Ramero: Jim. I would love to have back in L.A. these football team in yellow and blue uniforms. Do you know about a contract or something like that, that keeps the Rams from moving. What do the owners have said, or wat do they think regarding these matter? Probably for 2009 will be fair enough. St. Louis does not cares, they show it, and I BELEIVE they are right.

Jim Thomas: Exactly where would the Rams play in LA?
Also, as bad as things are, only three homes games in 13-plus seasons have been blacked out locally. I'd say that's pretty good support considering the product most years. Do you think LA would support the team as well?

Marcus: Hi Jim,

I know that linehan should be let go, but no matter who the coach is they will have the same problems with the front office. Mainly it's Zygmunt and everyone is asking him to leave. Why is he still there, since Shaw is practically gone per Burwell's artice and to some extent Bernie's too.
Also, is there any word if there's a new owner coming soon?

Jim Thomas: Trust me, Zygmunt is being scrutinized also by team ownership. As for the prospective sale of the team, I don't sense that anything is imminent.

Gabriel 2 Snow: Since a coaching change is in the offing, (barring a miraculous turnaround), I wanted to get your thoughts on my preferences. First, no college coaches without previous NFL experience. It takes special people to properly handle immature prima donnas that make many times more $ than the coach. As for specifics:
1.) Brian Billick
2.) Marty Shottenheimer
I think either would create excitment & add credibility to a badly wounded franchise, not to mention win some games. How do you see it Jim, thanks.

Jim Thomas: I haven't given the potential replacements much thought. But the Rams might be more inclined to consider a more experienced coach the next time around.

Mike: Seeing as how this season is already all but written off, and it seems like Torry's just playing out the games now waiting for his chance to leave, any chance of trading him this year??.... for Lito Sheppard perhaps?

Jim Thomas: Did you see Torry's 45-yard TD catch? Did that look like a guy "just playing out the games now waiting for his chance to leave?" Please.

Rams Fan In China (Really!): JT,
Thanks as always for the chat. I studied rhetoric in college, and I'm amazed by the excuses, obfuscations and explanations offered by the Rams to the St. Louis fans and media for both the state of this team and the decisions this organization makes.

Examples (quotes paraphrased):
"Coach Linehan is a good guy." Is he? His record of cutting players to bring in players whose top quality is being his buddy doesn't seem like something a "good guy" would do. Just ask Hedgecock.

"Dick Vermiel had two losing seasons and won the Super Bowl in the third." DV was an experienced coach and great motivator with really lousy personnel. Only direct interviention by the supernatural is getting the 2008 Rams to .500, much less the Superbowl.

"We've got a lot of talent on this squad." Yeah, if we're back in time and it's 2006. But it's 2008. Bulger's been getting totally murdered for two years (Oline's fault, not his), Pace is as fragile as china, Holt's lost a step, and Jackson hasn't put together a decent game in a while, let alone a whole season. Other than our kicker, who do we have? (don't say anyone on D, they've given up almost 1K yards in two games, which is pathetic).

"We hung with them for three quarters". Football games last four quarters, longer if they go to OT.

"The Giants went 0-2 last year and then went on to win the Superbowl." Rams record in the last two seasons so far: 3-16.
Rams touchdowns in the first two games in 2008: 1
Redzone plays run: 0
Points scored: 16
Total yardage conceeded by the defense: almost 1000 (this just blows my mind)
Total points conceeded: 79
Special teams: Awful
Average game score: Rams Opponent 39.5, Rams 8
It doesn't get turned around THAT fast in the NFL. I actually think the Rams haven't hit bottom yet, which really scares me.

"...accountability..." Not with this franchise in this universe

"Georgia Frontiere wanted Coach Linehan to have a third season as coach". With all respect to Mrs. Frontiere and her loved ones, successful football franchises don't make key personnel decisions based on the wishes of deceased former owners who had little football knowledge in the first place (which is why we have Shaw and JZ, which is another issue altogether).

So, I guess my question is, do the individuals making these statements actually believe that we, the fans, are buying it? Or are they just delusional? There is an obvious course of action for this franchise, and it involves removing administrative staff, coaches, and players. Do they just not get it? When we start getting creamed by Arizona and SF this year by Warner, Ike, and Martz, it's going to get very ugly.

Thanks, and sorry about the rantness of this question. I really do love your live chat and read it every week here in Nanjing.

Jim Thomas: Well, I guess you can choose to retain whatever you want from the articles and press conferences.
Linehan has also said he excepts the blame for what goes on. And what's going on, he said, was "lousy."
Pisa Tinoisamoa said the defense let the entire team down by it's play in the fourth quarter Sunday.
Leonard Little has said it's embarrassing the way the team is playing now.
So I think a lot of the answers make sense. The problem is, if there was an easy way out of this mess, it would be taking place right now.