Rams4Life: Hey Jim

Why do the rams all get more Off players instead of Def when they know Def will determine if they go to the playffs or not and what going on wit Brown appeal did they even know he appealed

Jim Thomas: Pittman was just too good to pass. And he's cheap. All the Rams inherit is the base salaries on his Saints contract _ they aren't stuck with his signing bonus, that stays with the Saints. Pittman's scheduled to make $285K this year, $370K next year, and $460K in 2009 _ all are minimum salaries for a player in his first, second, and third years. I too wonder if the Rams have done enough to address their defense. But I don't think Rice was worth $3M guaranteed, plus incentives.
I'm not sure if Rams management knew about Brown's appeal. Those things are usually confidential. I do think Brown's agent let him down by not explaining to Brown that the appeal process had already been exhausted. It made Brown look stupid.

Mike: The Rams have periodically worn the blue pants or white pants, which I think are much better looking than the gold. I met Dave Wohlobaugh (sp?) and he said that when they wore the blue pants against the Giants in the season opener a few years ago (I was at the game - Warner's concussion and end of his era in St. Louis) they lost and the owner was so mad, swore they'd never wear them again. I did notice they worn them last year I believe (and lost), so I'm wondering if they will ever switch. I think blue pants with the blue jerseys for home would make them look like bad asses!!!

Jim Thomas: I would like to see the Rams mix it up as well. Why have all those different possibilities if you're not going to use them? But remember, you have to tell the league well in advance if you want to do something different with the unis, and Georgia gets final say. She did not, for example, like the white-on-white unis, or so I was told by a former Rams coach whose nickname was "Mad Mike."

Colorado Springs: Why Antonio Pittman? We're set at running back. Why not claim Quentin Moses or a defensive back instead?

Jim Thomas: Are the Rams really set at running back? Are you convinced that Brian Leonard could carry the load at RB if Steven Jackson was injured and out for four games? Even if the Rams were interested in Moses, he would have went to Arizona anyway under the waiver claim system because the Cardinals had a worse record last year than St. Louis. As for DB, believe me, the Rams were looking on the waiver wire for help there. But nothing materialized.

donsods: OK--I was looking at the Rams roster and their cuts this weekend. Like everybody else, I surprised about Alston, but did the Rams really need another athletic defender who can't keep his assigments straight? That was the biggest problem last year. My question is about Chris Massey--does he play any other role on the team other than long snapper?

Jim Thomas: There was a time when Massey was an emergency fullback. In fact, he played a couple of games there in '02 _ starting against Seattle because of a rash of injuries at the position. He also played some FB against Oakland _ in Bulger's first start at QB _ and knocked Bill Romanowski into next Tuesday one play. Massey was tough but limited at FB, according to former Rams RB coach Wilbert Montgomery. The Rams don't play him there any more because they don't want his fingers or hands to get hurt. In their mind, he's that valuable as a long snapper.

donsods: LONG LIVE HAGANS! I was really impressed with Marques Hagans this preseason. He seemed to have the extra ability to make defenders miss after the catch. I didn't chart it or anything like that, but it seemed to me that he was the Rams best receiver for yards after the catch..or at least yards after the first touch. Will Linehan & Olsen actually use him as a weapon this year or will he be completely entombed to the 6th receiver spot?

Jim Thomas: If you asked me who the Rams preseason MVP was, I would say Hagans or Gus Frerotte. He's the poster kid for what hard work and a year on the practice squad can do. Right now, I'd say Hagans begins the season as a game day inactive (barring injury). But we'll see. Keep in mind, as good as he looked, he did almost all of his work against second_ and third-team defenses.