Youngblood fan 4ever: Jim, a question outside of Rams football regarding the rules of the game. All of the talk centering around the questionable call at the end of the Steelers/Ravens game regarding the ball breaking the plane.
I was under the assumption that if you are running the ball into the endzone, the ball needs to break the plane, but if you are making a reception, all you need is two feet and possesion (not necessarily having the ball in the end zone). Hence how can all the great touchdowns where the receiver is dragging his feet in the endzone while making the catch with the ball out of bounds? Is it because, in theory the ball passed through the endzone in the air prior to making the catch??
If you can, please clarify for me.

Thanks and thanks for keeping the faith. Go RAMS!!

Jim Thomas: Wow! You've got me on this one.

UCityDave: Jim -

Thanks for the forum. As you know, Isaac Bruce returns to the Dome on Sunday. The way the season has played out, some significant milestones will be within his reach during the game.

He needs just 6 catches to become only the fourth person in NFL history to catch 1,000 balls. (He's caught at least 6 balls in 3 of his last 4 games.)

He needs only 59 yards to pass Tim Brown for second on the all-time NFL receiving yards list. (He's had 60 yards or more 5 times this year, including the last 4 games in a row.)

He needs only 125 yards to become just the second person in NFL history to amass 15,000 career receiving yards. (He's had 125 yards or more twice this year.)

My question is, do you think the team understands that some of the people who bother to show up might be there to see these events, and they might want them to be memorialized (or at least noticed) if they occur?

We've already missed a lot because of someone's short-sighted decision to save $500k or $1MM out of a $118MM salary cap. Playing in a 49er uniform, Ike has passed Irving Fryar, Andre Rison, Mark Clayton, Tommy McDonald, Paul Warfield, Lance Alworth, Andre Reed and Don Maynard on the all-time receiving TD list. He's putting the capstone on a Hall of Fame career. Shame we only get to see him play once a year now. It would have given us something worthwhile to follow in an otherwise dismal season.

P.S. Anything on Jacob Bell's weight loss?

Jim Thomas: I'm told the Rams won't even announce the milestones in the press box, much less on the stadium P.A., because the 49ers wouldn't announce some Rams milestones when the teams played in Candlestick last month.
But to me, it will be a special moment. I don't care how many more years and how many more teams Isaac plays for, he will always be a Ram. Rest assured, Mike Martz will do everything he can to get Bruce the milestones in St. Louis.
If it were up to me, I would've kept Bruce for the final year of his Rams contract (through '08) and let him work with the Teen Squad.

arnezzi: same question I asked Gordo:

Can we agree that whoever the Rams pick in the first round must start from Day 1?

If so, is OT such a problem that the Rams are really ready to put Pace or Barron on the sideline, if not on the street before next year?

The franchise needs to sell tickets. Why in the world would it think about drafting Crabtree at WR when it could make a huge PR plus by drafting Jeremy Maclin? Or has Holt's recent rejuvenation made WR less worrisome?

How about a LB?

Jim Thomas: Yes--Anyone taken that high (with the possible exception of a QB) has to start on Day 1.
Yes--The Rams feel they need to upgrade the offensive tackle position.
I think the Rams really like Maclin.

Mr. Smith: Hey JT, thanks for answering my question

As far as game planning goes I thought the rams did a good job in the first half against the hawks. The second half was of course a different story. My question is does Al Saunders make the second half adjustments on offense of does Haslett? Im just trying to put a finger on who to blame for some of the boring and lax play calling.

Jim Thomas: Well, I'd be a liar if I told you I knew the answer exactly. But I do believe Haslett does a lot of deferring to Saunders. Because of Haslett's past duties as defensive coordinator, he never had the chance to learn the Saunders offense, particularly some of the terminology. And that's something that's hard to pick up midstream.
That's not to say, however, that Haslett can't say--Hey, we need to run the ball more. Or, hey, let's go deep. Etc.

JustME: Hello Jim Thomas.

1) How did Scott Linehan ever beat out Ron Rivera?
2) Has anyone in the media talked to Linehan since his departure?
3) Would the Rams have any interest in former Redskins DC Gregg Williams?
4) Do you have a radio show?

Jim Thomas: 1.) I think Rivera was runner-up. And if I remember correctly, the main concern about Rivera was that he didn't have clearcut ideas (or good enough answers) on staffing, particularly on offense. The Rams also felt it would be easier to hire an offensive-oriented head coach (and have him hire a competent defensive coordinator) than hire a defensive-oriented head coach (and have him hire a competent offensive coordinator).
2.) Not that I'm aware of. I've left some phone messages for him, but haven't heard back.
3.) Haven't heard his name come up. They did have interest in him a few years ago.
4.) I'm on several times weekly on the Bernie Miklasz Show (which airs 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 1380 AM). I'm usually on in either the 4 o'clock or 5 o'clock hour.)
On game days, I usually do a pregame segment on 1380 as well, usually sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.