MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

SO YOU NEED A QB: It seems like just yesterday that Marc Bulger was being proclaimed one of the best quarterbacks in the game. That was when he was being signed to a six-year, $65 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid player in St. Louis Rams franchise history. It was July 2007. Two sub-par seasons later and Bulger has become a lightning rod of scorn for Rams fans.

But what is new coach Steve Spagnuolo to do? He certainly can’t trade Bulger with that price tag hanging around his neck, and to cut Bulger would slam the team’s salary cap. But can Spags afford to stick with Bulger through another season like the last two? Probably not. Spagnuolo needs to win now … or at least show marked improvement. That’s why many fans would like to see the team address the position in this year’s draft. The crop of talent is high (see Matt Stafford below.) But the team has so many needs to address, is it best to take a QB as high as No. 2? Again, probably not. And it may be difficult to get a QB in the lower rounds that could feasibly play and make an impact next season if needed.

But there could be another option. That guy from New England. No, not that one. But the man behind the man: Matt Cassel. You may remember him as the guy who stepped in when Tom Brady went down in Week 1 last season. Cassel, who had not started a game since high school, became an overnight NFL sensation. He threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions and ranked 10th in the NFL in QB rating at 89.4

Cassel is now at a crossroads and his future will be determined soon … a future that could have him becoming an unrestricted free agent as soon as Feb. 27. A lot could depend on Brady’s return to health, and there have been mixed reports on whether or not Brady will be ready to start the season. But the clock starts ticking for the Patriots on Feb. 5, when they’ll have two weeks to decide if they want to put the franchise tag on Cassel … at a cost of about $14 million. Can the Patriots afford to pay their backup QB that kind of dough? We’ll see. But if not, Cassel will be free to sign with any team.

“This is Tom’s team,” Cassel told ESPNEWS Thursday. “The Patriots have been Tom’s team. He’s built that franchise up with his own two hands. He’s the guy, and he was the MVP the year before. I realize that. He’s been such a mentor for me that I would say, ‘No, there is no quarterback competition.’ ”

That could be read as, “I’m perfectly happy backing up Tom,” or as, “He’s the guy, and if I get a chance elsewhere, I may need to move on.” Only Cassel knows.

How much has Cassel proven in one year and how much would it cost to lock him up for three or four years? Who knows. But if I worked in the Rams’ front office, I’d be trying to figure it out. Logically, though, it won’t come at a $14 million-per-year rate … that’s just the figure for the franchise tag, when a player must be paid among the top five at his position. A longer-term contract for Cassel most certainly will not reach that number … and maybe he ends up back with the Patriots anyway after becoming a UFA under a new contract with them.

But Brady’s still young and it’s his team … how long does Cassel want to remain a backup? Wouldn’t he rather be running an offense of his own? Stay tuned.

NHL LEARNS FROM HISTORY, MOVES FORWARD: According to the Associated Press, the NHL Players’ Association decided today not to reopen the collective bargaining agreement with the NHL, ensuring labor peace through the 2010-11 season. “The players and their executive board decided that due to the current economic conditions as well as the players’ focus on continuing to help grow this game and expose our great athletes to many more fans, now is not the appropriate time to enter complex labor negotiations,” NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly told the A.P.

Obviously the NHL learned some valuable lessons from their shutdown a few years ago. The game is reclaiming fans and regaining speed in attendance. The last thing the league needs is any labor strife. But I wonder to myself: Would MLB, NFL and NBA players take the same stance in this tough economy? I bet puckheads everywhere would answer: “No.”

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THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Who do you think is the best player available in this year’s NFL draft?

JEFF GORDON
Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree is the can’t-miss guy. As a big wide-out with great skill, he can step in and have a huge impact immediately. Not even the Detroit Lions could screw this guy up. Quarterbacks Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez have obvious potential, but neither comes with guarantees. Experts have the Rams taking Alabama tackle Andre Smith, but his body type makes you wonder if he can handle NFL speed rushers.

BILL COATS
Alabama tackle Andre Smith. He’ll step in and start at left tackle — the second-most-important position on offense — for somebody. He’ll make an immediate impact. Not many rookies are able to do that.

KATHLEEN NELSON
Michael Crabtree. Scouts love the measurables: 6-3, 215. He’s strong and smooth, seems to run routes crisply and has a feature-length reel of acrobatic catches.

STU DURANDO
Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford. It’s time for the Rams to start grooming a new quarterback and Stafford would be perfect — if he’s not already gone. He didn’t put up spectacular numbers like the quarterbacks in the Big 12, but he’s considered a better prospect with a strong arm and accuracy on deep passes.

VAHE GREGORIAN
Michael Crabtree: Breathtaking skills make him a sure gamebreaker.

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THINGS TO PONDER

HOPEFUL FOR LEADERSHIP: New Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo was one of the hotter prospects this offseason to move into a head coaching position — though he had no previous head coaching experience at any level. Whether he ultimately succeeds or fails remains to be seen. But I find the optimism about Spagnuolo’s hiring to be strikingly similar to Obama-mania (another new leader moving into unchartered waters.) The sentiment that I see providing such optimism for both: Anything’s better than what we had.

For Rams fans and for America, I hope the optimism for both is validated by history. (Note: They both got four-year contracts, so we’ll see soon enough.)

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

JANUARY 23, 1993 — By electing Reggie Jackson on his initial ballot, the Baseball Hall of Fame admits its first position player to total more career strikeouts (2,597) than hits (2,584).
(SOURCE: “This Day in Baseball”)