THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: With the NFL draft now behind us, let’s focus in on the NFC West a bit. Which team in the division do you think did the most to improve itself through the draft?

JIM THOMAS
In terms of pure impact players, it’s hard to discount what San Francisco and Arizona did with their first-round picks. In Michael Crabtree the 49ers got the player who was considered the unquestioned top receiver in the draft before a foot injury and questions about his attitude caused him to slide to No. 10. If Crabtree gets his foot — and his act — together, he could be a difference maker. The Cardinals also addressed their most pressing need by getting one of the top running backs in the draft in Beanie Wells. See you later, Edgerrin James.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
I don’t really get into declaring winners and losers in a draft 24 hours after it happened. That’s for the draft pundits who have to justify their existence and paycheck. Talk to me in two years.

I’d be pleased if I could say that the Rams got the most help, but that would make me a phony. The Rams did fine, and if some of their boom-or-bust draftees pay off, then this could turn out to be a special draft. But they also took some gambles that could wash out.

You can make the case that the Arizona Cardinals, drafting 31st, got as much immediate impact in Ohio State RB Chris Wells that the Rams got at No. 2 overall with OT Jason Smith. The same is true of San Francisco which got a big-time receiver in Michael Crabtree at No. 10. And obviously, Seattle’s choice of LB Aaron Curry at No. 4 was a dynamite pick.

If I had to declare a winner, it would be a tie between San Francisco and Seattle simply because each of them smartly maneuvered to acquire an extra first-round pick in the 2010 draft. That’s intelligent team building. Again, I’m not dogging the Rams. The Rams did what was best for them. But I see no reason to be a homer by ignoring what happened elsewhere in the NFC West.

JEFF GORDON
Seattle got the guy I love, Aaron Curry, added some early O-line depth and still ended up with an extra No. 1 for next year — which could give the Seahawks added leverage retooling for 2009. To trade a No. 2 for a future No. 1, then to get back in the second round by moving later picks . . . that was smooth. And what was was Denver thinking?

KATHLEEN NELSON
Arizona did a good job of addressing needs: Beanie Wells should give them a good option at running back, and DE Cody Brown has a reputation as a good edge rusher, which the Cardinals could use.

Seattle did pretty well for itself. Aaron Curry will start right away. OL Max Unger will learn the ropes at center and guard. And somehow, GM Tim Ruskell parlayed a second-round pick this year into a first-round slot in 2010. That was pretty slick.

The 49ers chose oddly. Michael Crabtree’s talent is obvious, but they need a QB to throw to him. Perhaps Isaac Bruce can become a role model to Crabtree. RB Glen Coffee can offer some relief to the overburdened Frank Gore.

BILL COATS
I think it was Arizona, and mainly because it landed RB Beanie Wells with the 31st pick. For a team desperately in need of a quality ballcarrier, that was a real coup.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
I’m going to focus on which team helped themselves the most for the 2009 NFL season because it’s impossible to predict what will happen with players in this league 2-3-4 years down the road. To me it comes down to a decision between the Seahawks and the Rams.

Arizona’s 1st round selection of “Beanie” Wells from Ohio State, a player I really like, doesn’t make a huge impact on them right away because he’ll split carries with Tim Hightower and because they’ll throw the ball so much. Their other picks appear to be projects. The Niners landed an immediate impact player in Michael Crabtree but didn’t have a 2nd-round pick and the rest of their picks appear to be either projects (like QB Nate Davis from Ball State) or backups.

Seattle got an immediate impact player in LB Aaron Curry, plus they added OL quality with Max Unger from Oregon and some speed at WR with Deon Butler from Penn State. They addressed several key needs there and then filled with depth. Solid draft.

I’ll give the slightest of edges to the Rams because I think they picked two definite starters in the draft and the other teams seem to have only gotten one apiece. Plus they filled needs in areas of depth, though it still looks to me like they have some work to do at WR.

Jason Smith is a mauler who will be a good player right away and potentially a great one down the road. His attitude will be almost as helpful as his physical abilities. James Laurinaitis is a strong player from a program that produces outstanding linebackers and I’d be shocked if he’s not the Rams’ starting middle linebacker in Week 1 of the NFL season. Bradley Fletcher from Iowa is a nice addition to the secondary and, being a guy who watches a lot of ACC football, DT Darell Scott from Clemson is a good player who filled a need for d-line depth.

It’s close — they’re all C+/B-/B grades if you look around the net — but I think the Rams got more immediate help than their division opponents. Of course, that could be because they had more holes to fill.

TOM ACKERMAN (Sports anchor of “Total Information A.M.” on KMOX)
Overall, I thought the NFC West teams did well. The Rams filled major needs by landing Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis. Arizona should have a productive RB in Beanie Wells … if he stays healthy. As far as big catches go, the 49ers reeled in a monster in Michael Crabtree at No. 10. But the Niners failed to get a pass rusher in the draft. I thought the Seahawks hit a home run, though, by getting LB Aaron Curry, who will be a star in Seattle. They also added offensive depth (Max Unger at C) and landed a first-round pick in 2010 via trade with Denver. Well done.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Many NFL scouts seem to rank Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree as the top WR in this year’s draft and Mizzou’s Jeremy Maclin as No. 2. However, others seem to think Maclin will have the more immediate impact in the NFL because of his ability to not only catch the ball, but in returning punts and kicks, too. Looking into your crystal ball, which of these receivers do you believe will have the more impactful NFL career?

JIM THOMAS
There are questions about Crabtree’s foot and attitude. His diva attitude during pre-draft visits turned off the Rams and the Browns (who pick fifth overall) to the point where neither team is considering Crabtree for their first-round pick. There are no character flaws with Maclin, who is a gamer with the added bonus of return ability. The vote here is for Maclin.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Maclin. I think he’s faster and more explosive. He’s got the ability to change a game with his big-play potential as a return man. He’s dangerous after he makes the catch. And Maclin is a relentless worker who constantly strives for improvement. Crabtree has formidable talent, but he is also a diva, and is probably going to give a coaching staff headaches with his ego eruptions. Maclin isn’t that kind of kid. His personality is a plus.

BRYAN BURWELL
This is a fascinating decision for any team in search of an impact wideout. Maclin can affect the outcome of games as a punt and kick returner immediately and will prove to be, at the very least, a deep threat receiver who will stretch the field. Will he prove to be a disciplined route runner?
Yes. He’s as intelligent a student of the game as they come. Crabtree is a bit more of a finished receiver for now, and he’s on a P.R. blitz now, trying to diminish talk out of Cleveland that he is a diva with a troublesome entourage.

This is a difficult choice because i know Maclin but have never spent any time with Crabtree to assess his so-called character questions. But on tape, Crabtree is an absolute beast.

JEFF GORDON
Some teams have developed serious reservations about Crabtree — and not just because of his health. On the other hand, Maclin is a small guy with a lengthy injury history. So this is a bit of a toss up. I’ll pick Crabtree for the bigger impact, because size matters in the NFL. He is a playmaker. As long as he stays away from the Detroit Lions, he should be fine.

BILL COATS
I’ll take Maclin, and not just for his value as a return man. He has a great attitude and has shown a willingness to hone his craft. Crabtree, on the other hand, might be held back by his massive ego, which has turned off some NFL personnel folks. Stepping up to the NFL level never is easy, no matter your college resume, and those who realize that usually have the best outcomes.

VAHE GREGORIAN
Maclin is more versatile and slightly faster, but Crabtree is a notch taller (6-3 to 6-1), catches the ball better in traffic and appears stronger and more durable. I don’t think Maclin could have made the play Crabtree made to beat Texas, though I don’t think Crabtree can separate from crowds like Maclin can. Each should be a really good pro, but gut feeling is Crabtree will be more decorated by the end of his career.

GERRY FRALEY
Jeremy Maclin could be the next Eric Metcalf: a speed-first hybrid player who made a mark as a receiver and a kick returner. Metcalf made three Pro Bowl appearances in a 14-year NFL career.

Michael Crabtree could be the next Michael Irvin: a bull-rusher of a wide receiver who overpowered defenders during a Hall of Fame career.

At 6 feet 3 and 215 pounds, Crabtree has a significant size and strength advantage over Maclin. Crabtree will have an easier time getting off the line against press coverage and will get to more throws because of a longer wingspan. Crabtree will win most one-on-one battles for a ball.

Maclin will be a quality NFL player. Crabtree will be a dominant force.

KATHLEEN NELSON
Whoever stays healthier will have a longer-lasting impact. Crabtree is the better route runner and is believed to have better hands. Maclin is more versatile, but could get pigeon-holed as a return guy, unless he improves his route-running. Give the edge to Maclin if he improves in that area.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Most have assumed the Rams would grab either an offensive tackle like Eugene Monroe or linebacker Aaron Curry with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. However, with last week’s release of Orlando Pace and Torry Holt, the team is down to just three young WRs and face a draft class with a lot of talent at the top of the WR pool? Which direction do you believe this team needs to go in the draft: Offensive tackle, linebacker or wide receiver?

JIM THOMAS
Tackle. Tackle. Tackle. Alex Barron is the only player currently on the roster with substantial experience at the position. And his contract expires after this season. Assuming that he can make a seamless transition to left tackle and Jacob Bell can step right in at right tackle without a hitch goes a couple of steps beyond optimism.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Good question. I am planning to write a column on this subject. More than anything the Rams can’t afford to be prisoners of need. They have a new GM and coaching staff in place. This is the beginning of an era. This is the start of something new, and hopefully it will be built to last. The Rams have to draft with the next 10 years in mind. They can’t worry about immediate needs. They have to go with the player who will best help them win over the long haul. So I don’t care who they draft in terms of position. They have to rely on their scouting and trust the grades they give each prospect. If the top grade conclusively belongs to Aaron Curry, then draft the LB. The same principle applies to OT, WR or even QB. Trust your scouting. Go with the best player and you won’t go wrong.

BRYAN BURWELL
If only we could see what the Rams draft board looked like, it would make this an easier task. But I think you build your team from the offensive line because the ability to run and protect the quarterback is the most important key to having a functional offense. Go with a tackle in the first round, and I’d be tempted to get a block-out-the-sun guard like Duke Robinson in the second round if he’s the best player available, too.

BILL COATS
If the Lions don’t take Curry with the No. 1 pick, he’d be my choice. Otherwise, I’d target the offensive line. It’s so important, and the Rams really need to beef things up there. I don’t want to say wide receivers are a dime a dozen, but the Rams will be able to fill out that position without much difficulty.

JEFF GORDON
It appears that Curry is a cornerstone defensive player. Since Steve Spagnuolo wants to rebuild the Rams around its ground game and defense, Curry would be a great get. Crabtree is an attractive option, too, since he appears head and shoulders above the other WR prospects. There are lots of good tackles in this draft, but its debatable whether any merit a No. 2 overall pick and the huge money that comes with it.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
I like the “best player available” theory. If the Lions take anyone not named Aaron Curry, the Wake Forest linebacker would be my selection. I’ve heard far too many NFL scouting types refer to Curry as the “cleanest” player on the board to think about passing him by, plus linebacker is an area of significant need.

Also of note, the offensive line and wide receiver positions are deeper in this year’s draft. There are several receivers that could be available at the top of the second round who are attractive to teams looking for bigger receivers. I’m a particular fan of Brian Robiskie of Ohio State — he’s got size (6’3”), good hands and great football sense.

Offensive tackles Eugene Monroe and Jason Smith are excellent prospects but they’re not “the next big thing” at their position. Taking one of them at No. 2 would be fine with me as they seem to be solid players and people but neither is at the level Orlando Pace was coming out of college. Heck, a couple of months ago Andre Smith was viewed by many as the top tackle in this year’s draft class.

Ideally the team would add a little more free agent depth so they could follow the “best player available” strategy.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND NOTES

CUTLER DESERVED BETTER: Sure, QB Jay Cutler may be a little over-sensitive right now about his situation in Denver, but coming off a Pro Bowl year, who can blame the guy for being upset after finding out his new head coach was trying to make backroom deals to ship him off for another (and in my opinion, inferior) quarterback in Matt Cassell? Perhaps this is what happens when you hire a 32-year-old wunderkind offensive coordinator to be your head coach, as it appears Josh McDaniels poked a stick in a beehive he has no hope of containing at this point. Cutler has now requested a trade and the Broncos may be left to move on with Chris Simms at QB, an underachieving sort who hasn’t thrown an NFL pass in two years. If I were a Bronco fan, I’d be spitting mad at McDaniels and team owner Pat Bowlen, who sat back and allowed this all to happen.

While some Denver columnists are pointing out there is plenty of blame to go around in this mess, the Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla says “good riddance” to Cutler today. I think he’s delusional, but that’s essentially his stance. He offers up three QBs he somehow thinks the Broncos can get now that will outperform Cutler. Good luck with that. You can check out Kiszla’s column here.

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SOMETHING TO PONDER

BLUES FACE BIG WEEK: Heading to western Canada for a three-game road trip is never an easy task, but it’s one the Blues must face head-on this week. So far in recent weeks, this young Blues team has been up to the challenges it’s faced. Last week’s homestand featuring games against Dallas, San Jose, Detroit and Minnesota was vital before this team hit the road. The Blues came away with six of a possible eight points … very respectable. Canada can be a tough place to play for road teams given the raucous Canuck crowds, and the 9 p.m. starts can be tough on a team that is normally finishing up games by about 10 p.m. here in St. Louis. But the Blues must once again find a way to get two out of these three games — and it must start tonight in Edmonton. You just don’t want to start this road trip with a loss.

Coach Andy Murray has done a commendable job keeping the club focused solely on the game in front of them. If the team is able to do that tonight, and get out to a quick start, they should pocket the points this evening. And then it’s on to Vancouver …

Regardless, who among you would have believed near the end of December this team would be sitting just one point out of the playoffs on St. Patrick’s Day?

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ON THIS DATE

March 17, 2005 — Mark McGwire goes before a Congressinal committee and repeatedly tells them, “I’m not here to talk about the past.” They are words that will live in infamy in baseball lore, and have permanently damaged McGwire’s reputation among most of the sporting public. In fact, that performance is the likely catalyst for keeping McGwire out of the Hall of Fame.

Hard to believe it’s been four years already since that testimony. Time flies.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: With Drew Bennett already cut and now Torry Holt asking for his release, how early do you see the St. Louis Rams targeting a wide receiver in this year’s draft? Are there still quality options after Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin are gone, or will the Rams have to consider striking early for a quality WR?

JIM THOMAS
Let’s see what the rest of free agency brings, but there aren’t really many options left, at least younger ones. As for the draft, the problem with taking a wide receiver at No. 2 overall is that you still need an offensive tackle. If the Rams opt for a receiver at the top of the second round, Kenny Britt of Rutgers and Brian Robiskie of Ohio State are possibilities.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Barring a trade or free-agent signing, the Rams will have to make WR a priority in the draft. If they don’t go for Jeremy Maclin or Michael Crabtree in the first round — hopefully after trading down — they’ll have to take a hard look at WR in Round 2. But they can’t pass on a better player at another position. They can’t force it. Finding a taller more physical receiver might have to wait for next year’s wish list.

JEFF GORDON
Crabtree is an option, of course, but LB Aaron Curry looks like a great pick for the defensive side — and you have to believe Spags will push for him. The Rams are going to run a ground-control offense. This will be a run-first team. Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton both have nice upsides. The free-agent wide receiver pool isn’t great, but the Rams ought to at least add depth with a veteran and then pick somebody later in the draft for more depth.

KATHLEEN NELSON
I think the Rams first might try to get one of the geezer wideouts to provide a little stability. Drafting a first-rounder and throwing him immediately into the fire would be unfair to the draftee. Remember when the Rams drafted Torry Holt? Isaac Bruce was the man, and Holt had a role model from whom to learn. I wonder how Torry would have fared as the undisputed No. 1. I’d bet not as well as he did; Bruce took the pressure off Holt

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

HOLT AMONG GAME’S ELITE? I heard a ridiculous discussion on the radio last night about whether or not Torry Holt was one of the game’s “great” receivers during his time in the league. Are you kidding me? As Jim Thomas pointed out in his story today, Holt, the No. 6 overall pick in the 1999 draft, has caught more passes (817) for more yards (11,872) than any receiver in the NFL this decade. Need more perspective … Thomas provided it. Over Holt’s 10-year career, his average of 80.1 yards per game is the highest for any WR in league history. At the age of 32, Holt is 11th overall in career receptions (869) and 14th in career receiving yards (12,660). It’s guaranteed he’ll continue to build on those career numbers and move on up the list.

Anyone who looks at those numbers and doesn’t believe Torry Holt has been one of the league’s elite receivers over the last decade should just stop watching football. Right now. Turn it off. Watch rugby.

Now, with that said, it’s hard to say if the Rams would be making a mistake to cut Holt now. He is coming off his worst season ever. But generally speaking, WRs don’t necessarily deteriorate at the age-30 plateau as quickly as, say, RBs. Many WRs continue to put up decent numbers into their mid-30s. And how many of Holt’s reduced numbers in 2008 were a product of him losing a step, and how many of them were the product of a completely dysfunctional offense where the QB spent more time on his back than on his feet?

There are no easy answers here, and I believe Holt has played his last game as a Ram. But rather than celebrating his departure, I think Rams fans should celebrate all he gave this team for 10 years. Other than grumbling a bit at the end of last season as he was worked out of the offense, Holt was always a classy guy. There is no arguing the production he put up while here.

IT ALL STARTED WITH MADONNA: Long before the steroid revelations and the tearful apologies, I told you the A-Rod kingdom would fall sooner than expected … and it was because of the bad mojo he brought on himself for dating Madonna. Now, just days after saying A-Rod had a cyst on his hip that needed to be checked out, ESPN is reporting that Rodriguez needs surgery and will be out up to 10 weeks. This is the same cyst that earlier this week Yankees manager Joe Girardi said A-Rod had played with all last season. Of course, ESPN doesn’t have the news nailed down yet, and they are sourcing the story completely on something A-Rod’s brother said. So we’ll have to wait and see what’s really going on here.

I’m just thinking out loud here, but if I had a relationship with Madonna and I had a “cyst” on my hip, I’d be asking doctors to do all kinds of tests on that thing to find out exactly what it is. I’m just sayin’.

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SOMETHING TO PONDER

CAN YOU IMAGINE? So we’re sitting here in the office this morning discussing Terrell Owen’s divorce from the Dallas Cowboys. Trouble has followed T.O. everywhere he’s been, like Schleprock in the Flintstones who always walked around with the dark cloud over his head. That said, his prolific numbers keep teams coming back for more. Which team, we wondered, would take a chance on T.O. My first thought was crazy Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders … but with a young coach and young QB, that might be too much for even the Raiders. And then this was mentioned: How about the Patriots? Holy cow, can you imagine the knocking knees of DBs if you were facing a Patriots offense with T.O. lined up on one side of the field and Randy Moss on the other … and with Tom Brady throwing them the ball. Unstoppable … on the field, at least. But chances are they’d never get that far as T.O. and Moss would likely implode the Patriots before mini-camps were even completed. Still, it’s an interesting thought and Patriots coach Bill Belichick has a record of making guys buy into team first … who knows.

Regardless, according to the Dallas Morning News this morning, Terrell Owens had to go. Some interesting thoughts considering how vital he was thought to be to the Cowboys and QB Tony Romo just a short while ago.

Just curious, if Torry Holt were to be released, would any Rams fans like to see T.O. end up in St. Louis?

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

MARCH 5, 1973 — New York Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich announce that they have traded wives, kids and dogs. While Peterson eventually marries the former Susanne Kekich, Marilyn Peterson and Kekich soon part. (Source: “This Day in Baseball” by David Nemec and Scott Flatlow)

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin reportedly is moving quickly up many draft boards. Maclin plans to run this weekend at the NFL Combine. He’ll likely work out before scouts at a pro day at Mizzou. Given his rising stock, where do you see Maclin being selected in the NFL draft?

JIM THOMAS
Maclin is widely considered the second-best wide receiver in the draft behind Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech. It now looks like he will be taken in the top 10. There’s no substitute for speed. Al Davis has believed this for decades. That’s why Maclin will go to Oakland with the No. 7 overall pick. Just throw deep, baby.

BILL COATS
Maclin is a two-headed monster: an accomplished wide receiver as well as a dangerous return man. The Rams could use both, but probably will use the No. 2 overall pick to address more pressing needs. So, my guess is that the Raiders, who also need a wideout and a returner, grab Maclin with the seventh pick in the first round.

KATHLEEN NELSON
The Jets could use a QB and a fast receiver. QBs like Mark Sanchez and Matt Stafford should be long gone by the time the Jets pick. That leaves Maclin to the Jets at No. 17.

STU DURANDO
The consensus seems to be Oakland at No. 7 and that makes sense considering the Raiders’ lack of receivers. Now, if they can move up to get Michael Crabtree or if Crabtree miraculously falls that far, Maclin will drop, maybe to the Jets at No. 17. And because I cover Illinois football, I’ll add that cornerback Vontae Davis is also a projected first-rounder and could climb as high as Green Bay at No. 9.

TOM TIMMERMANN
Maclin is not going to be taken ahead of Michael Crabtree. And the teams that are willing to take receivers in the first round is limited. Still, there are the Oakland Raiders sitting there with the No. 7 pick, and the Raiders love to take guys who can go deep. Of course, who knows what the Raiders will do? So look for him there. If not, he may drop a bit.

JEFF GORDON
With Michael Crabtree losing stock value, Maclin could easily become a Top Ten pick in this draft. The Packers need help at receiver and Pro Football Talk’s mock draft has North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks going to Green Bay at No. 9. That seems like a reach, based on earlier assessments of Nicks. Maclin has to be a better pick there, right? Right?

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
How about the No. 7 pick to the Oakland Raiders? Al Davis loves game breakers, loves the deep ball, and needs someone who can bring that element to his team in ’09. The top two receivers on the Raiders’ depth chart right now, according to their own Web site, are Javon Walker (15 catches for 196 yards in ’08) and Ronald Curry (19 catches and 189 yards in ’08).

Even if they sign a big name free agent, Maclin still makes sense as a game changer who can stretch the field and also make the Raiders return game more dynamic. JaMarcus Russell needs receivers and Maclin will be the best on the board after the Seahawks take Michael Crabtree with the 4th pick. Maclin’s speed and explosiveness just scream, “Draft me, Mr. Davis!”

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

I AM TIGER WOODS: “I’m now ready to play again.” And with those six words from Tiger Woods, golf tournament organizers and their sponsors began cheering from the mountaintops. Woods made the announcement yesterday that he will play in next week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play. The return of Woods will get the cash flowing at tournaments and for television advertising … geez, I’m thinking this one man might just save the whole economy from pending doom. Perhaps the late-Earl Woods was right when he predicted his son would do more than change golf, but that he would change the world.

Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times apparently seems to agree. The headline on his column today reads, “Tiger Woods’ comeback is bigger than the game.”

IT’S NOT OVER YET: It looks like the Alex Rodriguez steroids saga is not over, and it may just be beginning. According to a report in today’s New York Daily News, A-Rod has had a longstanding relationship with a steroid-linked trainer. The Daily News says that Angel Presinal was banned from private areas of every MLB ballpark after an October 2001 incident involving an unmarked gym bag full of steroids, but that he has been close to A-Rod dating back to his time with the Rangers. A-Rod has said he only used from 2001-03, but a source tells the Daily News that “Presinal accompanied A-Rod for the entire 2007 season, staying in the same hotel as the A.L. MVP, but in a separate room with the “cousin” Rodriguez pegged three days ago as his steroid source from 2001-03.”

So do you believe A-Rod when he says he only used steroids from 2001-03? Stay tuned. It ain’t over ’til it’s over.

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THINGS TO PONDER

THE WALTZ OF WALT: I was glad to see Keith Tkachuk get the game-winner in overtime last night. And he did it in his traditional style … planted in front of the net. “Big Walt” just doesn’t seem to get the respect he deserves in this town. It seems so many folks mention him first when discussing the trade deadline. Tkachuk has 18 goals and 17 assists this season for a total of 35 points. That’s good enough for a three-way tie as the team’s second-leader scorer (Patrik Berglund and David Perron also have 35 points), with only Brad Boyes’ 50 points coming in higher.

I’m not sure why fans in St. Louis wouldn’t want Tkachuk to stick around for another season or two — his veteran presence in the locker room has to help all the Baby Blues. And it’s not like he’s not putting up any numbers. Unless they can get a first-round pick for Tkachuk — which I don’t think the Blues can right now — I hope to see him back on the ice for the club next season.

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ON THIS DATE

FEB 20, 1953 — Anheuser-Busch buys all but seven shares of St. Louis Cardinals stock from recently imprisoned owner Fred Saigh and installs August A. Busch Jr. as club president. (Source: “This Day in Baseball”)

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Things may change depending on what the team does in free agency, but if you were drafting for the Rams today whom would you take with the No. 2 overall pick?

JIM THOMAS
Orlando Pace is nearing the end of his great career. Alex Barron has been an underachiever and is entering the last year of his contract. You’ve got to go tackle. Of the top three prospects, Eugene Monroe of Virginia is the safest pick.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Wow, this is a tough one, and the circumstances will change many times between now and the draft. But as we sit here today, my thought would be to spend money on a good free-agent offensive tackle instead of drafting one. And with the 2nd pick, I would take Texas Tech wideout Michael Crabtree. Torry Holt has slowed down. And the kids, Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton, aren’t big, physical receivers. The Rams have a real need in that area, a receiver who can win the tough battles for the football down in the red zone. Crabtree has that ability. I reserve the right to change my mind, but right now I’d go with Crabtree.

BILL COATS
The Rams have plenty of needs, with the offensive line at the top of the list. So, my pick is Virginia tackle Eugene Monroe. He would give new coach Steve Spagnuolo some nice flexibility in a most vital area.

KATHLEEN NELSON
Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia: OK, so he lost the Outland Trophy to Andre Smith. Scouts seem to think Monroe’s a bit more seasoned. Smith is skipping his senior year, so I wonder about his maturity, especially since he or his people had improper contact with an agent. The Rams need a lot of help on the offensive line, and they won’t want to wait for a tackle to grow up. Monroe seems likely to be ready sooner.

JEFF GORDON
Perhaps the best strategy is trading down to take a tackle later in the first round — perhaps Eugene Monroe of Virginia. Of course, many teams are looking to deal down in this draft. Other teams are looking to sacrifice quality for quantity of picks because the top of this draft looks iffy. If a trade-down is impossible, then Alabama tackle Andre Smith looks like a nice building block for a power running game.

GERRY FRALEY
In the NFL, the name of the game is get to the other guy’s quarterback. Of the top 12 teams for sacks during the regular season, nine reached the playoffs. The Super Bowl teams, Arizona and Pittsburgh, each have seven sacks in the post-season. Arizona did it in three games, one more than Pittsburgh.

New Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo learned that approach when he worked with Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and took it with him to the New York Giants. In the last two seasons, with Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator, the Giants had the second-highest sacks total in the NFL with 95. Dallas led with 105. The Giants’ sacks total does not reflect the mind-sapping beating Spagnoalo’s defense put on quarterbacks. (The Rams had 61 sacks in that span and rarely made life difficult on an opposing quarterback.)

There are several defensive front-seven players with strong pass-rushing skills: Florida State’s Everette Brown, Georgia Tech’s Michael Johnson and Texas’ Brian Orakpo. The Rams will be tempted to go with an offensive lineman such as Alabama tackle Andre Smith, but they would be better served with a pass rusher.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

THINKING OUT LOUD: Last season the St. Louis Cardinals were able to pick up starting pitcher Kyle Lohse on the cheap late in the spring, and the gamble paid off as Lohse went on to post career bests in wins (15) and ERA (3.78), while also logging 200 innings pitched (second-highest innings in his career.) Lohse now is cited as a prime example for why the Cardinals should wait on this year’s free agent market, with the assumption being the team can find a similar arm later.

What hasn’t been discussed is this: With so many teams this year (teams not named Yankees, Red Sox or Angels) saying they are going to wait a while for the free agent market to establish itself, doesn’t that mean there is likely going to be more competition to gobble up free agent pitchers come springtime? And if you’ve got the vast majority of teams sitting and waiting, isn’t that going to push the prices up for these pitchers once the feedy frenzy starts? Who’s going to be caught without a chair when the music stops? Just seems like a gamble.

Perhaps now is the ideal time to strike … the eye of the storm so to speak. Big dollars have been ponied-up for the top-tier guys and a couple of quality arms like Brad Penny and John Smoltz have been claimed on the cheap. It seems the first wave has passed. Why wait until there’s blood in the water in March as team’s scramble to fill out rotations … move now while prices for guys like Penny and Smoltz have been suppressed … don’t wait until the dollars start jumping again.

That’s my two cents.

TROUBLE IN PARADISE: Say it ain’t so, Joe? Apparently it is. According to the New York Daily News, former Yankees manager Joe Torre takes a number of his former colleagues and players with the Yankees to task in a new book to be released next month. This from the Daily News: “Torre describes general manager Brian Cashman as a less than supportive ally who betrayed him on several fronts, and says that his star player, Alex Rodriguez, was often referred to by his teammates as “A-Fraud” and was obsessed with his perceived rival, shortstop Derek Jeter.”

Ouch. I guess Torre is still irked about the “incentives-laden” deal the Yanks offered him to return as manager last year. I can’t wait until Torre’s tenure as Dodgers manager comes to an end so we can hear what he has to say about Manny Ramirez.

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THINGS TO PONDER

GETTING THE WARNER TREATMENT: Prior to this season, Chargers’ RB LaDainian Tomlinson had been the best RB in the game the last three or four years, hands down. This season, at age 29, Tomlinson battled injuries and put up the lowest numbers since his rookie season — rushing for 1,135 yards and 12 TDs (he tacked on another 426 yards receiving with 1 TD).

I know that LT will turn 30 in June and that’s a flashpoint for many RBs, but we’re talking about a guy that just put up 1,500 total yards and 13 TDs … while playing through injuries. And now there is a major rift between Tomlinson and Chargers’ GM A.J. Smith concerning Tomlinson’s future in San Diego. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, players have expressed consternation over comments made by Smith in which he was interpreted as mocking the star running back.

Sound familiar St. Louis? Let’s see if the Chargers end up running LT out of town … and how much they regret it later if they do.

IS IT SAFE ANYWHERE? It was tragic news Friday night when a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed outside a girls’ basketball game at Cahokia High School. “I think it should be a wake-up call for people in the area who have children in high school that this is not a game,” Maj. John Lakin of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department told the Post-Dispatch. “Kids are losing their lives over senseless things, and we need to warn our children.”

The city of Chicago is dealing with such dangers in a drastic way. New rules will keep the doors to the gyms shut for many in an effort to reduce violence within the Chicago Public League. Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune writes, “It’s hard to be hopeful about the future when fights break out in the stands or a player gets shot after a game. … But emptying the gyms is not the answer, unless we’d prefer to teach kids that the only way to deal with problems is by running from them.”

Senseless violence leaves us all scratching our heads. If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where high school sports are still all popcorn and pom-poms, consider yourself lucky. Imagine having to worrry about your child competing in, or attending, a high school sporting event where by merely showing up they are put in harm’s way.

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STAT OF THE DAY

551 — Most consecutive games played by an NHL goalie (including playoffs). The feat was accomplished by Blachawks netminder Glenn Hall from the 1955-56 season through the 1962-63 season. More astounding, Hall accomplished the feat in an era when goalies did not wear masks. Many consider this to be hockey’s most unbreakable record. (SOURCE: Hockey’s Top 100: The game’s greatest records)

* Hall was left unprotected for the 1967 NHL expansion draft, despite the fact he had won the Vezina Trophy earlier that season. He was snatched up by the St. Louis Blues and led them to the Stanley Cup finals in their expansion season, where they were swept 4-0 by the Montreal Canadiens. Despite being swept, Hall’s play still led to him being selected as the Stanley Cup MVP for the series. (The Blues returned to the Finals the following two seasons, losing 4-0 to Montreal in 1969 and 4-0 to Boston in 1970.)

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”)