Craig: Jim,

Thanks for the time....Ram fans appreciate it.

I found it a little incredulous that Shaw is wondering why fans are not selling out all the games. Doesn't he realize that 6-10, followed by 8-8, followed by 0-5 isn't going to put butts in the seats? Does he think he can sellout the Dome forever based upon performances from '99 thru '03? Thoughts?

Jim Thomas: Don't get me wrong. My family gave up their PSLs this offseason. And were were there through thick and thin from 1995 on. If Shaw really wanted to show the fans he was serious about winning, he should do something like this: Tell the fans of St. Louis the club will not raise ticket prices again until after the Rams have another winning season.
Even so, it's not as if the Rams have fallen off a cliff. You can make the numbers do all kinds of different things with the Rams. They are 42-46 since the 2001 Super Bowl season, with one division title and two playoff berths. They have had only one losing season since 2002. Although that will change, in a month or so. Should they be doing better? Even with all the injuries, most certainly. Does the future look ominous because of the failure to groom replacements for core players? Yep.
But I'm still surprised the fan base is eroding so quickly. Again, look at the fan support in Buffalo for the Monday Night game. They were going bonkers. And what have the Bills won lately? You see teams like Detroit and Cleveland, and Tennessee, the Jets and Giants, Kansas City, continue to support their team in lean times, and you wonder what kind of a football town is St. Louis?

dan: name three things that would be easy for the rams to do better for the next game. Thank you.

Jim Thomas: Continue to use the no-huddle.
Take more chances on defense, including more blitzing _ on both running and passing downs.
Try some "slash" plays with Marques Hagans.

Greg: Jim,

Is Shaw blind or just not with the program? Taking a shot at the fans?!?!

Look, the Rams had a nice run for about 3-4 years around 1999, but if you look at the overall body of work since 1990, this team has been a JOKE more than a serious threat for a title. Can the man see it is time for a change at the top?

I will NOT be renewing my season tickets unless the Rams management changes.

Jim Thomas: Why are you using 1990 as the cut-off point? Do you realize the Rams went to the playoffs seven times during the 1980s with the same management team? Isn't that part of their resume?

RON: Jim, the rams had a safety that could blitz and a thumper and his name is Jon Alston. This is why there is so little confidence in this coaching staff. Did they experiment at all with this b4 his release.

Jim Thomas: Nice point, although I'm not sure what Alston is doing for the Raiders these days other than the fact that he was promoted to the active roster from the practice squad a couple of weeks ago. But to me, Alston has much more of an upside at LB (he's not really a safety) than LB Raonall Smith.

Greg: Jim,

Are you not giving management WAY too much credit for 1999-2001? What about 1990- 1998? 2002-2007?

"Management" brought us Rich Brooks, Tony Banks, Lawrence Philips, etc. Let's not sing their praises for a few good years. The Rams have been a BAD franchise for about the last 18 years. Can we PLEASE look at Shaw's body of work instead of just 1999-2001??

Shaw and Ziggy are the leaders of this franchise the buck should start and stop with them. They need to go.

Jim Thomas: I'm not giving them way too much credit. But I think many fans are brushing it off as if it were no big deal. And I'm not saying in any way shape or form that management shouldn't be under a lot of heat right now. No one's saying 0-5 is acceptable. And the future looks ominous. But as of right now, the Rams have had two losing seasons since the end of the 1998 season. Let's just have a little perspective. And if you're looking at Shaw's body of work, why are the 1980s excluded? The team went to the playoffs seven times in that decade.