Welcome back, Nolan Cromwell

In move sure to prove how much influence and sway I have over the organization, the Rams hired Nolan Cromwell to coach our Wide Receivers yesterday. Of course, I am glad we have Nolan back, and I wish him nothing but the very best of good luck in working with our razor thin talent at the position. Cromwell has always been an excellent man.

However, I am disapointed for Issac Bruce. I felt he was natural fit. We had marvelous results with Henry Ellard, and we never should have let him go. Issac would have walked in the footsteps of Henry for the second time. I felt Issac's second succession would lead to similar excellent results.

Perhaps we can suit Issac up for one season. God knows we can use him.

To make Nolan successful this time around, we are going to have to seriously upgrade our talent at the Wide Receiver position. Laurent Robinson was showing signs in his foreshortened tour of duty last season. We hope he can come back from injury. Donnie Avery took two steps back and perhaps two or three steps forward last season. We are uncertain of his progress. It was a very up and down affair in 2009 for Avery. I was upset by the drops and fumbles, but we need to remember he was our only weapon last season. He drew tough double coverage at all times because defenses needed to worry about no one else. I personally believe he is destined to be the #2 receiver behind a big-shot #1 receiver we do not yet have on the roster.

God knows I am praying for a collective bargaining agreement in the next 17 days so we can acquire Brandon Marshall from the Denver Broncos. I would chase him all day long in free agency with big money. Marshall is everything you want and more from a killer #1 receiver. He would take all the pressure in the world off of Donnie Avery and Laurent. They would be able to prosper in the shade of his tall shadow. Marshall and Avery would make a very nice thunder and lightning combo. They would pose some difficulties for defensive coordinators in 2010. DCs in 2009 had no difficulties to consider--save Steven Jackson--when playing the Rams.

Finally, acquiring Dexter McCluster in the 3rd around is an absolute must. I would use McCluster in precisely the same way Mad Mike Martz intends to use Devon Hester. I would line Dexter up in the Slot receiver position and try to construct a mis-match between him and a safety or outside linebacker. He'll shake either coverage easily.

To make either Michael Vick or Tim Tebow successful in both the near and the long terms, serious upgrades at the Wide Receiver position are in order.

Don't trade for Brandon Marshall

Denver Post columnist Dave Krieger floated a trade balloon yesterday, suggesting that the Broncos should trade Brandon Marshall and Bears' #1 pick to the Rams for the absolute #1 pick in 2010 draft. Presumably, the Broncos would use this pick to select Suh. Naturally this lit up the conversation wires among Rams fans.

Let squash this one with a simple principle from warfare and business: Never pay for anything you can get for free. Everyone is presuming that Denver still owns the rights to this 4th year player. That is only true if 2010 is going to be an uncapped year. This question is still uncertain. If we have a labor accord, and 2010 is not uncapped, Brandon Marshall can move as he pleases, provided they don't franchise him. Can you imagine how fucking stupid we will actually be and look if we deal Suh for a 1st and a guy we could have for free? What if we don't get a good contractual hold on him immediately? We would look about as stupid as Al Davis is about to look trading for Richard Seymour.

There may well be a series of late-preseason free agents because of a latter day labor accord. Wait and watch for this moment.

No my friends, you get Brandon Marshall in free agency by signing him to a good contract, or you don't get him at all. A trade involves massive risks that, from my viewpoint, are unnecessary. I'll chase Brandon Marshall all day long in free agency. I won't trade for him.

I understand Dave Krieger's desire to get something for Marshall rather than merely allowing him to walk away as a 100% loss to the Broncos. This is human nature. I just hope we aren't stupid enough be on the other end of that transaction. Given the highly tenuous legal hold the Broncos have on Brandon Marshall, they are really in no position to be talking trade deal with anyone regarding him. This is a sucker's trade. Don't be the sucker.

Memo to Devany: Make sure we sign Brandon Marshall

I won't bother to rehash all the meladrama going on in Denver between the owner the coach and Brandon Marshall. The bottom line is that there relationship is going to end on a sour note. Brandon has been deactivated for his final game in a Bronco uniform. He will become an unrestricted free agent thereafter. Despite the fact that they are playing the Chiefs, I think the Broncos miss the playoffs. The Ravens will take the Raiders to the electrical shed.

We can expect Marshall to make a play for Chicago. I am almost certain he wants to be reuinited with Jay Cutler. They were turning into a famous combo together. Nobody was more pissed about Jaygate than Marshall. During a teleconference interview with the NFL Network, Marshall was careful to make sure he was filmed in front of the painting of himself and Jay Cutler embracing after their first Pro touchdown together. That speaks volumes.

I know Chicago would love to have Brandon. I know Jay would love to get him back. I know it is a long-shot for the Rams to intercept this process successfully and get Marshall to come to a team with no established NFL quarterback. However, money talks. We should make Brandon a nice lucrative offer. If Chicago gets him, we should make it expensive as hell for them.

Personally, I can't think of a better security blanket for a rookie like Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy or Jevan Snead. Would you like to ease the passage of a young rookie QB into the NFL? Get him a killer reciever like Brandon Marshall.