B in Denver: Jim: Thanks for the time. Do you think Tory has lost a step or two? Have you talked to the league offices about the deal the Seahawks have in place with Mora, as it relates to what the Rams did with Haslet? What is the difference, or is there one? I know there is alot of season left. But what area do you think the 1st round pick should be next year? (I think it should be a MLB)

Jim Thomas: I don't think Torry runs like he did four or five years ago, but by no means do I think he can't run anymore. I still see him getting separation. I still see him getting open. He runs good routes and has great hands. I still think he can be a very effective receiver in this offense.
Yes, I did check with the league on Mora. And as long as a provision is written into an assistant coach's contract _ while he's still an assistant _ the coach can be named a head-coach-in-waiting without worrying about the Rooney Rule. I don't know why this loophole exists, but it does.
As for the first-round pick, as I said last week, take the best player available. Don't reach for need in the early rounds.

MonkeyLooker: This is why many Ram's fans hold Marc Bulger accountable for his poor, mistake prone, uninspiring play-

NFL'S HIGHEST PAID

Top NFL salaries in 2007 (includes bonuses):
Player, team Salary

DE Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis $ 30,750,000

QB Marc Bulger, St. Louis $ 17,502,040

OL Leonard Davis, Dallas $ 17,006,240

DE Gaines Adams, Tampa Bay $ 15,434,000

DE Robert Geathers, Cincinnati $ 14,000,000

DT Cory Redding, Detroit $ 13,625,000

OL Derrick Dockery, Buffalo $ 13,504,680

RB Reggie Bush, New Orleans $ 13,375,960

OL Kris Dielman, San Diego $ 13,305,280

RB Larry Johnson, Kansas City $ 13,300,000

Jim, you & Howard Balzer are nauseating in your defense of Bulger - when you are the 2d highest paid player in the NFL you are expected to make plays so quit making excuses for him!

Jim Thomas: I'm not sure I get your point. Obviously, Bulger isn't playing up to his contract. His 2007 salary is so high because he got all the signing bonus money for his contract extension during that year. But Bulger earned that contract with his play from 2002-06. He got a market value contract for a quarterback after making his second Pro Bowl.

JMJ Ram Fan: Couple questions Jim. Do you think Bulger should be performing better, or is the O-line the problem?. When Trent was in there the numbers wern't that much better, then Bulger's, but he got rid of the ball quicker, and you saw more intensity in the offense. Also have the Rams spoken to Vermeil about maybe a job as a consaltant, He's a motivater and could help inspire some of vets and rookies to step up. What do you think?.

Jim Thomas: I think it's both. There's no doubt that Bulger should be performing better. But there's also no doubt the pass blocking needs to improve. (Although at face value it wasn't all that bad against Arizona.)
The Rams considered asking Vermeil to come on board in some sort of consultant role at about the time they were firing Linehan and hiring Haslett as head coach, but nothing ever came of it.

JMJ Ram Fan: Hey Jim I think the Rams will win just enough games to keep Haslett, I do think there is a realistic shot at this division when you look at the schedule remaing for the Rams and everyone in the division. I think he'll get them going in the right direction. As for the 2009 draft, do you think its time to start looking for succesors for Bulger and Pace? My opinon the draft should go 1st-tackle 2nd linebacker 3rd QB or try to Matt Cassel from New England what do you think?

Jim Thomas: Realistically, I think any chance the Rams had of winning the division went out the window with the loss to Arizona. They're three games back with eight to play. That's a steep hill to climb.
There's no doubt in my mind that the Rams will try to address the tackle position in the offseason. And no doubt that the Rams realize they need to begin thinking about a quarterback of the future.

Walt Ruch: Remind us again just why we're better off having allowed the "Big Red" to leave town and to toss Mad Mike and Kurt Warner off the ream? Now, we're told the Rams are for sale (going back to LA?) and that we're required to completely rebuid the Ed Dome, at a cost of tens of millions, to have any chance to retain them. Just who was it that made all these great decisions?

Jim Thomas: My, we're in a fowl mood today, eh?
I think it's great that the Big Red are winning. But let's do the math. They had only one winning season in their first 20 years in Arizona. One playoff in that time; and one playoff victory, zero division titles.
In their first 13 seasons in St. Louis, the Rams have been to two Super Bowls, won one Super Bowl, won three division titles, earned five playoff berths, won six playoff berths. Which would you rather have.
Kurt Warner is having an amazing season, and is a great person. But just what has he done between his last game in St. Louis (2003) until now?
As for Martz, this won is much harder to defend. Yes, he was hard to deal with. Yes, his people skills could be lacking at times. But he finished 20 games over .500 (56-36) in St. Louis. Since he was last on the sidelines in St. Louis, the Rams are 17 games under .500 (17-34).
As for the Edward Jones Dome, it's simply the cost of doing business in the NFL. But I think the Rams, if they're truly committed to St. Louis, need to pitch in some money of their own if the dome indeed needs massive upgrading.
Lastly, the team wouldn't be for sale had Georgia not died. And that "decision," I would say, was pretty much an act of God.