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10 Questions with Jim Thomas
STLTODAY.COM SPORTS
02/09/2010
Here are 10 key questions and answers about the Rams from today's "Jim Thomas Live" chat:
Question: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being certain, what are the odds that the Rams get Michael Vick?
Jim Thomas: I'm not going to put odds on it, because I'm not sure about the competition. But all signs are that the Rams are seriously interested in Vick. I've mentioned that previously on this chat.
I was one of a few reporters around Spagnuolo on Friday at the Super Bowl media center, and Bernie has also written either in the newspaper or on his blog of the Rams interest. So I think it's pretty well established.
Q.: Do you believe that Marc Bulger has any trade value? How do you see the Bulger situation working out?
Thomas: I think Bulger does have some trade value, but it would be hard to see the Rams getting more than. say. a fourth-rounder for him, given his three-year slump. There still seems to be some support in the organization for Bulger, so I guess it's possible he could be back if none of the other scenarios materialize (Vick, etc.).
Q.: If the Rams do choose a quarterback with their first pick, who do you think it will be: Bradford or Clausen?
Thomas: Bradford will be at the combine, but won't throw at the combine. I don't think he's going to be able to throw until March. I think the Rams like both Bradford and Clausen. I have a hard time believing they would take one of them at No. 1 overall.
Q.: What is your take on Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen? We really need to take Suh, and some of the Clausen slobber I hear is getting on my nerves.
Thomas: Here's the thing that bugs me about Clausen. I've seen some of the Notre Dame games. I know about his impressive TD-to-INT ratio. And obviously I know the Notre Dame defense wasn't great. But if he is truly a franchise QB, the kind who can take you to the Super Bowl, how did the Irish finish 6-6? Is there something missing here in terms of leadership, intangibles, personality?
Q.: I've always wondered about the situtation with the estate of Georgia Frontiere upon her death, that is leading to the potential sale of the Rams. Why was the inheritance tax not taken care of through insurance, etc.? I would have thought that John Shaw would have created a plan to cover the transfer of the club to the children.
Thomas: Obviously, I'm not an expert on estate law. But I believe Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez currently are only paying interest on the estate taxes. I think it's about $1 million per yer. But in about 3 years, they have to start paying principal on the estate taxes, which is about $17 million a year. When it reaches that amount, it basically eliminates the per year profit made by the team (now that they're in the bottom fourth of the league in profitability).
Although Chip and Lucia live comfortable lives, they are not independently wealthy -- to the point where they can absorb breaking even on the Rams. Thus, the pressure to sell the team. I know the family did take some measures to limit the impact of the estate taxes, so it could've been worse.
Q.: Do you know how many Rams that went on IR and visiting players were injured at the Jones Dome?
Thomas: Off the top of my head, this season Marc Bulger (shin bone), Keenan Burton (knee), Daniel Fells (thigh), Bradley Fletcher (knee), Gary Gibson (ankle), Chris Massey (knee), and Laurent Robinson (leg) all suffered season-ending leg or foot injuries at the Dome. Among visiting teams, I know Super Bowl hero Tracy Porter of New Orleans suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for more than a month.
Q.: What is your take on the players going on strike for more of the owners money?
Thomas: Actually, the players don't want any more of the owners' money. The owners made a bad deal in 2006 on the current extension, and they realize it. Roger Goodell acknowledged as much during his state of the league address last Friday in Fort Lauderdale. It is the owners, who had the players under their thumbs for so long, who want the players to give some money back.
Q.: What is your reaction to the pictures of former Rams greats being removed at Rams Park?
Thomas: I understand what Spags is trying to accomplish with the whole "team first" thing, but there are times when I think the football people at Rams Park are trying to forget the past instead of embracing it. To me, the photo of Warner and Faulk in the team room sitting side by side with the caption "Back to Back" (signifying when they were back to back league MVPs) would be a reminder of what the Rams franchise has achieved, and what the level of expectation should be -- to be the best.
The picture of Ricky Proehl that once hung in the team room making his incredible "Catch for the Ages" against Tampa Bay could be a reminder that role players are just as important to the team as stars, and that it takes an entire team to win at the highest level. And also, on a more general theme to "be ready when needed." (That catch against the Bucs in the NFC title game was Proehl's first TD catch of the year.)
Q.: Why wouldn't the Rams just talk with Bruce and Faulk and see what kind of tips or any other assistance they can offer?
Thomas: I think the Rams have talked to Faulk in the past. My impression is he wants a big title right away -- something the Rams aren't willing to offer. Still, maintaining a pipeline with these greats, who obviously still care a lot about the organization, makes all the sense in the world.
Q.: Have you heard any more about the possibility of the Rams picking up CFL DE Ricky Foley? Would he compete for the starting job in camp?
Thomas: According to a colleague of mind who works for the Vancouver Sun, Foley visited the Chargers on Sunday or Monday, and was supposed to be in Seattle today. He's leaving for a vacation in Brazil later this week, so I would think he'd make the decision before he leaves. I think the Rams feel Foley would be more OLB than DE because of his size. I don't know about starting, but I'm sure he could at the least compete to be a situational pass rusher.
STLTODAY.COM SPORTS
02/09/2010
Here are 10 key questions and answers about the Rams from today's "Jim Thomas Live" chat:
Question: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being certain, what are the odds that the Rams get Michael Vick?
Jim Thomas: I'm not going to put odds on it, because I'm not sure about the competition. But all signs are that the Rams are seriously interested in Vick. I've mentioned that previously on this chat.
I was one of a few reporters around Spagnuolo on Friday at the Super Bowl media center, and Bernie has also written either in the newspaper or on his blog of the Rams interest. So I think it's pretty well established.
Q.: Do you believe that Marc Bulger has any trade value? How do you see the Bulger situation working out?
Thomas: I think Bulger does have some trade value, but it would be hard to see the Rams getting more than. say. a fourth-rounder for him, given his three-year slump. There still seems to be some support in the organization for Bulger, so I guess it's possible he could be back if none of the other scenarios materialize (Vick, etc.).
Q.: If the Rams do choose a quarterback with their first pick, who do you think it will be: Bradford or Clausen?
Thomas: Bradford will be at the combine, but won't throw at the combine. I don't think he's going to be able to throw until March. I think the Rams like both Bradford and Clausen. I have a hard time believing they would take one of them at No. 1 overall.
Q.: What is your take on Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen? We really need to take Suh, and some of the Clausen slobber I hear is getting on my nerves.
Thomas: Here's the thing that bugs me about Clausen. I've seen some of the Notre Dame games. I know about his impressive TD-to-INT ratio. And obviously I know the Notre Dame defense wasn't great. But if he is truly a franchise QB, the kind who can take you to the Super Bowl, how did the Irish finish 6-6? Is there something missing here in terms of leadership, intangibles, personality?
Q.: I've always wondered about the situtation with the estate of Georgia Frontiere upon her death, that is leading to the potential sale of the Rams. Why was the inheritance tax not taken care of through insurance, etc.? I would have thought that John Shaw would have created a plan to cover the transfer of the club to the children.
Thomas: Obviously, I'm not an expert on estate law. But I believe Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez currently are only paying interest on the estate taxes. I think it's about $1 million per yer. But in about 3 years, they have to start paying principal on the estate taxes, which is about $17 million a year. When it reaches that amount, it basically eliminates the per year profit made by the team (now that they're in the bottom fourth of the league in profitability).
Although Chip and Lucia live comfortable lives, they are not independently wealthy -- to the point where they can absorb breaking even on the Rams. Thus, the pressure to sell the team. I know the family did take some measures to limit the impact of the estate taxes, so it could've been worse.
Q.: Do you know how many Rams that went on IR and visiting players were injured at the Jones Dome?
Thomas: Off the top of my head, this season Marc Bulger (shin bone), Keenan Burton (knee), Daniel Fells (thigh), Bradley Fletcher (knee), Gary Gibson (ankle), Chris Massey (knee), and Laurent Robinson (leg) all suffered season-ending leg or foot injuries at the Dome. Among visiting teams, I know Super Bowl hero Tracy Porter of New Orleans suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for more than a month.
Q.: What is your take on the players going on strike for more of the owners money?
Thomas: Actually, the players don't want any more of the owners' money. The owners made a bad deal in 2006 on the current extension, and they realize it. Roger Goodell acknowledged as much during his state of the league address last Friday in Fort Lauderdale. It is the owners, who had the players under their thumbs for so long, who want the players to give some money back.
Q.: What is your reaction to the pictures of former Rams greats being removed at Rams Park?
Thomas: I understand what Spags is trying to accomplish with the whole "team first" thing, but there are times when I think the football people at Rams Park are trying to forget the past instead of embracing it. To me, the photo of Warner and Faulk in the team room sitting side by side with the caption "Back to Back" (signifying when they were back to back league MVPs) would be a reminder of what the Rams franchise has achieved, and what the level of expectation should be -- to be the best.
The picture of Ricky Proehl that once hung in the team room making his incredible "Catch for the Ages" against Tampa Bay could be a reminder that role players are just as important to the team as stars, and that it takes an entire team to win at the highest level. And also, on a more general theme to "be ready when needed." (That catch against the Bucs in the NFC title game was Proehl's first TD catch of the year.)
Q.: Why wouldn't the Rams just talk with Bruce and Faulk and see what kind of tips or any other assistance they can offer?
Thomas: I think the Rams have talked to Faulk in the past. My impression is he wants a big title right away -- something the Rams aren't willing to offer. Still, maintaining a pipeline with these greats, who obviously still care a lot about the organization, makes all the sense in the world.
Q.: Have you heard any more about the possibility of the Rams picking up CFL DE Ricky Foley? Would he compete for the starting job in camp?
Thomas: According to a colleague of mind who works for the Vancouver Sun, Foley visited the Chargers on Sunday or Monday, and was supposed to be in Seattle today. He's leaving for a vacation in Brazil later this week, so I would think he'd make the decision before he leaves. I think the Rams feel Foley would be more OLB than DE because of his size. I don't know about starting, but I'm sure he could at the least compete to be a situational pass rusher.
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