fliswtr: Hi Jim,
I'm a Ram fan, this is a down year (to say the least), the team has gone through bad times before and like before the off season brings a feeling of hope and anticipation sort of like the holiday season that is approaching. Although it's always fun to go through the mock draft lists and wonder what it would be like to pluck several all-americans from college and plug them into the line-up, I think it's even more intriguing this off season to speculate on the front office jobs and coaching jobs. Jim, any idea who's out there that can steer this team forward and bring a new identity to this organization? Anyone willing and able, and up to this reconstruction task? In keeping with the holiday spirit who will be the three wise men choosen to lead this team (GM,President, and Head Coach)?

Jim Thomas: It really looks like Billy Devaney will be given a chance as the GM, and based on what we've seen so far, he deserves the chance.
The head coach is trickier. I get the feeling that Chip Rosenbloom likes Jim Haslett, and would like to make him the head coach. But it's not going to happen unless the team wins a couple of games (as I reported in Tuesday's paper), and plays much more competitive football. For whatever reason, I just don't see that happening at this point.
There will be a lot of head-coaching openings this season. Guys like Cowher, Schottenheimer and Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will be in high demand. For one, why would high-profile candidates like that want to come to St. Louis given all the options that could be out there? For another, can the Rams afford to shell out big bucks for Cowher and Schottenheimer. After that, it looks like you're rolling the dice on another unproven coordinator, or a retread (Fassell, Billick, etc.).

kerman Ram fan: Hey Jim a lot of fustrated Ram fans feel maybe they should try to trade S. Jackson for a blockbuster deal like they did with Eric Dikerson, to get players and daft picks. I personally dont want to trade our only real offensive weapon, but there is some dead weight on the tean (Drew Bennet,Klopfenstein)any chance of getting them loose, to save money and go after better player

Jim Thomas: Since Jackson just signed a big money contract with the team, any trade would have cap ramifications that would be prohibitive.

Kevin: Jim
any chance th rams will look at scott peoli from new england these guys up here are using up their depth chart and still winning they must know talent. The guys they plug in produce

Jim Thomas: And why, exactly, would Peoli want to come here?

Michael Gordon: jim, please tell me carriker and witherspoon are struggling because of injuries not because they are bad footballers. It is beyond belief that guys that are talented can play that bad. in your reckoning, how many starters on each side of the ball will be the same now, as they are come opening day 2009?

Any chance we hire a coach or players that are used to winning and WANT to win? For a team with so many supposed high character leaders (chavous, holt, carriker, long, draft, pace) to collapse is a farce.....

Jim Thomas: Carriker began the season coming off a serious shoulder surgery that was maybe 85 percent healthy. He's been playing with a bad ankle the past few weeks. Witherspoon's shoulder has been a problem much of the season; now he's got both shoulders bothering him. Plus the Rams have finally come to the realization that he's playing out of position.
As for how many starters will be back, that depends on who's the head coach. I would say off the top of my head that at least eight of the 22 could be changed.

Steve B.: Jim:
As always, thanks for the chats.
There's been a lot of talk that the Rams might use their first round draft choice to take one of the elite offensive tackles. If they do, do you think they cut Pace?
What are the cap ramifications if big O is cut?

Jim Thomas: Strange as it may have sounded a couple years ago, I think it is possible that Pace could be released or traded. He has three years left on his contract, but there is no proration of signing bonus in the last two years. What that means is that there's "only" a $3 million cap hit if he leaves.