Sharon Johnson: Jim, Have you ever met a more fan friendly pro football player than Kurt Warner? We just love him. We went to see him in Flagstaff, Arizona this summer at football camp and he was the only player there to sign for every fan waiting in line, no matter how long it took! (just how he did in Macomb, Illinois when he played for the Rams!)

Jim Thomas: I've been covering the NFL since 1991 _ a few years before the Rams moved here. I've met a lot of classy athletes over those years, both on the Rams and on other teams. But Warner was special. No doubt. He seemed to treat everybody with respect, no matter their standing or station in life.

C.M: Jim-

Is there any chance Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will cover any Rams games on Fox this year? I realize the Rams are not the Giants, Cowboys, or Bears, but still, why do we always get stuck with the worst announcing duo Fox has to offer? And, do you know how it is decided which pair will cover what game? I'd think that if Joe wanted to cover a Rams game, the network would let him.

Thanks.

Jim Thomas: There's only a couple of ways to get the No. 1 broadcasting team. Have a record that merits FOX's top duo, or draw the kind of ratings that demand it. The Rams have neither at this point. They're simply not on the NFL's radar. Take Steven Jackson's sideline tantrum against San Francisco, for example. Can you imagine the kind of attention that would have commanded nationally if it happened to T.O. in Dallas? Or Randy Moss in New England? Etc.

Hugh: J.T. - Is Steven Jackson turning into a Randy Moss? What was up with his attitude on Sunday? Did Linehan address this publicly or privately?

Jim Thomas: Check out our story on that topic in today's Post-Dispatch, or on line at Stltoday.com. Jackson took the high road, chalking it up to the heat of battle. Linehan's public comments about him were curious. At first, he almost denied that it happened. Then, he hinted strongly that it had to do with a pass protection issue. On the play in question, Alex Barron was beaten to the inside by a 49ers pass rusher, hitting Bulger as he was throwing, and causing the pass to fall well short of intended receiver Drew Bennett. I don't think Jackson is turning into Randy Moss. I don't think he is a selfish player. But he is emotional and like many of his skill position players, he is frustrated over what's happening on offense. And no matter how many injuries there are on the line, the guys have got to block better.

Frank: Jim-

Did the Rams ever express any interest in going after Tank Johnson?

Jim Thomas: Am not aware of any interest in Tank. But with two players currently serving drug suspensions (Fakhir Brown, Claude Wroten), and with another player facing two trials for alcohol-related issues (Dominique Byrd), why would the Rams even think about going after Tank?

glen: Jim,

Is there any reason you can think of that causes all of this fumbling.I really beleive if we don't have them we are 2-0.I know the coaches must stress this during practice so what is the deal? Do you think we have any chance against Tampa?

Jim Thomas: Sure the Rams have a chance against Tampa this week. The NFL is a week-to-week proposition. The teams are so close. And what happens on one Sunday often has little or nothing to do with what happens the next. For example, how many NFL fans out there had the Saints sitting at 0-2 right now? How many had Derek Anderson out "slinging" Carson Palmer? I know I didn't. The key for the Rams: Do they get down about what's happened? Or do they do something about it? Get focused and come out with some intensity against Tampa. In my mind, they certainly have enough talent to go 10-6. But so do about 15 other teams. The key is working through injuries, minimizing mistakes, and staying focused.
The fumbles are bizarre. Hall should have fair caught. Holt should have sensed the tackler. Jackson should have covered up because on both of his fumbles he saw the contact coming _ it was right in front of him. But humans make errors. Maybe playing more in preseason would've helped.