dominic: Hey Jim:
1)I dont know how much he has left,but if you offer a 2 year contract,does Grady Jackson excite you as a stopgap runstuffer until we can find and groom one?
2)And will you be going to the Scouting Combine later this month?
3)Who do you think will make the tough calls to release high-priced veterans on this team?
See ya next week!

Jim Thomas: 1.) It's at least worth exploring. Under the old regime (Haslett), the thought was they needed a run-stopping wide body to be part of the rotation. They weren't necessarily looking for a star.
2.) Yes, I'll be at the combine.
3.) It will be a combination of Devaney and Spagnuolo.

ctramsfan: Jim, any news on the free agent market? Do you know of anyone the Rams may be targeting?

Thanks for your time.

Jim Thomas: Quiet here so far. Spagnuolo is just putting the finishing touches on his staff. And then I'm sure he'll switch over to personnel. Now that Demoff is in place as the cap guy, the negotiations will start with the Rams own free agents. (Bartell, Atogwe, etc.) Late last week, Devaney started doing some free agent work.

ctramsfan: Jim, have the Rams made any attempt to begin nogotiations with Bartell or Atogwe? These guys are two valuable centerpieces of this defense and the Rams can't afford to lose them. Seriously don't make the same mistake as you did with London Fletcher, Dre Bly, Ryan Pickett, Ryan Tucker, etc.

Thanks for your time.

Jim Thomas: As I mentioned, with Demoff in place as the cap guys, I'm sure negotiations will get rolling. I agree with you on Bartell and Atogwe. They are two ascending players, they are rare draft picks that hit, and the key to personnel is to start by keeping your own core players.

Team First!!!: First let me say thanks for answering our questions.

Any updates on Setterstroms health? And do you think Spags will give him a shot at the starting LG spot due to Bells weight loss and overall poor play? Devaney did say he wants to get bigger and Setterstrom is a monster. When do you think Spags will actually meet with the entire team for the first time?

Jim Thomas: No update on Setterstrom. Some players come in for treatment or to workout, but it's pretty quiet around here at this point in terms of players being around. If Setterstrom's healthy, I'm sure he'll have the chance to show his stuff in training camp. I wouldn't say Bell played poorly, he actually was better over the last half of the season. And Bell plans to add some pounds in the offseason. But if Setterstrom is healthy, then I think you have four good options for the guard position with Bell, Incognito (assuming he's tendered as a restricted free agent and returns), Bell, and Greco. The problem then becomes center.
I don't think Spagnuolo will meet with the team until the offseason conditioning program _ at the earliest. And because those workouts technically are "voluntary," he may not even be allowed to by league rule. But they get an extra minicamp _ three _ since he's a new head coach with the Rams, so at the very latest it'll be the first minicamp.

vanvaley1: Why all the talk about getting a wide receiver and/or QB when it won't do any good if the quarterback in kissing the turf because there's no sustained effort by the offensive line to protect the QB?

Jim Thomas: Well, to me that's the issue. To me, the Rams need a new starting center and a new starting tackle at a minimum for the line next season. I don't know if you saw the stat during the Super Bowl, but Bulger has been sacked something like 190 times over the past five seasons, the second-highest total in the league over that period. So it starts there. And despite all the talk about "muscle ball" being the way to win in the NFL, Arizona is a passing team, and Pittsburgh certainly didn't run the ball much in the Super Bowl. If you can't pass the football, you're not going to win in the NFL. Now saying that, if the Rams sign a tackle or even a center in free agency, then why not consider Crabtree at No. 2 overall? Under that scenario, you could even re-sign Pace to a restructured contract and possibly even keep Barron as your No. 3 tackle. (His cap number isn't very high next season.)

wayne reed: Jim,
it feels like the Rams are in a hopeless situation for the immediate future. Icognito, Witherspoon, Carriker, Bell and Greco are all players whose best position is debatable. Klopfenstein and Leonard were horrible second round picks. Stafford or Sanchez may be the asnswer at QB but the Rams are stuck with Bulger's huge contract. I can't understand why fans feel the need to list which positions are a priority area. Every position is or should be up for grabs. The Rams first round pick should be the player they feel is most likely pro bowl caliber regardless of position. This notion that any particular position is set is ridiculous. The Rams defense has been very bad for a long time. Jackson is the only proven stud on offense. I feel better about Spags and Devaney than those fron the past but whew---where do you start?

Jim Thomas: I still start with the offensive line. But you're right. There are many needs, and it's not going to happen overnight. It will take a couple of good offseasons.

Tim: If the Rams are able to pick up Josh Brown to play Canter that would eliminate the need for Alex Mack. If that happens I think the Rams need to take Herman Johnson OG(6-7 386) and a nasty player from what a hear him and Grecco I think would be the best Guard duo in the league then if Gross hits FA snag him up we have a solid heavy line.
Gross Johnson Brown Grecco Bell. I would take that anyday

Jim Thomas: I'm assuming you need Jason Brown, the free agent center from Baltimore. He's 320 pounds _ about 30 pounds heavier than any center the Rams had last year, and an ascending player who's entering his second contract. (He's got four years in the league.) To me, these are the ideal free agents you should go after, not "names" who are already on the career decline by the time they get here. (Dexter Coakley, La'Roi Glover, even Corey Chavous to some degree. All high character, high-effort players, but all players the Rams signed one contract too late.)

Todd from Michigan: Hi Jim great job as always and thank you for your time.
Jim I have 2 questions for you. 1) I heard a lot of rumors regarding Matt Birk center for the Vikings, was wondering if it would cost us a third round pick or maybe someone like Tinosomoa.
2) I heard you on Bernie's show hint at something you heard on Torry Holt was wondering if it was for one of the Giants 2nd round picks.

Jim Thomas: 1.) Birk is scheduled for unrestricted free agency, so it won't cost anything to get him, except a lot of money!
2.) I probably shouldn't have teased the listeners. I'll try to elaborate on the Holt stuff sometime during the offseason.

Tim: What kind of contract do you thin Dunta Robinson will get 3 Yrs 18 mil sounds good to me. Do you think tha Rams will shoW interest?

Jim Thomas: I really don't know. I'll be curious to see if the dollars are thrown around like they are in the past because of the economy and becuase of the uncertainty on the NFL labor front.

Todd from Michigan: Hi Jim and thank you
Jim when you trade in the NFL don't you keep your players salary for the remainder of the year? Isn't this why we see more trades for draft picks then player for player because of the cap ramifications.

Jim Thomas: The cap ramifications for trading a player are the same as cutting him. Any unamortized signing bonus stays with the old team, and instead of being spread out over the length of the contract it all counts against the team's cap for the year that they traded him. Let's say a player signed a five-year contract that included a $10 million signing bonus. For cap purposes, the signing bonus counts $2 million against the cap for each of those five seasons. Now let's say he's traded prior to the second year of his deal. Well, the $2 million a year signing bonus cap charge for the remaining four years of the deal all counts on that year's cap _ $8 million _ once he's traded. It's call "acceleration." Don't know if I explained it well enough, but that's how it works. And it's what makes it hard to trade or cut players early into big contracts.

BE13.DROOPY: hey jim can you tell us what other coaching positions the rams still need to fill. Also what do you think about the things BD and SS have done so far as putting this organization back on track to win games. Also have you heard anything about trading players or who the rams are targeting in free agency

Jim Thomas: Here's the lineup:
OFFENSE
Coordinator--Pat Shurmur
QBs--Dick Curl
RBs--Sylvester Croom
WRs--Charlie Baggett
OL--Steve Loney and Art Valero
Frank Leonard is either the tight ends coach or quality control coach--
Assuming Leonard is the TEs coach, then the Rams just need a quality control coach
Overall quick assessment: A very experienced group.
DEFENSE
Coordinator--Ken Flajole
Defensive line--Brandon Daly
Linebackers--Paul Ferraro (I think--Ferraro was announced only as a defensive assistant)
Safeties--Andre Curtis (I think--he was announced only as a defensive assistant)
Cornerbacks--????
(Quick note: some teams split up the secondary this way, with one coach for corners, one for safeties)
Quality control--Matt House
Overall quick assessment: Not so experienced group. Assuming Spagnuolo will be more hands-on here.
SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR: Tom McMahon
STRENTGH & CONDITIONING: Rock Gullickson. (And possible assistant Chuck Faucette)
So overall it looks like the Rams need at most one more coach on offense, one more on defense, and an assistant strength coach.
As for your other question, really haven't heard anything substantive on trading players (some rumors that the team is floating Pace's and Holt's names) or free agency.

zn2003: Demoff sounds like a great hire, but there are some inconsistent descriptions of his duties which make it sound like he's more than just a caps guy serving under the GM (which is how most teams with empowered GMs slot the caps guy). If it's true that he reports independently to ownership on all business and football matters, then he isn't really a Devaney subordinate, but more like an equal. I wonder if it's smart to give a GM final say over the entire football side and then not let him be the exclusive voice speaking for his decisions to ownership (after all he takes the heat for his decisions, not the "liaison" if that's what the new guy is.) Also, giving the cap guy some independent say is not only not typical in the NFL, it has a bit of Zygmunt Lite to it (I am not talking about personalities, but about assigned roles: should cap guys have a say in personnel, or be advisors to the GM?). If any of that is accurate it strikes me as an unusual way to set up a front office, which normally has a strict and clear chain of command. I noticed before in Rams history that John Shaw set up shakey command structures that relied more on trusting the individuals involved than on structuring things so they would work efficiently (for example giving Armey, Martz, and Zygmunt equal say and equal votes in 2000, and we saw where that went). The issue isn't whether anyone can trust these guys (Demoff and Devaney) but whether that's a good organizational set-up (people will be people after all.) Out here in Readerland we don't have enough info, but based on the little I've read, it looks to me like they didn't want a team president but then couldn't do without some of the duties normally handled by a team president, so they assigned some of those duties to Demoff, in effect potentially making him an equal voice with Devaney. (Or more than an equal voice in some respects.) Or did they deliberately *intend* to have a double-headed set-up? But then as I said, nothing is clear about this, so it's hard to say. Your thoughts? Ideas? Insights? Revelations?

...

Jim Thomas: Obviously, the Killer Ds _ Demoff and Devaney _ must be able to work together, and work together closely, since Demoff does the contracts and Devaney handles the cap. But to be honest, I don't know where they stand on the organizational depth chart. Are they considered equals? Does Devaney report to Demoff? Or Demoff report to Devaney? I'll try to find out.
And just for all of you with Shaw-phobia, remember, Demoff is the son of Marvin Demoff, the longtime NFL agent. Marvin Demoff is a very, very good friend of John Shaw. But before you start spinning conspiracy theories, keep in mind, I think young Demoff is good. In fact, Jim Haslett was in favor of hiring him had Haslett gotten the job.

ramfandan: Ramfandan: Hi Jim ! Being a Ram PSL season ticket holder from Wisconsin, it sure was fun making frequent visits to Concordia U. training camp last summer.
Have you heard what the timetable might be in deciding if the Rams will be returning to Wisconsin this summer or hold camp in St.Louis ?
I thought the field facilities were first rate and the temperatures (Lake Michigan shoreline ) conducive to good workouts.

Jim Thomas: My sense is that the team will return to training in St. Louis. I too loved the set up at Concordia, and I think the players and coaches liked it up there, too.

Ed in Vancouver Canada: HELLO JIM;

will you be able to attain the scouting combine? And if so will you be able to get a 1-1 interview w/ Spags???

Jim Thomas: Sorry for the delay. We have had some computer problems with our blogs and chats today. Thanks for your patience. Yes, I will be attending the combine. And yes, I should have access to Spagnuolo there.

Jimmy: Hi Jim,

Since Spags is almost done shaping his staff, do you have any insight as to who he would want to bring in free agency? Or do you know what direction they'll go, whether it's offensive or defensive players.
Have you seen Aaron Curry play? Watched him a few times but I think he's more suited as an OLB instead of a MLB. What do you think?
And is there any truth that Holt will be traded to the Giants or any other team?

Thank You

Jim Thomas: No insights yet on Spags' thinking.
Haven't seen Curry play. Everything I'm told is that he's an outside linebacker.
There have been some rumors floating around on Holt, but so far, nothing more than that.

Sal: with the rams offensive line needing as many as three immediate starters (center, Right Gaurd, and Right Tackle,) and left tackle not too far behind. do you think the rams will dip into the free agent pool for starter help or more for 2nd tier talent and go to the draft for starters?

Also what value would the like of Holt, Barron, Looker hold on the pre draft trade Market? more choices=more chances. thanks for taking my questions.

Sal

Jim Thomas: It's tough enough for a rookie to start at any position in the NFL, so I would think it'd be asking a lot to get more than one starting offensive linemen out of the draft. So I think it's going to be some combination of the draft and free agency.
I would think there'd be some interest in Holt, less for Barron. As for Looker, he's an unrestricted free agent.

F. Mulder: Jim: Would you give you best guess regarding whether the following players will still be on the Rams at the start of the season?

Holt
Pace
Barron
Cogs
Atogwe
Bartell

Jim Thomas: This is tricky business because there's a new head coach.
But right now, here's my guess-timate:
Holt---40-60
Pace---50-50
Barron--60-40
Incognito--60-40
Atogwe--90-10
Bartell--75-25

bfulton: I haven't heard much about Shumur's or Flajoe's reputations, besides that Spagnuolo likes them. Can you give us the conventional wisdom of their pros and cons?

As always, thanks a million.

Jim Thomas: I think Shurmur is seen as an up-and-comer. Supposedly he ran a strong second for the Michigan State job a few years ago. It's hard to rate how he'd do as an offensive coordinator because he worked for an offensive-oriented head coach (Andy Reid) at Philadelphia, and he was behind fairly high-profile coordinators there in Brad Childress and Marty Mornhingweg.
Like Shurmur, Flajole has never been a coordinator in the NFL, and he's more than a decade older than Shurmur. A part of you wants to say _ well, if Flajole was such a good coach, why hasn't been a coordinator earlier in his NFL career? But the NFL often works in strange ways, and sometimes it's just a matter of getting a chance. Flajole did a very good job with the Carolina LBs, and is regarded as a teacher and a detail-oriented coach.

Joey: Any chance the Rams tag Bartell and not Atogwe? What coaches are left to hire beyond DB coach? What is Demoff's first act as cap guy?

Jim Thomas: I'd say there's no chance that it's Bartell instead of Atogwe that gets franchised. The franchise number for a safety (Atogwe) is $6.34 million. The franchise number for a cornerback (Bartell) is $9.96 million.
See my earlier post on the coaching staff breakdown.
As for Demoff, the Rams have five players (Pace, Holt, Little, Jackson, Bulger) who count $7.4 million or more against the cap. Together, those five eat up $42.7 million of cap space _ or more than one-third of the $123 million salary cap. If the Rams are going to re-sign Bartell and Atogwe, plus free up money to do anything in free agency, they have to do something with those contracts, particularly Holt, Pace and Little. So that might be his first task, obviously at the request of Spagnuolo and Devaney.

BrotherBri: As always, thanks for keeping us informed way out in the far provinces of Rams nation.

Who is most likely to get the franchise tag for the Arizona Cardinals -- Dansby or Wilson? If both are available, do you do what the Seahawks did to us -- overpay to both improve your own team and prevent key defenders from returning to a rival? Or would Pierce and Butler be much better fits for Spagnuolo's system?

To solve the problem at Center, would you, expert that you are, prefer Birk or Jason Brown (the C from the Ravens), figuring they are both more ready to play and more able to be leaders, or would you rather draft an Alex Mack or Max Unger, feeling you'll have them longer and can better teach them into the system?

Assuming (ridiculous though it might be) that none of the following are franchised or offered multi-mega millions to play elsewhere, how would you prioritize the following free agents for the Rams:

Birk
Dansby
Peppers
Haynesworth
Pierce
Vilma
Crowder
Wilson
Butler
Lewis
Suggs
Gross
Brown
Marvel Smith

Jim Thomas: Actually, Adrian Wilson is not a free agent this year.

Jake - Jefferson City: Jim,

With Loney retained as the OL coach, how does this bode for the likes of Incognito? I'd prefer they just cut bait with him, but didn't know if Loney had any type of repoire established. Also, granted he didn't have a lot to work with, but the Ram's interior 3 were an abomination last year. Is it wise to keep the same guy that oversaw and coached that trainwreck? Hopefully Alex Mack in the 2nd - if he is there - would rectify some of the issues.

Thanks.

Jim Thomas: I'm not sure how the retention of Loney helps or hurts Incognito's absence.
As for Loney's coaching acumen, I'm not saying he's Jim Hanifan, but Paul Boudreau was the head line coach of the Rams a year ago, the line was awful and no one shed a tear when he left. He goes down to Atlanta, coaches that line, and all of a sudden he's a o-line coaching genius, leading one of the league's top running games?
The short answer: You've got to have the players. I think Loney is pretty good. He didn't have a ton to work with.