THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: If the St. Louis Rams were to take a quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft, which current college quarterback would you suggest they select?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Very tough call, and of course I reserve the right to change my mind later, after these kids play more games and also go through the NFL Scouting Combine. Because a lot can change between now and the draft. But if we are talking right now, I’d go with Washington’s Jake Locker. Big (6-3), strong and athletic, Locker has a plus arm, and a quick release. He’s been thriving in the pro-style offense installed by first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian. Also, Locker is being tutored by one of the best, QBs coach Steve Clarkson, who in the past has worked with Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Leinart and others. Clarkson cleaned up Locker’s mechanics and the improvement was immediate. And keep in mind that Locker is getting it done at Washington, and he’s not surrounded by elite talent. That makes his performance even more impressive.

Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen has moved up as an NFL prospect. Clausen has always had the natural talent, but he’s grown at Notre Dame, and is more physically imposing now. Looks like a tough kid, too. He is certainly used to pressure and it doesn’t get to him. The best is yet to come for Clausen. The red flags are out on Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford; it’s not only the shoulder injuries, but the questions of whether he can throw while under pressure, because he doesn’t encounter much of a pass rush at OU. Cincinnati’s Tony Pike could be the steal of the draft; he’s likely to be downgraded and drop down the board because of multiple injuries to his left wrist. But he’s a player. Not sure if Colt McCoy (Texas) has the frame, but he seems like a good fit for a West Coast offense. Jevan Snead (Ole Miss) has been touted by scouts and draftniks, but I haven’t seen enough (yet) to get excited by his NFL future. Again, that could change. All of this could.

VAHE GREGORIAN
With his bum shoulder this season, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford may be losing stock for the 2010 draft or may even be considering waiting another year to come out. But if he’s available, the Rams would be wise to snap him up. Although he could stand to be more mobile, especially considering the Rams line, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner has all the tools to build a team around: accuracy (67.9 percent of his passes last season), height (6-4) and a leadership presence that makes players want to play better just for him, OU coach Bob Stoops says. Maybe some will see the shoulder injury and apparent aggravation of it last week against Texas as something chronic or signs he is brittle, but sometimes quarterbacks just get hit and hurt. There’s no reason to think it’s anything more with Bradford.

JEFF GORDON
After watching Florida, Notre Dame, Texas and Oklahoma play recent games, I didn’t see a first-round candidate on the field. It’s nice that Colt McCoy can use his feet and make plays on the move, but can you put a rebuilding franchise on those shoulders? The ideal scenario would be Bradford electing to come out in this draft and slipping into the second round because of his shoulder injury. He could be a great second pick.

REID LAYMANCE
The shoulder injuries this season are a bit of concern but Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford still best fits the NFL mold at 6-4, 223. A junior, he could still come back for another season at OU but it’s hard to tell if that will help his draft status. Say what you want about Mel Kiper, the ESPN draft guru, but he had Bradford at No. 1 before the second shoulder injury against Texas and dropped him only to No. 5 overall. Jake Locker of Washington is moving up after his team upset USC but Bradford has a better track record. Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow are both proven winners in college. Tebow isn’t asked to win as often with his his arm as his legs so the jury is still out if that style translates to the NFL. The darkhorse could be Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, a junior, but I’d rather see a few more wins out of him before we start thinking he could be a Joe Montana story.

KATHLEEN NELSON
First, I’d suggest they seriously consider whether they want to take a QB so early. In the past five drafts, a dozen QBs have been taken in the first round.

2009: Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez
2008: Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco
2007: JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn
2006: Vince Young, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler
2005: Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers and Jason Campbell

Eight of the 12 are starters. Only Rodgers and Flacco rank among the league’s top 10 QBs in yardage. Only Ryan and Rodgers rank among the top 10 in QB rating. Only Ryan and Cutler start for teams above .500 this season.

If they insisted on taking a quarterback, maybe they could take a shot at Jimmy Clausen. The scouting reports say he has a stronger arm than Colt McCoy or Sam Bradford, and he seems to get more snaps under center than the other two.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Can my answer be “nobody?” With Sam Bradford’s shoulder possibly requiring season-ending surgery, I can’t see a QB that I would spend a high first-round pick on. Colt McCoy doesn’t have the prototpyical arm or strength, Tim Tebow has goofy mechanics and has never run anything remotely resembling pro style offense and Jevan Snead is having an awful year at Ole Miss. Cincy’s Tony Pike is hurt and I like both Jimmy Claussen and Jake Locker but they don’t exactly have long track records of success in college.

If Bradford’s shoulder were 100 percent healthy come the spring I’d take him over all the others, but shoulder injuries are scary. If I had to pick someone today it would be Locker. He has the size, arm strength and athleticism to be an NFL star.

I’d rather have safety Taylor Mays from USC, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska or receiver Brandon LaFell from LSU over any of the QB’s though.

THE WATERCOOLER

Question of the day: Who did you select to win the Heisman Trophy?

(The following writers all have Heisman votes for the Post-Dispatch. The winner will be announced Saturday.)

BERNIE MIKLASZ
This is how I voted, in order: Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford. There is no right or wrong here. All three of these QBs are worthy of winning the Heisman. It’s an excellent threesome, maybe the best list of finalists I’ve seen since I’ve been voting. I think Bradford will win. And who can blame the voters if they go with his extraordinary passing statistics and winning touch for Oklahoma, the nation’s No. 1 ranked team? In a close call, I went with Tebow first on my ballot because he wins games with his passing, his running, his intelligence, and his fearless leadership. And in leading Florida to a spot in the national title game, Tebow had to subdue some very tough defenses in the SEC.

BRYAN BURWELL
I’ve been voting for the Heisman since 1980 and this was the toughest vote of all. I gave my pick by a slim margin to Colt McCoy, who I think was more important to his team than Sam Bradford or Tim Tebow were to their teams.

VAHE GREGORIAN
Even if Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell wasn’t invited to New York as a finalist, he is one of four absolutely legitimate choices for the Heisman. If I could, I’d probably split my vote between Texas’ Colt McCoy and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, though I really wouldn’t even argue against a vote for Harrell or defending Heisman winner Tim Tebow of Florida. In the end, though, I punched McCoy on my card. He shattered the major-college record for accuracy AND led his team in rushing and rallied Texas to what would have been the game-winning TD against Tech if not for a dropped interception and a Tech TD with one second left. I don’t put a ton of stock in this part, but his team also beat Bradford’s team head-to-head.

STU DURANDO
My vote went to Colt McCoy over Sam Bradford with Tim Tebow third. After analyzing and over-analyzing the statistics, I was swayed by his versatility. On a team where McCoy is the main offensive weapon, defenses still couldn’t find a way to stop him. He flourished despite the lack of a prominent running back. His passing numbers might not be as good as Bradford’s, but McCoy was also his team’s leading rusher by quite a distance. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry despite all of the yards he lost in sacks. His completion percentage is mind-boggling. And he beat Bradford and Oklahoma head-to-head, leading the Longhorns to 45 points, more than any team scored against the Sooners this season, by completing 21 of his final 24 passes.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

COMPETING AGAINST HISTORY: When you play for a storied franchise like the Boston Celtics, which has won an NBA best 17 titles, it can be hard when it comes to setting any new franchise records. But that’s what this year’s Celtics have done, after just winning the title last year. With a 122-88 shellacking of the Washington Wizards Thursday night, the Celtics have reeled off 13 straight wins. But that’s not a record. It’s their 21-2 start to the season that now stands as the best start in franchise history. And while there are many haters when it comes to the Celtics due to their historic success (and the fact it’s Boston), unlike many teams, Boston doesn’t really have any players that are easy to dislike. The Big Three produces, the role players do their parts, everyone stays out of trouble and the Green Machine just keeps rolling along.

T.O. UPSET WITH QB … AGAIN: Appears there is tension brewing between Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens and QB Tony Romo. Let’s see, first T.O. had issues with QB Jeff Garcia in San Francisco, saying Garcia’s arm wasn’t strong enough to get him the deep ball. Then he questioned Donovan McNabb’s heart while with Philadelphia. Now he’s upset because he feels Romo is targeting tight end Jason Witten too much. Apparently Owens isn’t the only WR on the Cowboys that feels this way, but given the history you have to believe he’s the ringleader. But just to make sure everybody knows he’s a team player, Owens made the following statement to the Dallas Morning News: “I’m not jealous of Witten. I’m not jealous of nobody. I can take the approach that I got paid, so screw everything, but that’s not me.

No, Terrell, that’s not you.

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A FEW THINGS TO PONDER

WHY PEAVY’S NOT A CUB: Padres general manager Kevin Towers said from the beginning that he wasn’t going to just give away pitching sensation Jake Peavy. But a six-for-one deal? That price was a little steep even for the Chicago Cubs, particularly since it included a top prospect and a couple of promising young pitchers. Chicago Tribune baseball writer Phil Rogers tributes Cubs general manager Jim Hendry for sticking to his guns and refusing to sell the farm, regardless of how good Peavy would have looked in Cubbie blue.

SINGING THE BLUES: After a hard-fought 4-2 loss to Anaheim Wednesday night, the Blues seemed to just roll over against Los Angeles last night. The play looked lethargic from start to finish. One has to wonder if that Anaheim game didn’t take an emotional toll on the Blues … a game that was there to be won only to lose late. Regardless, no free passes in a 6-2 loss to the Kings, who are just 12-12-4 and playing at about the same clip as the Blues, particularly after being beaten by them earlier this season 4-0. And as to Chris Mason stating his case to be the team’s No. 1 goalie while Manny Legace is out with injury; well, giving up four goals on 24 shots and leaving after two periods isn’t much of a statement.

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STAT OF THE DAY

50 – It’s holiday shopping time, and ESPN’s Bill Simmons offers up his list of the 50 worst NFL gifts.

THE WATERCOOLER
(Post-Dispatch columnists and beat writers share their thoughts on a question of the day.)

Question: Now that the Cardinals have addressed two areas of need with Trever Miller and Khalil Greene, what do you think their top priority should be heading into the Winter Meetings?

JOE STRAUSS
Nobody asked me (until now), but I believe the need for greater depth in the starting rotation has been the most understated of all the team’s needs to date. Much will depend on the true finding regarding Chris Carpenter’s nerve condition. Many believe it implausible, even given a positive outlook, that the club count on Carpenter’s season-long availability in the same way it banked on his return along with Mark Mulder near last July’s non-waiver trade deadline.

With the possible exception of Mitchell Boggs, there is no ready depth within the minor leagues. Dave Duncan believes Kyle McClellan’s future may be in the rotation. But even so, without another dependable starter on board, the Cardinals dangerously resemble the 2007 bunch that crumbled following Carpenter’s Opening Day exit. Hyperventilating prospect geeks can’t even cite Jaime Garcia and Mike Parisi, since both are rehabbing from surgery. It is more than coincidence that the Cardinals won 205 games in 2004-05 while coming within one out of leading the NL in ERA in consecutive years. It is also no coincidence that they have been less than a .500 team since Mulder’s shoulder concerns became obvious in May 2006.

RICK HUMMEL
The Cardinals’ top priority is to get a second baseman in a market that seems to be loaded with them, either through free agency or the possibility of trade. Orlando Hudson, though injured at the end of the last two seasons, would be at the top of my list.

DERRICK GOOLD
Starting pitching. Can never have enough starting pitching. That is especially true for the Cardinals, who will huddle around Carpenter’s medical reports as if they were opening a Wonka Bar and hoping this one has the Golden Ticket. But the mid-market of starting pitchers the Cardinals are eyeing (think: Andy Pettitte, Randy Wolf, Braden Looper) will be slow to develop and could inch into January. So this week the Cardinals must look for the best way to radically upgrade their roster: a productive second baseman (via trade) or a short-term, sure-thing closer for the ninth inning (read: Kerry Wood).

BERNIE MIKLASZ
I’d like to see the Cardinals upgrade at 2B, and I wish the organization would be more aggressive in its search for a starting pitcher. I just don’t see how they can bank on having Carpenter in the rotation; will he be healthy and durable? They need protection for their rotation, and they should reach higher instead of settling for the usual low-hanging fruit.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

BRING ON THE BABY BLUES: T.J. Oshie is expected to return to the ice tonight vs. Calgary after missing 13 games with a high-ankle sprain. Oshie practiced Thursday on a line with Patrik Berglund and David Perron. It should be fun to watch the Baby Blues on a line together as we get a glimpse of the future. Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford did me the favor this morning of asking the three what they think about playing on a line together. Here’s what they had to say:

PERRON: “It’s going to be fun. We all like to cycle the puck. When I’m in the defensive zone and the other team is cycling the puck, it’s pretty hard to cover all the guys at once. As soon as you beat one guy, that means there’s something open. For me, when I cycle the puck and I beat a guy, I’m looking right away to the slots to see if one of those guys are open. I feel that Bergy and Oshie think the same way for sure. I think all the guys like to cycle the puck, but maybe it’s just some chemistry that we have because we’re young.”

OSHIE: “I’m very excited. It’s always fun playing with those guys. We’ve got some chemistry going, just from development camps and things like that, playing together. I think we complement each other well. So hopefully if we’re all moving our feet and we’re all working hard, I think we’ll be fine out there. We all three like to cycle and we all three have offensive minds to make plays, but I think we’re pretty smart on the defensive side of the puck. I think it’s a good mixture. Hopefully Bergy and Perry will be putting the puck in the net tonight.”

BERGLUND: “I think it’s going to be good. We’re around the same age, and I think it’s kind of easier to understand each other. I think like Perry and Oshie said, we like to cycle the puck and create a lot of speed and bring the puck to the net. It will be an energy line that keeps the puck in the offensive zone. . . . We are three players who have hockey sense. It’s easy to play around guys who have that because they know what they have to do all the time.”

MIZZOU HAS NO CHANCE: That’s what columnist Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman implies today — barring a monumental upset of course. Tramel reports that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is the king of the Big 12 title game and he doesn’t see that changing tomorrow. Based on recent performances it might be hard to argue with him … so should Mizzou not bother even showing up at Arrowhead? Upsets are part of the game and Mizzou players and fans know that up-close following last week’s loss to Kansas. I guess that’s why they play the games, no?

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A FEW THINGS TO PONDER

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN: I see a lot sports writers complaining about the chaotic formula of the BCS and how flawed that system is, but perhaps a few of these guys need to take a look in the mirror. How can Texas quarterback Colt McCoy be good enough to be voted The Associated Press’ Big 12 offensive player of the year, yet, according to AP voters, not be the best QB in the Big 12? That honor went to Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford.

Like my dad is fond of saying, “I may not be the smartest guy in the world, but if I had a dollar for everyone that was dumber than me I’d be a rich man.”

IT’S GOOD TO HAVE A BACKUP PLAN … AND A FAT WALLET: According to the New York Daily News, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has begun talks with agent Scott Boras about free agent starting pitcher Derek Lowe. This while Cashman also plans to meet with CC Sabathia this weekend in hopes of getting the pitcher signed before the winter meetings begin. The Yankees have reportedly offered Sabathia, this year’s biggest free agent pitching jewel, a deal somewhere in the six-year, $140 million range.

I tire of hearing all the crying and big market/small market excuses from teams about not having the money to compete. This is the big leagues … either you can compete or you can’t. And you can disparage the Yankees all you want for always trying to “buy their championships.” But if any fans of any team honestly can tell me they wouldn’t want their team to do the same, I contend those fans are not being honest with themselves.

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STAT OF THE DAY

5,160 – Yards passing Saints quarterback Drew Brees is on pace for right now. That would be a new single-season league high. Dan Marino currently holds the record with 5,084 yards in 1984. Think the 5-8 Chargers ever regret letting Brees go?