Bill Watkins: If Linehan is still coach next year, my season tickets are cancelled PERIOD END OF STORY

Jim Thomas: He will still be the coach. And I get the feeling, you won't be the only one cancelling your PSLs.

JerseyRamFan: Hey Jim,

Well, I have to tell you that I am kind of surprised about John Shaw's comment about keeping Linehan for another year. I kind of have mixed feelings about it. While I don't want the whole thing blown up, Linehan really hasn't shown to be HC material. I am really surprised that he didn't lose the team. That was probably the contributing factor of Shaw's comment. Now I know everyone is saying that Linehan should get a free pass due to the injuries, but you have to take a look at teams like Buffalo. Look how many injuries they have and they have a winning record. Okay, I know your looking for a question here, so here it is. What changes can we Ram fans expect for next year? New strength and conditioning coaches? A more aggressive attack in play calling? A new offensive coordinator? More 3-4 defensive schemes? It seems to the untrained eye that Linehan is learning on the job. That doesn't bother me as much as the pace that he is learning. Maybe Linehan should do a complete opposite of what DV did in his 3rd year. Make them do 3 a days and put the pads on in day 1 of practice. This way, that toughness can transfer to the field so they can actually finish the games they start.

Jim Thomas: 3-4? New assistants? New personnel? I don't know the answers to those questions. Neither do Shaw or Linehan at this point.

Ron Romer Sr: OK, so we get Mr.Linehan back for next season... so is our glass half empty or half full for next season, can we rebound to winning or more of same of this year ? Just wish to know your perspective...

Jim Thomas: Linehan is a very classy individual. A good human being. I think he's a good coach? But I just don't know at this point if he has what it takes to get his team back on the right footing? Why has the offense gotten out of the gates so slowly each season? Why has the team struggled so much in the second half? Why haven't the Rams won some of the closer games this season? Why are there so many injuries? Those are all questions that I have, and that many fans have, and that I hope John Shaw has.

bash-on: Okay, Linihan will be back. But Jim Haslett could be gone, yes? I'm sure other clubs around theleague have noticed the work he's accomplished with the defense this year and with so many openings coming up, (as there always are with each new season), what are the chances that some club signs him away from the Rams?

Jim Thomas: Haslett has made no secret of the fact that he wants another crack at head coaching. Although they've had some disappointing moments, I think the defense has played better than its numbers would indicate because of their own injuries and the ineptitude of the offense for much of the season. So I think Haslett does have a chance to get more play as a head coaching candidate than he did last year. And if Haslett goes, Venturi and DB coach Willy Robinson probably go, too.

JK: Hello Jim,
Can you tell me how much cap space remains for this year that can be used to sign a pending free agent (such as Chillar) to a long-term deal?
I recently read that the Rams have about $9.5 in cap space for 2008. Could you go over a couple of renegotiated contract scenarios that might free up some bucks for a player such as Faneca or Starks from the Steelers or Lilja from the Colts?

Thanks!
JK

Jim Thomas: I don't have those numbers with me on remaining '07 cap space _ I think they're in the back seat of my car belive it or not. But the Rams do have enough money left to re-sign Chillar this year.
The Rams indeed have about $10 million cap space currently for '08 _ and keep in mind, about half of that could be needed for draft picks. But they can free up money by releasing Bruce and/or Glover. Little is due a $7 million roster bonus, that if re-worked could save the Rams several million. There's plenty of ways to free up money, so I don't think that will be an issue if the Rams want to make something happen.