Eric Schweiss: Good afternoon Jim!
Has anyone updated the health status of Steven Jackson? Is he 50% healed and is there a chance that he plays in the next week or two? He could be a stabilizing piece to this offense, even though he struggled out of the gate.
Thanks for your time and expertise.

Jim Thomas: Jackson has been ruled out for the Baltimore game. The Rams are becoming more and more guarded about giving information on injuries. Why I'm not sure. Linehan declined to put a timetable on his return Monday. When Jackson originally was injured, after the Tampa Bay game, Linehan would only refer to it as a week-to-week injury. Sources subsequently told me it was a 40 percent tear of the groin muscle with a minimum 2 to 3 week recovery time. Well, this makes 3 weeks. I will try to check with Jackson this week.

Art Pineda: Hello Mr. Thomas,
I cannot keep quiet anymore the Rams are a team that have some good players but bad coaches the head coach shouldn't be a head coach this was a bad hiring.
The GM should be gone as well as the owner who has no clue or has never had a clue she about running a team she ran this team into the ground when they were in Anaheiem she got rid of anybody with football sense so we are stuck with this team!
She is doing the same thing in St Louis with the people who are hired to run this team!
Dick Vemeil was the best coach that they hired in St louis but had to step down to keep Martz as the head coach who was agreat offensive coach but lacked head coacing sense he is now goneand we get Linehan who doesn't know how to run a team he was hired becuase he didn't cost too much to hire!
He two year record is very poor we will not get any better untill Georgia sells the team or we get rid of the dead weight in the front office!
This is an embrassment to all Ram fans from the past to the present!

Jim Thomas: I can understand your frustration. I still think it's too early to pass judgment on Linehan. And as upset as you are over management and ownership, they did bring two Super Bowls and one Super Bowl championship to St. Louis _ something most St. Louisans thought they would never see. I think a lot of fans are looking for someone to blame, and one or two areas (or people) to point the finger at. But there are many reasons for the teams 0-5 start. Including the fact that the Rams got next to nothing out of their drafts in 2000, 2001, and 2002 _ players who should be the backbone of the team at the moment.

cj cully: please list the top five positions, in priority, that need to be addressed during next year's off season either through free agency or draft.

Jim Thomas: I'll take a crack at it, but keep in mind this is a moving target that could change between now and the start of free agency:
1.) WR--Rams need a big fast WR who can get yards after the catch.
2.) DE--A pass rusher. The Rams just aren't getting much pressure with a four-man rush.
3.) MLB--It's taken me longer than most, but I think I've finally come to the conclusion that Witherspoon is better suited for the outside than the inside. Move Pisa to strongside, and go out and get a thumper inside.
4.) OT--This moves to No. 1 if Pace decides to retire, which I don't think will happen.
5.) S--The Rams need a thumper and a blitzer at the strong safety position.

Mo: Hey Jim,

Did Shaw and exec crew hire the wrong coach? It seems Haslet has a NFL track record and Linehan has nothing but being an Offensive Coordinator?

It's time for Shaw to go!!!! He is awful he has had a tiny window of success going back to LA to St. Lou???

Jim Thomas: Linehan may indeed prove to be the wrong choice over time, but what exactly has Haslett down to distinguish himself with the defense, currently ranked 27th in the NFL? Again, I wouldn't call the Greatest Show on Turf a tiny window of success.

cheryl weldon: just would like to know how long are the rams gonna keep that sorry coach and the defensive coordinator? after the get to 0-8

Jim Thomas: Cheryl, if you check out my story in today's P-D, John Shaw will not even contemplate making a change until the end of the season, and even then, it sounds as if Linehan will get at least another season.