfan.com)

Backup quarterback Brock Berlin suffered a sprained MCL in the Rams' preseason win over the Jets Friday.
The Rams say he's day to day, but it probably doesn't matter. The Rams will be on the prowl for an upgrade at third QB at roster cuts. Rookie Keith Null is likely headed to the practice squad. St. Louis will keep close tabs on Philadelphia. The Eagles have four quarterbacks on their current roster.



(rotoworld.com)

Rams QB Brock Berlin is getting all the snaps at No. 3 quarterback ahead of Keith Null, the record-setting West Texas A&M product. Null didn’t take advantage of his minimal opportunities Thursday, bobbling a snap in morning practice and fumbling one in the afternoon.



(footballvideosite.com)

Say what you want about the wisdom of the Rams drafting QB Keith Null in the sixth round, he threw the ball well in minicamp and could be a good fit as the third QB in the Rams new West Coast offense. That would make Berlin expendable.



(turfshowtimes.com)

Linebacker Quinton Culberson, quarterback Brock Berlin and running back Samkon Gado have been added to the team's offseason roster; all have signed one-year contracts for 2009.

Berlin, also an exclusive rights free agent, was the team's third quarterback in '08. He appeared in one game, completing one of three passes for 6 yards Nov. 23 against Chicago.

(stltoday.com)

The competition for the No. 3 quarterback job was expected to be a tight race. But it turned out to be a landslide victory for Brock Berlin. "The hard work I put in throughout the offseason and (training camp), it just feels good to know that it pays off," he said.

In the four preseason games, Berlin completed 35 of 49 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown, without an interception. His passer rating was 98.5. His challenger, Bruce Gradkowski, was 22 of 37 for 177 yards, with no TDs and two interceptions. His rating was 49.0.

(stltoday.com)

Brock Berlin did not look too sharp early in the first half, but came back well to lead the Rams on a 66 yard, 11 play two minute drive to cut the lead to 21-10, capped by a 16 yard touchdown pass from Berlin to Looker.  Berlin was 13 of 21 for 107 yards.  Brad Gradkowski who was brought in the second half as he is battling Berlin for the third QB spot.  He had to fight through a rain shower on the Rams opening drive of the second half and led the team into a 40 yard field goal attempt that was missed by Josh Brown.  Gradkowski led the Rams into the endzone in the 3rd quarter.  Gradkowski finished 11 of 18 for 105 yards and an interception.

(stlouisdispatch.com)

Trent Green is the backup quarterback for the Rams, for now. But it sounds like Brock Berlin is making a case to move up the ladder. Green played one series with the first team offensive line last weekend and completed one of three passes for 16 yeards. Berlin came in and completed 11 of 13 passes for 139 yeards. "I thought Brock was real solid," Rams coach Scott Linehan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "He did some good things, he got a nice drive to get us a touchdown and a nice two-minute drive to get us another three. "He put 10 points on the board when he was in there, and that's the job of a quarterback."

(cnnsi.com)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Rams quarterback Brock Berlin was confident and controlled against the Tennessee Titans as he battles quarterback Bruce Gradkowski for the third roster spot.

“It was great to finally play in some live action,” Berlin said. “I felt comfortable out there, and we moved the chains well. Obviously, we didn’t score as many points as we’d like. I felt comfortable out there.”

Berlin entered the game about midway through the second quarter. Before the end of the first half, Berlin had led the Rams to their only touchdown drive against the Titans.

On Berlin’s second possession, the Rams had a first down at their own 49-yard-line. Berlin pump faked to the left and launched a perfect strike to wide receiver Dane Looker down the right sideline. Looker was pulled down from behind at the three-yard-line after a 47-yard gain, and a horse collar penalty was assessed.

Running back Antonio Pittman took a Berlin handoff two yards into the end zone on the next play.

“We had a little play set up for that, and it worked out,” Berlin said. “Dane ran an excellent route. He set the whole thing up. He did a good job. I just had to get it out there to him.”

Berlin finished the second half and played the entire third quarter. He completed 11 of 14 passes for 139 yards and a 108.0 quarterback rating. He connected on his first eight pass attempts before a spike to stop the clock at the end of the first half. 

“Brock I thought played great,” quarterback Marc Bulger said. “Our offense was struggling, and he went in there and gave us a little spark. He’s been doing it all camp, and I think he’ll continue to do that.”

Berlin and Gradkowski have spent training camp battling for the third quarterback spot. Gradkowski took over for Berlin in the fourth quarter, but played only one series against the Titans. He completed two of five pass attempts for six yards.

It’s too early to call the battle between Berlin and Gradkowski, but Berlin certainly helped his cause with his play against the Titans Saturday.

“For me, to finally get in there and play some live football and to be able to put some drives together, and get in a groove, it felt really good,” Berlin said. “I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”

(stlouisrams.com)

It’s far from the most important competition in training camp, but the fight for the No. 3 quarterback spot between Brock Berlin and Bruce Gradkowski is entertaining nonetheless. Berlin had the job with the Rams last year, but at 25, Gradkowski is two years younger and has more regular-season NFL experience.

“It’s going very good; both guys are getting pretty much equal reps,” coach Scott Linehan said. “Both have some really nice attributes about their game. We’re going to scrimmage on Saturday, and that’ll really be the start of it . . . how they’re going to play in game-like conditions. Then they’re going to get plenty of snaps in preseason” games.”

(stltoday.com)

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Rams newly acquired QB Bruce Gradkowski was on the field Tuesday for organized team activities but didn't take part in team drills. Gradkowski, 25, was signed after the Rams claimed him off waivers last week following his release by Tampa Bay. The Raiders and Chicago Bears also claimed him, but the Rams obtained his rights because they had the worst record of the three teams in 2007. Gradkowski (6-1, 220) will compete with QB Brock Berlin for the No. 3 spot behind starting QB Marc Bulger and backup QB Trent Green.

(kffl.com)

Six months before the season is set to start, St. Louis Rams backup quarterback Brock Berlin is the odds-on favorite for most likely third-stringer to see action.

Berlin sat behind Marc Bulger and Gus Frerotte in 2007. He played in one game last season. But the Rams Monday inexplicably not only signed Trent Green to become the fragile Bulger’s primary backup. They also reportedly gave the concussed one $8.9 million for three years – including a $2.1 million signing bonus.

Frerotte, who once sprained his neck head butting a brick wall, shows admirable durability compared with this duo. Bulger, when healthy, is a top eight NFL quarterback, at worst. But he has missed 12 games in three seasons and Green, with two horrendous looking concussions that left his career temporarily in doubt, has played just 13 games the last two years.

So if I were Berlin I’d make sure I know the playbook.

(zoneblitz.com)