Frank Picone: Do you know the direction the Rams are going to go in at the WR position, which looks to be a large hole now with Bruce gone and the awful year Bennett had numbers and injury wise. Would Javon Walker be a possibility even though he still hasn't recovered fully from his knee injury. He seems like a guy that could rebound and he probably won't break the bank.

Jim Thomas: Walker is a guy whom the Rams would be interested in. But he's headed to Oakland for his first visit _ he's been out of the country. And as we've seen the last couple of years in free agency, the vast majority of players in the first week of free agency, sign with the first team they visit.

JustMe: Have you or anyone at the Post-Dispatch been able to get Torry Holt's reaction to the release of Isaac Bruce? And is it really true that Bruce found out about his release via the television while awaiting a callback from the Rams(according to Balzer on Sirius NFL Radio)?

Is Deangelo Hall an option for the Rams?

If the Rams draft Glenn Dorsey, what happens to Carriker?

Jim Thomas: I haven't talked to Torry directly. But I've talked to someone who's talked to him. He was shocked.
Several days before Feb. 29, Scott Linehan told Bruce, if we can't re-do your contract, you're going to be cut. Plain and simple. So I don't think it was a surprise to Isaac.

Hall _ Sure he'd be an option if the Falcons are serious about trading him.
If Dorsey's a Ram _ Dorsey and Carriker are the starting DTs, with Carriker sliding out to end on some run downs. That would leave Glover (with reduced snaps, I'm sure) and Clifton Ryan as the backups, with Claude Wroten very much on the bubble.

Brian from Las Vegas: Jim,
Are you hearing anything about a possible Rams/Lions trade for Roy Williams? By the way, the Lions really got the best of the Rams in last years trade, James Hall for a 5th round pick, and he only lasts one year.

Jim Thomas: I haven't heard anything about such a trade. I know Mike Martz doesn't think much of Williams. But it could be something that develops as we get closer to the draft.
As for Hall, I wouldn't catergorize a 5th rounder as giving up the farm. But there's no doubt Hall was a big disappointment. (Granted he was bothered by a nagging injury over the second half of the season, but 2 1/2 sacks for $3 million _ which is what Hall made last year _ isn't exacly much bang for the buck.

Thad: I don't know the specifics, but a friend of mine who runs a Steeler fan website and knows everything about the salary cap says that there's a special provision where a team can claim certain incentives if they are not earned in a year. He said there are restrictions on them, like how probable they are to be received. Zygmunt has been heralded in the past for his cap manuevering, although it sure doesn't seem like he has done a good job in recent years, otherwise they wouldn't have to be dumping all these salaries now. My question is, do the Rams ever utilize this rule, where they roll over cap space? I believe Minnesota typically does this and Philadelphia too. I would assume that he'd be aware of this rule, but maybe there's a logical reason if they don't use it. Any info on this?

Jim Thomas: I'm sure Jay is aware of this rule, and the Rams have probably used it in the past.

Bryan: Any word if the Rams are working on a trade to bring in Roy Williams, or possibly even Chad Johnson? Also are the Rams any closer to signing Bell and a CB?

Jim Thomas: Don't know about any trades for Williams and Johnson. As you now know, Bell is now a Ram. The cornerback search continues. The Rams had Drayton Florence scheduled for Sunday, he signed instead with Jacksonville where he's from. They also were trying to get Jacques Reeves in, instead he signed with Houston.