I don’t believe the Blues will base anything off the game tonight. I believe they already have their opinion of what kind of team they have. If they win they’re closer to that much closer to the playoffs. If they lose they have 19 games to make up what could be a 5 point gap. I’ve learned St Louis is a very fickle fan base, and has watched their teams crumble and stumble to the end of the season. Therefore they get emotional about the what-if’s. I think this Blues team has proved to everyone that they can get on a roll and start winning some hockey games. Remember the 1st 10+ games of the season? This fan base was hollering great things about their team that was in the top 5 in the Western (even though they were projected by everyone to be the Western’s Basement Dweller even before the injuries started.

I have faith Roger, I’ve watched and cheered my Alma Matter the Fighting Sioux go from 9th (of 10) place in the WCHA to winning the WCHA title this year. On their typical 2nd half of the season Sioux Surge deep into the playoffs. I also realize there are some similarities to both teams. They have/had heart and soul player in their locker room that has made the playoffs in every sport he’s played since he was a young 14 year old at Warroad High School. That’s 8 straight years that TJ Oshie has been on a Hockey Team that has made the playoffs. Call it a coincidence, but I believe this team will stand pat, or pickup a player to help them make the playoffs!

19 games after tonight, is still PLENTY of time to move up a few places in the standings, and make the playoffs. (Hopefully without Pronger ;))

Bartell is worth $7 million because…Who wlse is available? And I think he can be one of the best in two seasons.

I don’t think the Rams overpayed. Bartell is a good CB, which is rare.

I find these “reporters” amazing. Regarding the Cutler piece, every reporter thinks the Pro Bowl and its selection criteria is the biggest joke in sports unless, of course, it proves their point. In this case, of poor Cutler being dissed by the Broncos, “hey he made the Pro Bowl last year.” Sorry writers, I respect the opinions of “real” football people anytime. If you think the Bowl is such a joke say that.

For the record, Ramsey is a UFA, meaning Hackney is the only QB on the roster aside from Cutler.

all athletes are overpaid. there, i said it. but, it’s all relative. bartell is “worth” the money, b/c what do you do if you don’t sign him? as for kurt warner…funny to see mr. “thank you Jesus” getting greedy. hope he can survive off “only” $20M, on top of the 10s of millions he’s already made. funny…and yes, i’m a warner fan. i’m just sayin…

Tru Fan, just because you worship Jesus, doesn’t mean you have to turn down the millions of dollars he DESERVES…lol…others have been paid more and have done way less than Captain Kurt…Kurt is a proven top tier QB in this league and deserves to be compensated as such…as for Bartell, he is so worth the money…considering you get paid on upside in the NFL as much as talent alone, his upside is tremendous…The new Rams regime deserves an A+ so far…hopefully this effort will translate into a productive draft and wins on Sunday…

Warner is one of the folks who would probably do the most “good” with $10mil.

…says the ‘recovering Catholic’ Humanist.

I like Bartell, you could tell he improved vastly last year. he is tall and has good cover skills which is what you need when you play the Cards wr’s 2x a year. with a ss in the mix our secondary will be fine as long as we can generate a pash rush.

Kurt is a proven top tier QB in this league and deserves to be compensated as such…

Really? He’s been the benefactor of a few teams with a pair of unstoppable wide receivers and a 3rd and sometimes 4th wideout pretty capable of turning in a few big plays a game too. Without the injury to Green or the injury to Leinart two years ago, Warner isn’t the signal caller on either team. Not sure if that mixed with his many years of being the back up and shipped out of town for younger and viewed as more talented quarterbacks puts him in a top tier QB status. Don’t get us wrong, in the perfect systems he played in he was good, but not top tier by any means.

If he wants to play he would be smart and take the Arizona money while he can. Going to San Fransico will make him an over paid back-up because they don’t have the wide-out KW needs to be successful.

AZ is a DISGRACE organization for treating Kurt like this..They know so well that Kurt is going to stay with their team .This is not the right way to treat a guy who just lead the team to the first SB after all these long losing years..I wish to see Warner signs with 49er just for the heck of it(and get more money ,too)..A.Boldin will eventually be gone..plus the lost of end A.Smith…Them Cards will sure eat dirt next year..and they sure deserved it.
Ron Bartell is not gonna get all the money on his contract..teams always has their string behind the face of a contract..Do you really seriously think that Albert Hayneworth will get all of his 100 M..? Nahh..

The possibility of Bartell not being a Ram makes him a $7 million man. The Ram’s cannot afford to lose him. Is he a $7 million man as a Ram? This will remain to be seen.

Kurt and his agent are smart. They are simply applying a little leverage to drive up the price of his services to the highest level possible. Nothing wrong with that. I know the sums paid to players are humongous…but all players are worth whatever the market will bear. Remember, in the NFL only a portion of the signing amount is guaranteed. So, when guys like Drew Bennett or Adam Archuleta get paid $10 million guaranteed then flop like fish with their new teams…..well they were duds and it was a mistaken signing. Problem is….you have to sign them at market levels to find that out. Archuleta was the highest paid safety in the history of the game thanks to the ‘Skins Danny Snyder. And, the Rams new he was damaged goods. Dooooh!!

Bartell is worth his contract, especially since it’s incentive laden. He’s been consistently good the last two seasons, and has improved. The CB stats Bernie Miklasz trotted out in his article were convincing. Remember the play this last season where he ran the running back down from behind, then stripped the ball at the 1-yard line and recovered it in the end zone? That kind of effort cannot be taught or asked for. He deserves it almost for that play alone.

there are always at least two sides to every story, sometimes more. My grandkids used to live next door to Kurt and Brenda Warner before they hit it big. Quiet, tree-lined street in Creve Coeur near Fee Fee. My grandkids played damn near every day with Warner’s kids. One day, Ben, my grandson, took his football next door and asked Kurt to sign it. Brenda interceded and said the only way Kurt would sign the ball was if my son and grandson made a $50 contribution to his camp for inner-city kids. My grandson was embarrassed because he didn’t have the money. My son thought the Warners were jerks. It wasn’t like they didn’t know them–the kids played every day after school and on weekends until Brenda put a price on their friendship. I don’t wish bad on anybody, but if the truth came out a little more often, people so highly thought of in the community might be looked at differently when money changes them.

heard a story from a close friend that was similar to steve’s. in this story, kurt was signing an autograph for a neighbor/churchmate when brenda pulled up and yelled, “make sure they donate the 50!” classy. nice makeover, btw, brenda, it sure beats the gray, spikey flatop!

I think Bartell is quitely one of the Rams top players and a key to this free agency. Bernie’s stats tell the story…and as a previous writer mentioned, you can’t overlook Bartell’s effort and no-nonsense approach, which will hopefully be a “leadership by example” for the rest of the team. If you compare the price we paid to other top CBs, this is a steal for the Rams. I hate to say it…but this was actually a good draft pick! Now lets get rid of some of the remaining bozos ie: Little Richie, Pisa “I have never made a meaningful play” Tinoisomoa, Alex “I can’t hear the snap count” Barron, and Marc “I look like I am going to the dentist everytime I step on the field” Bulger….and we might be on the winning track.

Bartell is worth every freakin’ dime they signed him for…anyone who thinks otherwise doesn’t know football

You really need to have clue on your “most home runs hit by a player in his first season.” Both of the players that you mentioned played OVER 150 games each in their first season. I hardly call 56 AB’s in 18 games “a season.” Where do you get off by judging a September callup as being McGwire’s “first season?” Not very good journalism my friend.