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: What personnel area do you think the Rams most need to address this offseason?

JIM THOMAS
The Rams are set at punter and place-kicker. Everything else should be subject to review. But it all begins in the trenches, and with the exception of some decent pass blocking, the Rams showed nothing in the Arizona desert to change their major overriding need: Help on the offensive line. An offensive tackle — preferably one who can show up on time to team meetings — and a center should be a minimum requirement.

BILL COATS
Offensive tackle. Orlando Pace, 34, has been solid on the left side this season, but he’s showing signs of wear and tear. Alex Barron, the team’s first-round draft choice in 2005, is just an average right tackle. His contract is up after next season, and he probably won’t be back. The Rams need quality as well as quantity to shore up this vital position.

JEFF GORDON
I would start with offensive tackle, since elite prospects loom at that position at the top of the ’09 draft. Orlando Pace offers great risk with his age and injury history. As we saw this week, Alex Barron cannot be counted on. John Greco is better playing inside. Adam Goldberg is a fine back-up, but not a bulwark to build around. This is a difficult position to fill, so the Rams should make it the top priority.

BRYAN BURWELL
Anyone who has watched this sad offense bog down every week knows that the most glaring weakness is on the offensive line. Until they can put together a unit that can control the line of scrimmage, this team will continue to struggle.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Those guys are the experts, so who am I to argue? I know it all starts up front, but there’s just nothing sexy about an offensive lineman. Where are the “skill” position players? The Rams need those, too. I’d start with a young QB to build around … Georgia’s Matt Stafford or Florida’s Tim Tebow, anyone? Or maybe Sam Bradford, he looked pretty good last week against Mizzou — though I guess having 10 seconds or so in the pocket every snap helped. (By the way, my call for the “skill” positions probably shows why I’d be about as successful as Matt Millen as a GM.)

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

MADDUX HANGS THEM UP: Pitcher Greg Maddux announced his retirement Monday after 23 seasons and 355 victories (one more than Roger Clemens, by the way.) In his illustrious career, Maddux won four consecutive Cy Young awards from 1992-95 and made 8 All-Star appearances. Known more for his pinpoint precision than his power, Maddux also collected 18 Gold Gloves in his career. No surprise here, but Derrick Goold says, “There is a place in Cooperstown already reserved for Maddux. He’ll be in almost the moment he’s eligible.”

IT AIN’T SO FOR JOE: Fan favorites Joe Torre and Ron Santo did not receive the votes necessary from the Veterans Committee to be included in this year’s National Baseball Hall of Fame class. There were two different committees voting this year, one charged with voting on players that played pre-1943 and another on players who played post-1942. Joe Gordon, a nine-time All-Star second baseman for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians and an American League MVP (pre-1943), was the only candidate elected.

A look at the voting for those players who played post-1942 (48 votes needed):
Ron Santo - 39
Jim Kaat - 38
Tony Oliva - 33
Gil Hodges - 28
Joe Torre - 19
Maury Wills - 15
Luis Tiant - 13
Vada Pinson - 12
Al Oliver - 9
Dick Allen - 7

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A FEW THINGS TO PONDER

PLAXICO SHOULD’VE USED ANOTHER WEAPON … HIS BRAIN: Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp points out that NFL players are justifiably fearful for their safety because they are targets. He cites a number of incidents in the last year alone, including: the murder of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, Jacksonville offensive lineman Richard Collier losing a leg and being paralyzed after being shot 14 times, Oakland receiver Javon Walker beaten senseless in a robbery. And there are other examples. Sharp points out that athletes have the same right of self-defense as the general public, but he says the strongest defense rests with what lies between their ears rather than what they’re possibly packing in their pants.

THAT’S A BUMMER: I was hoping to get my first live glimpse of the Baby Blues playing together at tonight’s game vs. Nashville. But Tom Timmermann is reporting this morning that T.J. Oshie will not play. The exact nature of Oshie’s latest injury has not yet been disclosed, but he was injured during Saturday night’s game vs. Phoenix. Stay tuned for details.

TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES: The Associated Press has put out its annual ballot for newspaper editors to vote on the top male athletes of the year. Following is the list of candidates for 2008:
• Michael Phelps
• Eli Manning
• Kobe Bryant
• Padraig Harrington
• Lewis Hamilton
• Jimmie Johnson
• Rafael Nadal
• Usain Bolt
• Francisco Rodriguez
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Bode Miller

Is Michael Phelps the runaway winner here? I was pretty captivated by Usain Bolt during the Olympics, too. And, man, what a year K-Rod had. Who would you cast your vote for?

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STAT OF THE DAY

21 — Seasons Jerry Sloan has been the head coach of the Utah Jazz. The other 29 NBA franchises have made 222 coaching changes since Sloan became coach. Sloan is the longest-tenured coach with one team in the four major sports, according to the Associated Press. Leaders in the other sports include Bobby Cox of the Atlanta Braves who has completed 19 seasons, Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans who is in his 15th and Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres who is in his 12th.

Amazing feat … living 21 years in Utah, that is. (I jest. I jest.)