zn2003: Hi. A lot of PD people, including you I think, have said that Jay Zygmunt got increasingly involved in personnel decisions over the years. From the outside, however, it looks like JZ's big flaw was that he let 2 consecutive first-time head coaches make the decisions when it came to the draft and free agency. From that perspective, JZ's involvement seemed to involve, primarily, cap-related decisions about who to re-sign and who to let walk (Pickett, for example)---but the draft and signing free agents seemed to be up to the coaches (until Devaney came, anyway). Are those 2 views incompatible? What WAS the extent of Zygmunt's involvement with personnel? What specific decisions were his? Did he overrule Devaney on anything? Which specific decisions involving which players did Zygmunt make? I think you see the drift here. Just asking for some details and clarity on a kind of murky issue. Thanks.

Jim Thomas: These are great questions and I wish I could give you concrete answers. In general, I think Jay had more control over free agency, simply because he in essence controlled the purse strings. For example, what's a head coach to say if Zygmunt told him "so and so is asking too much" or "the guy doesn't want to play here."
In terms of the draft, I think the Rams still deferred mainly to the head coach.
And there's always a consensus approach involving coach, personnel head, and upper management, so in many cases it's difficult to say who exactly decided what.

newyorkram!: Jim,

Barron and Goldberg platooning? Does Goldberg do better against left handed pitchers? Seriously, any insight into this move? Also, is there any hope for Scheuning, or is he Dustin Fry, part deux?

Thanks for you time.

Jim Thomas: As for the platoon at RT, I think it's more a reflection of disatisfaction in Barron than anything else.
I wouldn't write of Schuening just yet, but he's definitely at end of the pecking order on the current roster.

keith: Jim, do you think the Rams have a problem with an eroding fan base and will have trouble selling out games next season? Thanks

Jim Thomas: Yes.

RamFanInPA: Jim,
Pro Football Weekly had the following in their recent "The Way We Hear It" Dec. 21st column.
“It sure sounds like St. Louis is close to being sold. I was told they were trying to get it done before the end of the year. That front office should be set on fire. If a place ever needed a cleansing, it is there.”

Have you heard any rumors regarding an imminent sale?

Have a safe and Happy Holiday Season

THanks

Jim Thomas: I've mentioned this before: NO SALE IS IMMINENT.

aries44: Jim, will there still be upgrades to the ED this year as planned. Thanks.

Jim Thomas: Yes, about $30 million worth. So it's not going to be overwhelming stuff. But I'll try to pin it down in the near future.