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KIRKLAND, Wash. -- St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz said the infection that hospitalized him late last week involves his heart and is getting worse.

He said he expects to miss practice the next two days.

"I haven't been feeling good for four or five weeks and there is some type of infection in my body that has gotten worse," Martz said during a conference call with Seattle reporters. "They think they've identified what it is."

Martz. 54, said doctors believe he has endocarditis, a bacterial infection of the heart's inner lining or the heart valve. Martz will be undergoing a series of blood cultures over the next week to confirm that is the infection. If caught early, treatment is done through a series of antibiotics taken over a long period of time, Martz said.

Martz was hospitalized Friday with what doctors believed was a sinus infection. He was released on Saturday and coached the Rams in their 44-24 loss to the New York Giants. Martz said he would continue to do some scripting and game planning in the morning the next few days, but planned to go home before practice begins.

Joe Vitt, the assistant head coach and linebackers coach, ran practice last week in Martz's absence.

"This is something that if you let it go, it could become a real issue," Martz said. "They feel very confident that's what it is, but they have to confirm it."

Earlier this year, Martz underwent back surgery, and said fatigue has been the most noticeable symptom of the infection.

"I can't explain to you the fatigue," Martz said. "You feel really good and then in the course of a couple hours you hit rock bottom."

Martz joined the Rams as offensive coordinator in 1999, and his high-powered offense led St. Louis to its first Super Bowl title that season. He became head coach following Dick Vermeil's retirement days after the Super Bowl.

Now in his sixth season, Martz is 56-35 including the postseason. The Rams have missed the playoffs just once in his tenure (2002) and reached the Super Bowl after the 2001 season, losing 20-17 to New England.

The Rams (2-2) are tied with Seattle for first place in the NFC West. Coincidentally, Seattle defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes missed Seattle's season opener in Jacksonville after suffering a mild stroke and did not fully return to his duties until last week.

"I'm going to be very careful with this," Martz said.

Reports: Health issues forcing Martz out

Rams head coach Mike Martz has decided to resign due to health concerns, according to multiple radio reports in St. Louis.

Both KMOX and 1380 ESPN Radio reported the move. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's web site, Martz has cancelled his normal Monday press conference and Rams president John Shaw is scheduled to appear at a 5 p.m. news conference instead.
The Post-Dispatch also reported that Martz was back in the hospital, getting treatment for an infection in his heart valve tissue.

Martz was on the sidelines Sunday for the Rams' 38-31 loss to the Seahawks, but has missed time repeatedly this season, including a pair of practices last week. Martz said last week that doctors believe he has endocarditis, a bacterial infection of the heart's inner lining of heart valve.

"This is something that if you let it go, it could become a real issue," Martz told the Associated Press last week.

Martz has been treated with antibiotics and said he felt better during Sunday's game than he had during the week. But evidently, he did not feel well enough to continue as the Rams head coach.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Rams: Martz to take a leave of absence

Statement from Rams team president John Shaw

(Oct. 10, 2005) -- Head coach Mike Martz advised us today that after he met with his consulting physician, his physical condition has worsened and he will be readmitted to the hospital later this afternoon. As a result of his condition, he will be unable to perform his head coaching responsibilities for an indefinite period of time.

After consulting with Mike, we have all agreed that assistant head coach Joe Vitt will be the interim head coach of the Rams during Mike's absence.