Ex-Aggie is still steady as a Ram

TEMPE, Ariz. — Kevin Curtis paused in the tunnel on his way to the locker room — helmet up, eyes down.

"We needed that one," he said. "It was a big game." He looked beaten up but not beaten, however.

But then he never does.

As with so many "big games" this year, the St. Louis Rams had come up short again. This time the Arizona Cardinals took them apart 37-7 and almost dismantled their playoff hopes. After the game, call-in radio shows made it clear there was plenty of blame to go around. But none of it was getting laid at the feet of Kevin Curtis. As always, he'd played a steady game — grabbling all catchable balls that came his way, recovering a fumble and preventing what would have been a back-breaking interception.

Still, his team was now a long-shot for glory.

But then, Curtis is used to being a long-shot.

At Bingham High School, he lettered twice and made the all-region second team, not exactly a vision for future stardom. He played at Snow College, went on an LDS mission, returned, and considered becoming a firefighter. Then, after three years away from the game, he walked on at Utah State University. His drive and good hands got him noticed. As an Aggie, leading the nation in receptions per game in 2001 got him a scholarship. He was soon USU's all-time leading receiver with 171 receptions. Where he'd been second-team all region as a prep, now he was second-team all-American — as well as the National Independent Offensive Player of the Year. The Rams picked him up in the third round in 2003, at number 74. He was 26.

Down the years there's been some chemistry between USU and the Rams. Merlin Olsen went from the Aggies to a Hall-of-Fame career for the NFL team. Bill Munson displayed a golden arm as an Aggie and also as a Ram. Curtis follows in their footsteps. It has been a long climb.

When he was shagging balls at Snow, did he see the NFL as a real option?

The thought gets a smile.

"When you're a kid," he says, "that's always your dream — to play NFL football."

He doesn't give up.

With the Rams, Curtis had four catches his first year against San Francisco. He also got a broken fibula. But he soldiered on. This year Ram Media Guide says Curtis "can be one of the great ones. A great athlete with superb knowledge of the game, . . . has great speed and awareness."

What he has is a great attitude.