Mark from Tulsa: Jim, I have always favored a front office structure were the coach does not have say over personnel and the front office is run by a GM with full authority. There would seem to be a natural conflict between the GM and Head Coach, with the coach wanting to win now and the GM more concerned with long term success. Would we have wasted draft picks on need picks (Klop, Byrd, etc.) if a GM had total control. In my opinion the Rams have always given the coaching staff too much say. Martz might have been a really good head coach if the Rams had not given him authority over picking personnel and assistant coaches. Parcells talks about wanting to have input on “picking the groceries” but he earned that right through years of building successful teams. Your thoughts?
Go Army Beat Navy

Jim Thomas: There has got to be a good relationship _ good give and take _ between the head coach and the GM. The GM has to pick players that fit the coach's system. The coach has to have lots of input. But you're right. Coach's aren't always the best talent evaluators. They spend only a few months a year looking at prospects, and too often are blinded by players they have had past associations with. But picking a good GM _ meaning a good personnel evaluator _ is tough to do.

JOHN DAVID: Bulger benched? No, he should be traded along with Jackson(who could care less about his team). Then we put in a someone who even in his prime wasn't all that great(Trent Green??) come on Rams. And didn't the Rams get rid of Green a long time ago because he was terrible?

Jim Thomas: No, the Rams traded Trent Green to Kansas City for a first round draft pick after Kurt Warner emerged as a star. Green went to two Pro Bowls with the Chiefs; last time I checked, you don't go to Hawaii for being terrible. Now, should there be questions about Green because of his age and his recent history of concussions? Sure. But I don't doubt his pedigree.

ramrage: So, Jim, how do you read this Bulger benching? I'm curious about your own stand. As for myself, I think the season is already lost. What is there to lose in seeing if Trent Green can jump-start this offense? And why not let Bulger try to get his chops back during practice sessions? He certainly needs to regain some fundamentals, it seems. Maybe Linehan is being selfless in this protective measure with Bulger. After all, does anyone really think Linehan can save himself at this point? Let Bulger regain his fundamentals in a practice environment, and let Trent Green, as a veteran, take a crack at the real thing. We signed him to be ready if Bulger goes down. It seems to me that Bulger has gone down. Maybe we'll "get him back" quicker if he's only suffered psychological injuries instead of physical.

Jim Thomas: As I mentioned before, you have to try something. Maybe this will help. And it doesn't mean you don't go back to Bulger at some point. I just hope this isn't the only move.

knuckles: JT....Assuming that the Rams fire Linehan in the near future, and possibly some of his assistants, does that act really accomplish anything other than to assuage the fan base temporarily? Do you believe that such a move would make any difference? I doubt that Rosenbloom will boot the existing regime at this juncture and install a new management group. So, what's the point?

Jim Thomas: You sound defeated already. It's Sept. 23 _ the second day of autumn. Let's see how this plays out.

tthrasher: Jim, always appreciate your insight both in the paper and on the radio.

In your opinion, do you feel the Rams are making Bulger out to be the scapegoat, or do you think they saw something seriously wrong on film from Sunday's game? I feel bad for the guy, but it does look as though he has lost confidence.

Jim Thomas: I'm sure Bulger's confidence is down. He has been beaten like a pinata for the last few years. My question is: What about the confidence of the other 21 starters?