jon in kentucky: We have to sign a CB don't we, what if one of our three goes down, or dallas runs a lot of four WR sets? Who could we sign other than Brown?

Jim Thomas: Even though Tye Hill remains a couple of weeks away from returning, I think the Rams will stand pat at corner now that Brown has resigned. Keep in mind, too, they have only three safeties on the roster now that Condren has been released.

bruce80: On the nerves of steel, last second field goal by Josh Brown, did you notice the split second camera shot from behind our kicker that while showing the goal posts-the Hi Def huge screen picture was moving VERY rapidly left to right, right to left to distract Josh? I believe this should be illegal and was unsportsmanlike conduct by the Redskins organization. I could see the fans attempting to distract our kicker like the way it is done for foul shots in B-Ball-but this was obviously done in-house. Why don't they just set off a canon or blow off fireworks as he kicks instead. They should be fined! I am now an official Redskins hater!!
Way to go Josh and Rams!!

Jim Thomas: I didn't notice it at the time, but am aware of what you're talking about. I was told they camera kept zooming in and back from the goal posts (Wayne's World style, if you will) and showing this on the scoreboard. I believe this is illegal and am checking on it.

jon in kentucky: Do you expect the rams to work harder than ever next week after tasting sweet victory? or to act as if they have accomplished something and start to relax, we both know what we would like to think but in reality what will happen?

Jim Thomas: A cynic may think otherwise, but these guys want to win. Do you really think it's any fun to lose 17 of 20 and be NFL laughingstocks. So I think the team will in fact work even harder in practice this week. And buy in even more to what Haslett is selling.

jon in kentucky: When will Burton be back, How bad is Manning's injury, and what about Looker?

Jim Thomas: Manning is out for the year with a broken bone near the ankle. He was scheduled to have surgery today. Burton will practice Wednesday and if all goes well during the practice week will play against Dallas. Looker has been cleared physically to practice and play. Something's not right in his head, but I'm told by very reliable sources it's NOT an aneurism (sp?) and it's not life-threatening.

Louis: With Manning out, any word on secondary free-agent pick-ups? What about the Fakir Brown negotiations?

Jim Thomas: As you've probably heard by now, Fahkir Brown is back. Sorry for the slight delay. Former Rams safety Toby Wright (1994-98) _ remember him? _ dropped by Rams Park and just stepped into the media room to say hello. He lives in the Phoenix area, but was in town for a business convention. Toby was a hard-hitting safety, one of the hardest-hitting safeties I've ever seen.

Gabriel 2 Snow: Hi Jim, I don't think I have ever seen a team so starved for leadership that they rally around a mid-season replacement & adopt his personality so quickly. The three seconds Haz spent in the face of an opposing player was priceless to fans & players alike. Of course, it will probably be a return to reality the next couple of weeks. If Marc & the passing offense don't get going, these wins will be few & far between. It was not good to hear Bulger state that the key 43 yard play to Avery (vastly underthrown) was thrown with all his might. Hard to scare defenses with speed if you can't get the ball out in front of them. It is hard not to pull for a guy like Haz, but if he does stick with Marc the rest of the way, and he probably should, we may have a new QB and HC next year unless production improves. How do you see it?

Jim Thomas: There's no doubt the offense needs to improve. And improve dramatically. But Bulger was playing down the stretch with a swollen index finger and couldn't get much on that throw to Avery. Remember the scramble for a first down by Bulger against Washington (that got called back because of the penalty on Barron)? Bulger hurt the finger while he was getting tackled on the play. He may not be able to throw Weds. in practice but is expected to be fine by the end of the week.
Finger problem or not, Bulger needs to play better. But when I look at tape, I do not see Rams receivers getting open all day, like I see on other teams. I also saw costly drops by S. Jackson and Klopfenstein against the Redskins that would have resulted in nice gains. I also saw a couple of obvious pass interference calls (including one where the defender got Jackson in a bear hug) that went uncalled. All of these factors would have improved Bulger's stats and perhaps led to more points against Washington.

Todd W.: Hi Jim,
What are you expecting with the Pace injury?

CB's?

With Romo out we have a small chance of winning.

Thanks
Todd W.

Jim Thomas: I think it's 50-50 _ at best _ that he plays this week. But I think it's a one-week injury at most. DeMarcus Ware, meet Adam Goldberg?

steve: we need cornerback help in a big way with the cowboys coming to town even without romo pulling the trigger. any further word on the fakhir brown situation? i say pay the man what he wants and get him back here for this sunday.

Jim Thomas: Brown is back.

steve arrington: Jim,

Two questions...do you think that Steven Jackson was running better when Stephen Davis was here...less juking and more straight ahead...

and why in the hell would any coach allow an idiot offensive lineman to get a 15 yard penalty at such a crucial time of the game...any fallout from that incident...

Thanks for the time

Jim Thomas: I think Steven has run very hard the past two games. Dallas will be the fifth top 10 defense the Rams have faced in six games. The Cowboys are ranked No. 10. The others: Buffalo (No. 9), Washington (No. 8), Giants (No. 6), and Philly (No. 5).
I'm writing more on Incognito for Wednesday's paper. Turns out Haslett encouraged Incognito to get worked up for the Redskins (which is like squirting lighter fluid _ lots of it _ on a fire). Haslett and o-line coach Steve Loney talked to Incognito on Monday about toning it down a bit.

NYC Rams Fan: Jim,

I am thrilled with the win and all, but wanted your perspective. The Rams defense still got gashed on the ground, and gave up a good amount of passing yards. They got their first 3 turnovers of the season to end Redskin possessions which seems the only way they pulled this out. Were the Skins just playing sloppy football, and down to the Rams, or did the Rams actually step up (or maybe a bit of both)?

I know that Romo is out for next week, but can we really rely on "fire" to get us through the season while the offense continues to sputter along? I think it's a bit unreasonable to expect 75 yard fumble returns as our only trips into the endzone to be enough to carry the point load all year. Do plays like that make this win a fluke?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Jim Thomas: First some breaking news. The Rams have signed RB Kenneth Darby, formerly of the U. of Alabama, to the active roster. Darby takes Brian Leonard's place on the active roster. He's not big, but is a strong inside runner with pretty good quickness.
Also, Oshiomogho Atogwe has been named the NFC's defensive player of the week for his 75-yard scoop and score of Pete Kendall's fumble against Washington.

As for your concerns, obviously they're valid. You can't consistently count on turnovers to stop drives. And the Rams need tons of improvement on offense. The Redskins may have been taking the Rams a little lightly. But you know, the NFL is the ultimate bottom line business. It's all about the Ws _ and the Rams found a way to get one on Sunday.

West Coast Ram: Jim,
It appears that the defense has some players that may fit better into a 3-4 scheme. They lack the big nose tackle and run stuffing linebackers for the inside but the outside appears to be suited (Long, Carriker, Tinoisamoa and Witherspoon). Is that an accurate read and how long does it usually take for a team to successfully convert from a 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme? Could it not be done with one draft and one free agent period?

Jim Thomas: More breaking news. Dallas CB Adam (Don't call me Pacman) Jones has been suspended indifintely by Commissioner Roger Goodell for his latest off-the-field indiscreation. Goodell will revisit the suspension following the Cowboys' Week 11 game against Washington on Nov. 16. So no Pacman against the Rams.

Rams need lots more linebackers and a mammoth NG to make a 3-4 work. I don't know if they have enough draft picks to make it happen.

GREG JONES: 1. msn reported this weekend a hometown buyer for the Rams dropped out. any idea who it was
2. I dont think I have ever seen a team as emotionally high as the CArdinals sunday. they played real mean angry football. I think the cowboys will demolish the Rams Sunday.

Jim Thomas: 1.) Have no idea. All I know, and this from good authority, is that there is no serious potential buyer on the horizon at the moment.

2.) Even with some players missing, the Cowboys still have _ what? _ about a zillion Pro Bowlers still on their roster? It will take a herculean effort for the Rams to win this week.

McSnipes: Hey Jim. As always, thanks for doing these chats.

Even though Ricky Manning Jr. got injured early in the season, I thought he showed some good flashes. He's a hard-nosed, physical CB and is a useful player. He can tackle, he's a good blitzer, and a key contributor on special teams too, so I'm hoping that even though he got hurt the Rams will bring him back next year because he's a pretty good player. Do you think there's a chance the Rams might re-sign him?

Jim Thomas: No doubt, Manning brings some intensity and toughness to the secondary. He lacks ideal speed, but I think Haslett likes him. Who knows if the team will re-sign him? It may depend largely on what happens with the head coach.

COACH T: JIM- THEY DID IT! THEY WON! Although, my doctor said the dramatics aren't good for my blood pressure (WAY 2 GO RICHIE!).

Question:
i see Steven Jackson is running harder- straight ahead, and much less of his infamous "rabbit-hop" to the hand-off. do you think this is a result of a conscious effort by him, the running backs coach, or the type of plays that Al Saunders calling?

Jim Thomas: I'd say conscious effort by Jackson, and working with the running backs coach, and finally having his legs under him following the long contract holdout.

Jon in Kentucky: In my opinion the key to competing and beating Dallas, especially without Romo will be adequate secondary play as a basic foundation necessecity as well as getting pressure on Johnson, but assuming we can stay up to snuff in those two areas the big question for me is Can we stop Barber and the run by tackling well and being physical. This seems to be a big ?

Jim Thomas: You know it will be Barber left, Barber right, Barber up the middle, with some shots to Witten and TO thrown in for good measure. Dallas has a big, physical offensive line, and as we all know, the Rams are a bit undersized on defense. It will be a huge challenge for the Rams.

Brock Landers: Jim: It's okay to act like we've never been there before. 3 wins in 20 games was quie a stretch. My question is about Steven Jackson. He looks slow. He can't run through holes that close quickly. He doesn't seem to make anyone miss. I know he's more of a power back but am I crazy? I watched Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts run through us like Jamaican track stars.

They are quick, strong, fast, and blow through holes and then make people miss. Is Jackson still out of shape from missing camp? Overweight? Hurt? Maybe since the entire offense looks like it runs through quicksand I'm seeing things?

Brock Landers

Jim Thomas: In the early games of the season, I tended to agree with you. I thought Jackson seemed to lack acceleration through the hole. But I think he's fine in that regard now. Once he gets it going, he has very good speed. But we all know he's not a burner.

Josh: So I just read on ESPN that Brian Leonard is out for the season. I know he hasn't had too much of a chance, but is he turning out to be the next Jacoby Shepard?

Jim Thomas: I like Leonard as a player and person. Despite his injury problems, he's got some toughness to him. You just don't take him in the second round. The fourth round, sure?
Jacoby Shepherd barely played in college, and has all sorts of issues on and off the field. So it's unfair to compare Leonard to Shepherd (beyond the obvious that right now they both look like second-round busts).

Rich: Hey Jim,

Is it just me or has Torry Holt's play really tapered off this season?

I realize he has been attracting double coverage and the offense as a whole hasn't gotten in gear. However, he has been getting shut down on a regular basis.

Thanks for these chats.

Jim Thomas: There's no doubt Torry's production is down. The Rams have faced lots of good defenses, lots of good corners. But Torry doesn't seem to be getting open as much, that's for sure. I don't think there's any doubt that Torry doesn't run as well as he once did because of his knee issues, but I think he still moves well enough to be a factor. (And a veteran NFC scout I talked to recently has the same opinion.) But Torry needs more help around him _ which maybe continued development by Avery can bring.

ZOOM: Jim...

Who were those guys on the field wearing our D-Line's uniforms? 3 sacks? 4 fumbles? PRESSURE ON THE QUARTERBACK? UNHEARD OF! Hey, really, it was great to see our guys slap some people around out there- good for those them!

FREE WILL WITHERSPOON!
WELCOME BACK FAKHIR BROWN!

Jim Thomas: Must be that new defensive coordinator, Rick Venturi.

Manning Jr.: Will John Greco ever see significant playing time? Why doesn't Donnie get more looks down field? I don't think Bulger can throw the deep ball anymore. Your thoughts?

Thanks.

Jim Thomas: 1.) Eventually, maybe sooner if both Pace and Bell can't play Sunday.
2.) Avery is getting worked more and more into the offense.
3.) Bulger never threw a great deep ball, and his index finger was messed up in the second half Sunday and affected his throws.

Ralph Tharp: Jim,

What happened to Lance Ball? I thought he was one of those special running backs that has good balance, speed and eyes for the running gaps. I really liked his play....yet we stick with has beens like Travis Minor. I am not impressed with Steven Jackson this year or last year. I think he is on his way out....if he can't get 100 yards in at least 8 or 9 games a year he is a non factor. We must not forget...the Rams offense is still in a shambles....with no help in site....I think all that Haslett will do is have us lose a top 5 draft spot come next spring.

Jim Thomas: Ball was cut from the practice squad. I'm not sure exactly why. I thought Ball had some decent running instincts, but was nothing special. And he wasn't even close to the player on special teams that Minor is, which when you're the No. 3 running back is your main role. Do you remember the blocked punt in the preseason because Ball blew his block? Would you like that to happen in a game that counted?

djjr11854: Hi Jim,

What can you tell me about Willie Williams. They Rams resigned him back to the practice squad. Is it possible this guy could eventually play at nose tackle in a 3-4 defense? The team did a fine job in gutting out that win Sunday against the Redskins. However they need to figure out how to stop the run. They can't let teams control the ball. The offense is not as explosive as it once was.

Jim Thomas: Don't know much about Williams. I remember him from training camp in Wisconsin. He had pretty good strength as I recall, but not much in the way of technique or savvy.

Jake - Jefferson City: Jim,

Mega 1st win dittos... Question: is Jacob Bell receiving any scrutiny from the coaching staff? For a guy who was heralded as the second best guard in FA last year, he has shown me little to nothing; weak in the running game, and so-so in pass pro. Have you heard anything within the organization as to their level of satisfaction with him? I'm ready to see what Greco can do.

Jim Thomas: I have not heard any rumblings of disatisfaction from the front office about Bell. I too, haven't seen a lot from him so far, but it's early _ too early, I think, to pass judgement.

Francisco Prado: Jim, here's a question, who was the worst coach Rich Brooks or Scott Linehan?

Jim Thomas: I'd say Linehan, not that Brooks was Vince Lombardi.

Hen: Jim,

Why are the Rams sticking with Klop as TE? He is not good.

Jim Thomas: As for this season, there are no alternatives. Anthony Becht and Daniel Fells are the only other TEs on the roster.

Gary Pinkel: What are the chances that my best playmaker Macklin declares after this season?

Jim Thomas: All indications that I've been given is that this will be Mr. Maclin's last year on campus.

rams2050: Hi, Jim!

First, do you have any idea which practice squad running back Coach Haslett is hoping to sign?

Second, do you think Marc's recent tendency to throw behind receivers is a function of too many sacks, bad mechanics, or a failure (especially in Avery's case) to anticipate his speed properly after a couple of years of throwing to (mainly) slightly slower receivers, or a combination of the three?

Does Marc properly anticipate receiver positions during practice sessions, and if so, do you think there's hope that he'll eventually 'come around' during actual games?

Any scuttlebutt among Rams coaches that you're aware of regarding Marc's less than stellar outings recently?

I'm a big Bulger supporter, and I can believe that it will take the guy a few more games to get his head back together after the beatings he's endured in the past few years. I think I saw some really good things (or heard them, since I could only listen on the radio) during the Redskins game and I'm hopeful Marc will be able to build on them. What do you think?

I love Haslett, and I can't wait until we play the Whiners to see if he still has the knack of getting into Mad Mike's head and driving the guy absolutely crazy.

Thanks for your time and insights, Jim.

Jim Thomas: As I mentioned earlier the Rams have signed former Alabama RB Kenneth Darby off Atlanta's practice squad.
As for Bulger, undoubtedly he's trying to adjust to Avery's speed. Bulger has never had the strongest arm to begin with, and as I mentioned earlier, the index finger on his throwing hand was injured in the second half, affecting that deep throw to Avery.

Tackleberry: Is it fairly safe to assume that drafting a quarterback to develop will be three-round target for this team next spring?

Jim Thomas: Still too early on that one.

Jake: Jim,
What’s your prediction of the Dallas/Rams game? Who has a good game?

Jim Thomas: Marion Barber.

steve: obviously, you can disregard my first question regarding fakhir brown. has the opportunity to speak with howie long presented itself to you yet regarding his son being a ram? it seems to me, and i don't get to see a lot of the games, long's production has increased. he's around the ball as evident in the washington game; he may not always sack the quarterback, but he gets near the qb. what are the 'higher-ups' in the organization, including yourself, opinions of chris thus far?

Jim Thomas: I do think Chris Long is coming around. I think the front office likes what they see in him. Having a healthy Leonard Little on the other side obviously helps too.

Bill: Hey Jeff, any idea why the Rams didn't throw the ball down the field a little more during the skins game? Only 93 passing yards before the hit to Avery. Was the skins coverage that good, or is Bulger still a little gun shy? Your take. thanks

Jim Thomas: According to Al Saunders, Washington blitzed 42 times in the game. That probably explains why Bulger got the ball out quickly, and shorter routes were emphasized.

paceram: Jim,

Can you tell me if you expect the Rams to make any trades before today's deadline? And, is that just a wild rumor about Torry Holt possibly being traded to the 49's for a 3rd round pick? I have a hard time believing that there is any truth to that rumor - Sounds pretty far fetched unless Holt has some injury issues that concerns the Rams.

Thanks!

Jim Thomas: Maybe I'll be surprised in the next half hour, but I have heard nothing about any Rams trades so far today.

bfulton: After Brown made the winning field goal, he skipped backwards with his hands raised over his heads and his thumbs pointing down to his back. Was he signaling his name, number or shoulders or signifying something else, altogether?

Jim Thomas: I'll try to ask him this week.

ncdc: Dear Jim,

It's obvious there was bad blood between Linehan and Haslett as most evidenced by the release of Fakhir Brown. So now what happens? Does Haslett purge the roster of FOSL's by releasing or trading Travis Minor, Drew Bennett, Adam Goldberg, and even Brian Leonard in the off-season? Any others?

Jim Thomas: Well, if Haslett is gone after this season, it won't matter.

old cowboy: Thanks for your time, Soooo, I'm still confused about the Brown fiasco, can you shed any light on the why?

Jim Thomas: I'm still trying to sort it out myself. But I've talked to Brown and will write something on the topic later in the week.

George M.: Open letter to Chip Rosenbloom:

Hi, Chip. Well, looks like changing the head coach did make a difference. You will recall that the opinion here was pretty unanimous last winter that you should do that. When you made the decision to keep Linehan on, what did your advisors in the Rams organization advise you to do?

If they all said to fire him, and you kept him, well, you might not want to do that again. I'm told you're a pretty bright guy, but when you go against everybody's advise, and you are wrong, it doesn't make you look bright.

If some of them said to fire him, and some said to keep him, you might ask yourself about those who said to keep him. Lots of average fans said to fire him. Why does the average fan know more about running a football team than some in your organization? Is that good?

The decision came too late to salvage this year, but it finally did come and we are all glad of that. This would be a good time to reflect on why it was made so late that it blew this season down the tubes, and what you can learn from that for the next decision.

Jim Thomas: George--Chip's mother _ on her death bed _ said she didn't want Linehan fired after the 2007 season. Is that a good enough reason for you?

hambone: Is Jim Haslett in any danger of being fined for admitting he gave the Redskins player a shove when he entered the bench area on the kickoff? I was shocked that he admitted to doing so.

Jim Thomas: Haslett claims Torrence was w-a-y out of bounds, several yards off the field of play, and that he made contact in self defense. I'll try to check with the league on any fine, but since it's hard to see much on game tape (I've looked) and TV shows only the aftermatch (the jawing), I'd say a fine seems unlikely.

nicky: Jim, glad another person brought the subject up of the Flashing screen behind the Goal Post. As a matter of fact there are TWO flashing screens. I thought I was the only one that noticed that but after reading your answer I fired up the DVR and yep, they did it and I am almost certain that is not legal to do. As you said, please check on it.

Other teams and opposing players do bad crap too but the media only notices what they want to notice. Who do you report bush league stuff like the Waynes World (Great comparison ) stuff too and would there be a penalty ? Thanks

Jim Thomas: Also, I think the Redskins were repeatedly playing music well after the Rams broke the huddle which is supposed to be against the rules as well.

okcarhauler: Jim, what's the status of Drew Bennett? When is he going to be able to contribute this year? What is his cap number if we just cut him and moved on?

Jim Thomas: Bennett is still a couple of weeks away. The Rams would be on the hook for $5 million of unamortized signing bonus money, but would save $3.3 million in base salary plus a $500,000 roster bonus if they cut Bennett after this season. So it would be a net loss of $1.2 million.

Cousin: Yo cousin,
The Rams just need to play. Forget about results. Just play with heart.
And blaming this person or that person won't get them anywhere.
Just play the game with heart.
See you cuz.

Jim Thomas: Cuz--Good to hear from you. Are you going to see Johnny play soccer this season? Time is running out.

okcarhauler: J9im, any news on the story out there that if Haslett wins 6 games this year he returns next year or gets paid? Personally I think that if he wins 6 games he should be hands down Coach of the Year.

Jim Thomas: I am planning a story on it for Weds. P-D. Without scooping myself, there is some truth to it. I agree with you. A 6-6 finish should get him coach of the year.

zn2003: Why didn't the players like playing for Linehan? I mean, there are some obvious things we all know or can guess about. But of course I am respectfully asking the Rams premier beat writer---what can you tell us that we probably couldn't guess on our own? And what is your personal sense of it?

Jim Thomas: Linehan is a good man and a decent football coach. But he never embraced the veterans _ you need them on your side. And I just don't think he was much of a leader. Regardless of what you say, even pro athletes need leadership and direction.

Tyson Langland: Jim,
I was just wondering how Drew Bennett will be used when he returns from injury? Will he slide into the slot or do you see him as low fourth on the depth chart because it sounds like Avery will stay starting opposite of Torry.

Jim Thomas: Good question. I sure can't see him sliding ahead of Avery into the starting lineup. Can you? And Burton could have a couple of weeks head start to show he can be the No. 3.

preston martin: It seems since we picked up stills (I think that is his name) We have done a better job on kick off and punt coverage. He seems good at tackling and I'm wondering if we could see him on the defense. Since tackling tends to be a problem for us.

Jim Thomas: I think Still could play some middle linebacker or even some strongside backer. But Witherspoon isn't going anywhere in the middle, and Draft is holding his own at the strongside.

den: Jim..
Dane Looker's circumstance prompts me to ask this: can a player hire his own doc to diagnose a problem, or render a second opinion, at the team's expense? Is this covered under the CBA?

Jim Thomas: Players can always get a second (third or fourth) opinion, separate from the team doctors. I'm not sure if this is at team expense _ but let's face it _ that's not an issue for these guys. Players frequently have surgeries done by outside doctors. Leonard Little for example had his toe surgery done by one of the Carolina Panthers' team doctors.

Todd W.: Jim,
Is Nick Leckey the smallest lineman in the league? I'm sure he has alot of heart, but just seems he would get overmatched against anybody.

When will the Rams realize that the best offenses also have the biggest and best Oline's?

Jim Thomas: No doubt, Leckey isn't the largest human being to ever play center in the NFL. And size usually helps on the o-line. But for years, the Broncos have had very good success running the ball with annually one of the league's smallest o-lines.

okcarhauler: Jim, I would like your opinion, I personally like the way Haslett has changed the attitude at Rams park. These players will fight and stay in the game, and not fold like a cheap tent at the first signs of trouble. Just take the Steven Jackson fumble as a prime example.

Jim Thomas: No doubt, the signs were encouraging Sunday. But as Haslett himself said, it's just one game.

FredDryerFan: Hi Jim, thanks for these chats.

Hope this question hasn't already been asked: What are your thoughts on bringing in Tony Gonzales and what do you think we'd have to give KC for him? Is he even willing to come to another losing franchise?

Jim Thomas: From what I've heard, Gonzalez wants to be traded to a contender which pretty much leaves the Rams out of the picture, wouldn't you think?

nicky: Jim, sorry to bother you again but if you find a place to lodge a complaint on the video screens lodge one against the hit they made on Bulger. Do not know if you have tape of the game but watch the one where he scrambled. It was clearly a helmet to helmet hit on Bulger while he was on the ground. So hard in fact it completely spun him around. League should look at that and fine accordingly. Thanks.

Jim Thomas: At the time, I thought so too on the Bulger scramble. I'll try to check on that, too.

SBC34: Jim, I was talking to my father yesterday, and he asked me who the traveling secretary and equipment manager of the Rams was, and I could not answer him. Could you help me out with their names?

Jim Thomas: Todd Hewitt is the Rams' longtime equipment manager.
John Oswald, the team's vice president of operations, coordinates the team's travel.
That's all for now. I've got phone calls to make; stories to write. See you all next week.