David: Word on the street is that the Rams are interested in Ricky Williams if/when he is reinstated by Goodell. The Rams just released Terrell. They still have Byrd, Incognito, and Wroten on their roster. Besides the fact that Linehan likes plays favorites (seemingly random assortment of coaches, especially Olson; Frerotte; McMichael; and others), is there any reason why the Rams would want to take this kind of chance? Let's trade for Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, and Travis Henry while we're at it.

Jim Thomas: Isn't Williams still Miami property?
The last time I checked with Linehan, he is not interested.

JerseyRamFan: Hey Jim,

I just wanted to say "Thank You!" for opening up these discussions. It looks from my prospective, like a tough job. Even more tougher, when the team you are covering is 0-7. This little post is to say thanks and is not meant to be put up. I read where a fan tried chewing into you, and was glad you put him in his place. You wrote that you were not a fan, and I was glad to see that you're not. To be honest, I'd rather get informed from a non biased source than a rah rah writer. Everyone is so quick to criticize, but nobody appreciates what you do, until it is no longer around. I just think most of the fans are disgusted, and are looking to vent. Don't let it get to you. There are plenty of fans like me, that appreciate the time you take to answer our many and sometimes ridiculous questions. Keep up the good work!

Jim Thomas: Sorry I'm a little late. Tuesday's normally a day off for the team, but since it's the bye week they practiced today and I'm just back from the practice field and player interviews. Linehan cancelled Wednesday's practice, so the players are off until Monday. As long as they behave themselves, I think it's a good deal. Get their minds off football a little bit and let their bodies heal.
Holt, Bruce, Bulger did nothing at practice today. Little wasn't there. He was seeing a specialist in Charlotte on his toe. Richie Incognito is leaving today to see a specialist (James Andrews in Birmingham) about his knee.

As for your comments, people always ask me what it's like to cover a pro team. My stock reply is that it's not as glamorous as it might seem. But don't get me wrong, as my late father used to say _ it beats digging ditches. I'd be a liar if I told you it wasn't more fun for a writer covering a winning team. But there's always something to write about anyway. And judging from all the interest this forum seems to have, and the number of hits on Bill Coats' "Around the Horns" blog, there's tons of folks who are interested in the Rams no matter what the record.
Critical responses from fans don't really get me down. Although I may get irritated from time to time. One of the purposes for this forum is to be an avenue for fans to vent. And goodness knows they have plenty to vent about this season. But my job isn't to necessarily go with the flow, and go along with the knee-jerk reaction. I will provide some opinion on this forum. But as a beat writer, my job is to provide information, and hopefully some perspective and insight.

Billy C: Well if Lenahan is here after the bye week / you can kiss at least half of our ticket sales for this season good bye . Nobody believes anymore . I like Coach Lenahan as an assistant . Hes a good man. I think QB coach could be a good fit for him .
Why are all our guys going down ??? Are they "in shape" ???? What happened to Chris Clawson ??? With Claw I never remember loosing guys like this / at least not wholesale slaughter . I think we need a new Strength Coordinator . These guys are weak . Claw always had us ready .
I know we need OL (Alex is a BUST . I tryed to be positive but he will never be Orlando or Jackie or John Williams) but please use our #1 overall (and sad to say / it will be us first on the clock) on Brian Brohm . He is too good to pass . Even if we keep Marc / we could work Brian in slow . With a new Real Coach we will Win . Lets face it / its going to take more than 1 draft to fix us (we all know it ) . So take Brian / or at least a Killer WR .
There has to be changes at GM & HC & SC . I could never walk into the locker room the way it is now . The Old Timers would cry . But with a new HC (hopefully Bill or Jimmy ) there will be good changes to make us Real Rams again . If one more year of Lenahan & the same old management , it will be the "same old Rams" (like the 49ers used to say / man we hated that) ... But in 08 "same old Rams " will have fewer & fewer fans in the Dome .
Unless there are BIG changes / St Louis get used to game blackouts . Georgia pull the trigger now or it wont be pretty . CR would have done what was needed to be done a long time ago . And unlike CR & The Colts / Georga wont be able to swap teams . ........ Billy C Old School Ram Fan

Jim Thomas: Linehan will be back after the bye week. There will be no coaching change during the season.
As for the injuries, that's a tough call. Some are simply freak in nature. But I think the Rams have to re-evaluate everything they do in terms of conditioning and weight training, what they do in OTAs, minicamp, training camp, preseason.
I wouldn't call him a bust, but Alex Barron has been a disappointment so far. I'm not sure how much he really cares.
I think the Rams have many greater needs than a QB with their No. 1 overall pick. A killer WR would be a good start, for example.

Don: As Shaw fiddles, we weep! There has been much talk in your posts, as well as others, that a huge change needs to take place with the Rams. It is so obvious that the overhaul should start 30 seconds after the end of the last regular season game. While I agree that you don"t fire a head coach in mid season, Linehan really needs to be done quickly at the end of the season and a new football organization needs to be built. Jim, please give us hope---do you get the feeling that Shaw knows this and is preparing to do somehting here?

Jim Thomas: Don, I haven't talked to Shaw since the Sunday night of the Seattle game. He seems committed to Linehan for this season, and generally supportive. But he's also leaving the door open to a possible change in 2008. So these final eight games are very important to Linehan. I think Shaw realizes that if Linehan comes back, and nothing "exciting" is done in terms of player acquisition, that ticket sales may plummet.

JScurvy: Do you think that with all of the injuries, it's reached a point where guys tearing their ACLs and suffering serious injuries is just plain funny? I mean, it's pretty much a comedy goldmine right now, isn't it?

Jim Thomas: JScurvy--Seinfeld (sp?) is funny. Will Ferrell is funny. Chris Rock is funny. I don't think injuries _ tons of injuries _ are funny. These players may be bad. They may be underachievers. But almost all of them care a lot about their profession and put a lot into it. I don't really get your question. By the way, have you ever done TV work?