signed s. j.: Jim,
Why did The Rams not put Ron Bartell as a transition player?If they could not have afforded him ?,Couldn't they have at least been able to trade him ? Why last year when both OJ & Bartell were restricted free agents did they not try real hard to sign them to long term contracts?Can't they evaluate there own talent?Does Devaney get another free pass?

signed frustrated !!

Jim Thomas: You only get one franchise or transition tag _ and the Rams chose to franchise Atogwe, which was much cheaper than using a franchise tag on Batrell. (by $3.6 million)
As for blaming Devaney _ he doesn't handle contract negotiations. Last year, those duties were handled by Jay Zygmunt.

yaderrty06: Funny how people steadily want to bring down Bulger for whatever reason when he is getting his a$$ kicked and never protected! But when he is protected he lights up the skies and everybody is jumping on his back? Everybody forgets how Tom Brady lit up the skies 2 years ago and then the Giants lit his a$$ up in the Super Bowl and he looked like crap in the biggest game of the year. If he was protected like that every game he would look like Bulger every game and so would every QB in the league. I'm not even a huge Bulger fan, wish we still had Warner....but I'll still support our team and won't jump ship when we're down just so I can just jump back on the band wagon when Spags gets Bulger back on track! Doesn't this all sound familiar? Now that I got this off of my chest who do you really think we are going to take in the draft, if you had to pick one right now who would you say it is going to be?
Report Abuse

Jim Thomas: Right now, I'd say either a LT (Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe) or Curry at LB. I think the Rams still like Monroe better.

Soly: Hi Jim,
Thanks as always for the forum... Do you think that this linebacker (Curry) is really worth a second overall? In general, lbs aren't taken that high unless they think he could be our next London ".com" Fletcher. I know that this is a need position, but with cap issues, etc, it seems to be a financial reach. This year seems to have trade down written all over it. What do you think?
Aloha,
Sol

Jim Thomas: Sol, you've got to have someone willing to trade up to the No. 2 spot. And with Crabtree's injury, who is there worth taking at No. 2 overall _ into a spot where you're going to commit $50 million plus? (A lot more for a QB.)

Timothy: Hi Jim,

How much weight do put in the combines versus the actual games. I know that the previous coaching staff made their assessment mostly on the combines and pro days versus looking at actual game tapes or see them in person.
Does the injury and height affect Crabtree's draft selection as now he'll not going as high? And what about Macklin's injury?
Now hearing from Peter King that he really liked Maualuga and thinks he reminded him of a quiet Ray Lewis. Even if the Rams stay at #2, I'd still pick Maualuga. I know people are not happy with him being picked that high but the selection will solve 2 positions. Maualuga will be the MLB and Witherspoon will move back to the OLB, a position he is more fitted for. And the Rams need a MLB pretty bad. Can get a OT in the 2nd round. Don't think Curry can handle the MLB postion for watching him in person, TV and on the internet. What do you think?

Jim Thomas: Devaney says he doesn't put much stock in the combine, but obviously, an injury (Crabtree) or what he calls an "extreme" workout either good or bad affects him. I don't see how Crabtree's status can't affect where he's drafted. How much it affects him is hard to say right now. Maclin's injury doesn't seem to be serious. Mauluga suffered a hamstring injury at the combine. Again, the big question on Mauluga is whether he's an every down linebacker. If he can't play in coverage, it's a waste to take him at No. 2.

bfulton: Does the pending trade or release of Pace and Holt mean that the Rams are trying to be players in free agency? Is there a practical deadline for when this needs to happen, thus lessening the likelihood of trade or making them happen at fire sale prices? Is there a practical date for when other player transactions, like cuts, will happen.

As always, thanks for your quality reporting and insight.

Jim Thomas: The Rams really can get started in free agency without making any other cap cut moves. (Technically, the Rams won't need the $6 million _ their expected rookie cap _ until they start signing the draft picks in June and July.) But if the Rams are going to make any kind of noise in free agency, they're going to need some money sooner or later. I don't know how big of a splash the Rams will make in free agency. Again, many of the big names are now gone, either through free agency or re-signing. In terms of Holt, he's due a roster bonus in mid-March, so any move on him would have to be done before then.