Billy C: Jim : How many concussions has Marc had ? Ive watched Chris / Tony / Kurt and now Marc get gang banged forever . I was on the field when we carried Chris off the field in NY after his last wack . I think John Robinson had our last quality OL . We have some good guys now .....But... less than half of them are "Studient Body Left" material.
If the Cap wont let us trade Marc (hopefully he can play again next season) how about grooming a young guy like say Joe Flacco Delaware in the second round ?? If we trade down our #1 (please dont draft an OT #1 - I know it sounds like a contradiction / I dont feel like there is an OT worth that high a pick this year) .
If we drop just a few spaces we could still get quality like say Malcom Kelly WR Oka or Vernon Gholston DE O S and have2-#2s. We could get Joe Flacco or Jeff Otah OT Pitt or K Rivers OLB USC and have the other #2 for Quinton Groves DE Auburn or Fred Davis TE USC .
We should be able to pick up some proven OL guys in FA / I think the Ram management overlooks FA too much .Our drafts have not been hot but people dont realize our FA department is worse . Who do you like at OL in Fa ? Thanks ...Billy C Old School Ram Fan

Jim Thomas: Bulger says he's had only one concussion prior to this one.

JerzeyMo: Jim,

Shaw says Linehan may be back, but what if John Fox is fired or Cowher wants back in as a head coach?

Jim Thomas: Unless Linehan shows up naked on the sideline some time soon or pulls a Bill Callahan and loses 73-0 in the next three games, he's back.

Gabriel to Snow: Well Jim, I am now seriously concerned that it will be a few years before we see playoff football. Setting aside the bludgeoned to death subjects of coaching & the front office for the moment, I'm worried we can not fill our needs talent wise. Prior to Bulgers concussion, I was cautiously optimistic. Not anymore, & here's why. Chris Miller, Troy Aikman, Trent Green, Steve Young etc. I can't think of a QB that completed a full season, or even stayed long in the league, after missing time due to being concussed. Bulger has been a trooper when it comes to facing the rush & playing with pain. However, he has made it clear no bravado will be employed when it comes to risking the old grey matter, & who can blame him. I have yet to hear anyone voice the obvious. The chances that Mark is our QB for the next few years just took a serious blow. (pun intended) The middle round POSSIBLE QB of the future may have to be adjusted to an early round LIKELY QB of the future. Even if he has no ill effects the rest of the way. This may be a deep draft for QBs, & the 2nd or 3rd round may be sufficient. Jim, do you agree with this assessment? Also, if the WORST happens, & Mark is unable to play again after another hit or two, what kind of cap hit do we take if injury forces retirement of a big $ dollar player? Lastly, I don't place much stock in a halfhearted Shaw vote of confidence. I like Linehan as a person, but if we flounder completely these last three games, the front office risks having the rest of the Rams fan base join the mass exodus already under way. It may be that a coaching change would be the only way to stop that exodus. How do you see it?

Jim Thomas: The Rams need to make sure that Bulger is protected, via pass protection, quicker throws, and better blocker. Offensive line needs to be a top priority in the offseason _ almost across the board.
P.S. _ You may have interpreted it as a halfhearted vote by Shaw. But it was not. Linehan will be back.

Joe Stafford: Jim, Is John Shaw so blind that he doesn't notice the half empty seats, the tv blackouts, the poor jersey sales ect? Forget the play on the field, Isn't part of his job to insure that the Rams make money? Does he have a clue at all?

Jim Thomas: I don't want to speak for him. But rightly, wrongly, or stubbornly, he believes Linehan deserves another year. And if that means a setback in ticket sales, so be it. He believes, and he may prove to be dead wrong, that over the long term, he's doing the right thing.

george_allen: Jim

It was posted by a fan that attended last Sunday's game that Steven Jackson and Scott Linehan got into a long one-on-one sideline "conversation" that had Linehan's back to the game for "several minutes". Can you shed any light as to what was going on there?

Also, do you have any read as to how committed the players are to Linehan at this point - is there any level of dissention that would be of concern, particular among the leaders and veterans of the team?

Jim Thomas: I usually watch the actual games more than the sideline. So I'm not aware of any conversation between Jackson and Linehan.
Players are only going to spout the party line publicly. As I've stated before on this forum, I think there has been some low level grumbling at times from offensive players _ some of the same offensive players that complained about the Martz offense.
I think Bulger's relationship could be better with Linehan. They need better communication. Then again, it was Bulger who presented a game ball to Linehan after the team got its first victory over New Orleans.