Tackleberry: Jim,

If Haslett doesn't win twice in the final three games (especially at home versus Seattle & San Fran) where does that leave Rosenbloom? Can he really still retain him? Will Chip issue one last ultimatum, like "if you aren't losing by 50 in the first half to Atlanta the job is yours next year"???? It feels like Rosebloom wants nothing to do with a new coaching search, yet it feels like a new coach may be the only way to turn this sinking ship around.

Jim Thomas: All good questions. All questions that I don't really have an answer for at this time. That's why these next two games are so meaningful for Haslett.

lawdog: Now that Vick is out of prison and our season is well into the toilet, any chance the Rams might release Green and take a flyer on Vick, assuming he can pass a physical, for next year. I imagine he could be had pretty cheap and he'd be interesting to watch run the football in tandem with Jackson. He could play real vanilla in the passing game and still be effective.

I'm more than half serious here. Two years in the joint on a charge like the one he went down on would humble the meanest of the mean. He might turn out to be a bargain that would turn the franchise around in a year or two instead of making us continue "waiting for Godot" for another 5 years with only a slim chance by then that we'll have strung together enough high end draft picks and hired an adequate head coach to have really begun the rebuilding of the franchise.

We'd just have to make sure that for the sake of players on opposing defenses, Michael has his rabies shots before game time.

Jim Thomas: I respect Vick's talent. But why would the Rams want to go there? Look at the troubles they've had with Claude Wroten, Dominique Byrd, Claude Terrell in recent years. Do you really want to go there? And how much will Vick's talents have eroded during his hiatus from the game?

OCRich: 1. Is there any concern with Donnie Avery's mental acuity? He's still not picking up sight adjustments. Is he just a rookie who missed most of training camp showing expected growing pains, or are they at all concerned?
2. Is Daniel Fells best suited for an H-back role as he is playing now or is he more of an on the line TE? Tampa didn't want to lose him, and I can see why. He's done well.
3. We were not "mocking" the Rams. We were simply trying to inject a little humor into what's been a Really Awful Miserable Season. You gotta laugh to keep from crying. (Yes, that was me in the Sean Gilbert #90 jersey and a friend in the bags.)

Thanks as always.

Jim Thomas: 1.)Avery just hasn't hit the rookie wall; it looks like he's slammed into at about 100 mph. I don't know about his mental acuity as you call it, but after 13 games, even in a complicated offense like this, you think there would be fewer missed hot reads and botched patterns.

2.)Fells probably is best suited for an H-back role, with occasional on-line duties at TE. He is a little on the small side to be strictly a line-of-scrimmage tight end. He must improve his blocking skills and show he can lead block effectively over these final three games.

3.) Hey, I appreciate the fact that you were there, supporting (kind of) your team. Are you a Rams fan from LA?

Kevin: Is coach pointing out certain players screw ups in public something that could back fire on him? I just wonder if it should be handled "in house"

Jim Thomas: It's always a fine line between holding players accountabile and fostering a sense of togetherness. (Of course, in the case of Mike Singletary, it didn't hurt the 49ers.)
In Barron's case, we all (meaning reporters) noticed that he wasn't getting any reps with the starters in practice Friday, so that would've come out anyway.
The Josh Brown thing is a little strange. Yes, they were costly misses, but in the grand scheme of things (blowout losses) did they really mean that much? And the guy still is hitting something like 83 percent of his kicks.

Rich: Good afternoon Jim,

I am glad to hear the Rams are finally listening the voices of reason and strongly considering moving an under-sized Witherspoon to the outside.

However, if they go through with this they will end up with two staring quality LBs on the weakside in Spoon and Pisa.

Which begs the question in that scenario will the Rams move Tinoisamo to the strong side or cut him loose all together?

Thanks for these chats.

Jim Thomas: I don't know the answer to that question. I would say either is a possibility. It's not a big cap cut if Pisa is released. The irony is _ he plays as much heart and passion as anybody on the team.