Gabriel to Snow: Gordo, with NFL salaries getting beyond stupid in their scale, I am wondering why the Rams are signing players that have potential upside to one year deals. If Romberg for instance, plays well in 08, we can't trade him in 09 & we can't play him without a major salary increase. If he stinks, we lose, if he plays well we pay or lose him. Does this 1 yr stuff have anything to do with the potential for a new CBA in the near future? If not, I don't get not securing rights to players who are inexpensive coming off injury or down years for 2 or 3 years when you don't have to risk huge guarantees. They can always be cut. What am I missing here?

Jeff Gordon: Interesting question. To give a multi-year deal, a team has to offer some guaranteed dough in the form of a bonus. That bonus has cap implications. The Rams only wanted to give Chillar a one-year deal. The Packers were willing to invest some cap dollars in him with a two-year deal. As for Romberg, I suppose the Rams view him as a stopgap player. In any given year, the average NFL team turns over at least a third of its players -- so many guys fall in that category.

Mark: Hey Jeff

As Spygate drags on, I have to wonder if the tenuous relationship with the Georgia-led Rams and the NFL over the years is effecting the slowness of the, er, investigation. Do you think the NFL would be responding to this controversy differently if it involved one of the old-guard, good-ol-boy teams like the Steelers or Giants? I'm convinced that the fact that the Rams might have been the primary victim here has not helped move this case along.

Jeff Gordon: The NFL will never bend over backward to help the Rams, that's for sure. But part of this must be the overall desire to let the controversy settle down a bit. The further we get into the off-season, the easier it will be for the NFL to minimize its PR hit if this Walsh character has really embarrassing stuff.

Gabriel to Snow: Gordo, any chance we re-work the contract of James Hall if we fail to bolster the end position? Also, Devaney made some comments that seem to indicate Browns corner spot will be left to Wade & Bartell if Fakir can't go. Devaney seems to have a little more confidence in Wade than most. How comfortable should we be with Maklin, Bartell & Wade if Brown is suspended?

Jeff Gordon: Wade can run, but he was sure raw last season. The Rams expected him to face a steep learning curve, but the team was forced to play him because of their assorted problems. As for Hall, he was always a fall-back option at the right price. Haslett liked him well enough, but Hall was hobbled all year -- adding to his unfortunate injury pattern.

DAVE COBLER: Hey Gordo;
With the exception of the Isturis signing, I think MO has made great moves to reshape the Cardinals given the team he inherited with the clubhouse climate such as it was. I understand Cardinal management believes Isturis can play SS, so I can live with that. However, if he does not perform and Ryan (lets say) gets INJURED, do you see a trade happening to acquire a SS for one of our young outfielders (especially since Rasmus is coming to play)and or a pitcher(s)?

Thank you Jeff!! Your time is VERY much appreciated. It is fun to read what other cards fans are thinking and to get the news from the sportswriters whose job it is to know thier stuff so us fans can be clued in. These chats are wonderful for us sports fans.

Jeff Gordon: La Russa is backing Izturis to the hilt, but fans should be very skeptical about his signing. TLR also frets about Ryan's unsteadiness at short. But if the kid can settle down, he could become the answer. If he doesn't settle down, then, yes, the Cards will have to shop for a longer term answer. And they will have trade chips soon enough.

Bob: It's a little distressing to read most of the press picking the Cardinals as bottom dwellers. I don't see it. I bet the
'Birds surprise a few people and compete for the Central.

Jeff Gordon: I like Milwaukee to win it and the Cubs to push for the wild-card, but I'd be surprised if the Cards are as bad as experts predict. IF Albert's elbow blows and IF Carpenter fails to return then, yes, they could finish 30 games below .500. But consider this: How will the Glaus/Ankiel HR/RBI totals compare to Rolen/Edmonds in 2007?