goldhorns: Hi Gordo,
I hear all the time that you draft BPA and not for need in the early rounds. Our biggest needs seem to be MLB, OT, WR, and a big DT. Depth is needed everywhere. Aaron Curry fills a need and is the majority choice as the BPA. Monroe has been red flagged by some teams for a left kneecap dislocation from 07 that still bothers him. (this according to Pro Football Weekly) Do you know where his health stands according to the Rams?? Also, any little tidbits of info pertaining to the team and/or the draft. Thanks alot and we appreciate your time. GO RAMS!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff Gordon: The Lions will make a decision in advance of the draft, since that team will want to get the first overall pick signed. As that team zeroes in on its guy, we'll learn more about the Rams' intentions. If Matthew Stafford goes first, then the Rams could go for Jason Smith -- who is the clear No. 1 at his position. As colleague Bernie Miklasz notes, the Rams ran Barron at LT and Goldberg at RT at mini-camp. That is not exacting "building from the lines out" as per Spags' philosophy.

If the Lions go Smith, then Curry appears to be the obvious choice.

Ray: Jeff:
If the opportunity presents, and Denver wants to move up to grab Sanchez, would you trade the No. 2 for Nos. 12 and 18?
Thanks

Jeff Gordon: Perhaps, but that would be quite the desperate act by Denver.

ncdc: Gordo,

1. Any word on how Justin King looked last week?

2. How about Culberson and Grant at SLB?

3. Was Bassey back at backup FS?

Thanks as usual!

Jeff Gordon: King has made a full recover, which is good news. He wasn't limited at all during the mini-camp. As for the player assessments, neither Spagnuolo nor Devaney had much to offer. Both reminded us that it is too early -- and that nothing at the mini-camp would impact the draft board.

kdw005: Would there be a scenario where the cards would skip or delay a start with Carpenter during the season to give his arm a break during the season after 2 years basically not pitching?

Jeff Gordon: He'll be watched carefully. They all will, in fact, since none have been immune to physical issues. Pitchers like to settle into a consistent pattern to build arm strength, but the lack of off-days during the early season could test that theory. This will be a grind. And most the starters came out of spring training needing to work deeper into games still.

Tackleberry: As a Cards fan it is hard to see these veteran outfielders (Abreu, Sheffield, etc.) taking one-year deals on contending teams and adding a bat, meanwhile the Cards have pushed their chips all in on an unproven rookie, two free swingers with great upside, and a player who has shown success before but remains a question mark. So if none of these guys produce like they can, what are they left with? Again, it seems like this organization has become a perennial gambler, choosing the "what if" over the "probably will." Outside of Albert & Yadi there are not a lot of proven commodities in that line-up.

Jeff Gordon: And the Tigers ate $14 million to make Sheffield go away. Why do you suppose they did that?

If Ankiel, Ludwick, Duncan and Rasmus all somehow fail, then the club could turn to Jon Jay, Allen Craig, Joe Mather, Brian Barton, Nick Stavinoha, Darryl Jones and Brett Wallace.

If all 11 of those guys fail, then perhaps the Cards management will regret passing in Abreu, Sheffield, et al.

Out of those 11, odds are the Cards will find four guys capable of putting up numbers.