Chicken Little is kicking Bernie Miklasz's ass till it's purple

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/berniemiklasz/story/B125FF77F1B9353D862576E300161E04?OpenDocument&utm_source=bleacherreport.com

Well, I just read a fun piece in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Bernie was downright belligerent. I just couldn't figure out what was bothering him. Come on Bernie, don't beat around the bush. Explain what's bothering you!

In all seriousness, I am smiling right now. It appears Bernie has been reading my stuff. It would appear that my mantra is catching on. More and more Ram fans are expressing grave doubts about taking a QB in the first round. They are doing so for all the right reasons:

1. Only 33% of QBs drafted in the 1st round make it in the NFL
2. This is a weak QB year
3. The top guy has a surgically repaired right shoulder
4. We have an offensive line with 2 out 5 spots well filled.
5. Ergo our OL is 40% functional.
6. Ergo we cannot protect a rookie plugin-play QB in 2010
7. Ergo our top pick in 2010 will either die, or be a choice deferred until 2011.
8. Ergo it is wiser to look to the 2nd and 3rd rounds where some fine prospects are sure to find their dwelling places.

So in Bernie's world, I am Chicken Little, or Nervous Nellie. I can say honestly that I agree with many of the things Bernie says.

1. This is a pass-first league, thanks to Don Coryell, Ernie Zampezie, Mike Martz, and a dude named Bill Walsh.
2. Throw it or go home is the law of the playoffs. I concur.
3. It is unlikely that we will get another Kurt Warner from the Arena Football League.
4. Bradford is smart, accurate, accomplished and high character kid.

But I am going to have to take issue with the following statement:

"But the Rams wouldn't be drafting Bradford with 2010 in mind; we're talking about a long-term franchise piece here. This is about the big picture. And it's another reason you keep Steven Jackson; a strong running game will help protect a kid quarterback. "

My eyes are rankling up at the mere thought of this. Earlier in the piece, Bernie denies that he wants to throw Bradford in the Shark Tank. Later, he writes a line which strongly implies that Bradford will be handing the ball to Steve Jackson. If Bradford is in the lineup, he is in the Shark Tank. Sooner or later he is going to have to throw. He can't hand off on every down. With a 40% functional line, there is plenty of opportunity space for tragedy to strike.

Bernie is just not being realistic about nature of recurring injuries, especially to the throwing arms of QBs in the NFL. Brees is huge news story because his case is so exceptional. He is the exception, not the rule. You can't form a statistical law based one exception.

Bradford's shoulder has already been injured twice, and surgically repaired once. Put him behind a 40% functional line in the Shark Tank, and your stupid. I am sorry to put it that bluntly, but that is the way it is. Cowardice has nothing to do with it. It is stupid to run headlong into a foreseeable tragedy that can be avoided.

Especially when there is another option.

I am all in favor of doing something about our QB problems, as I have said on numerous occasions. Let's get Vick as a short term solution. Let's get Tebow as the long term solution. Both can survive the Shark Tank we're going to throw them in better than Bradford.

Consider this: If we select Bradford, we will pass on Suh. If we want to keep Bradford alive, we will need to sit him for 2010. You will get no hope out of that, and we will get no leverage out of our #1 pick. We'll basically spent $12m for nothing, and draft a year before we (not Bradford) are ready to play him. Of course, this will result in another dreadful season, in which case we can come back and draft #1 again next season and pass on Jake Locker. Does this sound like a smart long term strategy?

I think it is better to take Suh now, get immediate impact, trade for Vick, and prepare Tebow. Vick will win us some games and prepare the offense. Tebow is a hell of a kid. Just trust me on this one, the kid is going to be great. I like the 36 Wonderlic also, but 22 isn't bad. Tebow is a champion, and that is the only thing that matters.

We probably won't be drafting close to #1 under my plan, but if we should happen to bomb again, we can always draft Jake Locker next year, and we will have Ndamukong Suh to show for it! Flawlessly logical.

Hold on to your arse Ram fans... it looks like we have an unexpected buyer

The Rams have been for sale for the better part of a year now... either officially or unofficially depending on whom you listen too. This sale has been greatly protracted by the Great Recession. Now we may have reached the end of the deal.

According to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, the Rams have been sold to Shahid Khan. You may want to have a look at Bernie Miklasz's fine piece here for some solid details.

What we do know:

1. Khan is a 55 year old 1st generation immanent to the United States. His family immigrated to the St. Louis from Pakistan when he was a child. He attended the University of Illinois, Champagne/Urbana where he earned an engineering degree.
2. He is said to regard St. Louis as his hometown, and is purportedly an enthusiastic Ram fan who has attended games in the Edward Jones dome.
   
3. Khan is expected to purchase the 60% owned by Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez.
4. Khan is purportedly prepared to purchase Kroenke's 40% should he activate the poison pill clause in his ownership agreement.
   
5. Khan is the only buyer. He has no partners. He will be the sole owner at the end of the day, if he is approved.
   
6. The total value of the team has been placed between $725 and $750 million
7. Khan is the president and owner Urbana Illinois based Flex-N-Gate Corporation (FNG).
8. Flex-N-Gate is in the auto parts business, with an emphasis on heavy work truck parts and components.
9. According to Forbes, FNG is the 229th largest company in the United states with an estimated global revenue stream of approximately $2.14B.
   
10. Flex-N-Gate has approximately 10k employees at 57 facilities in 5 countries.
    
11. Khan has apparently had some tax issues. Between 1999-2003, Khan and his wife Ann were investigated for allegedly sheltering $250M from the IRS. This was allegedly settled when his wife Ann paid $68m in back-taxes to the IRS. Khan stated that he would pursue litigation to obtain a refund of this cash.
12. According to the associated press, Khan is committed to keeping the team in St. Louis. He has allegedly stated that he entered his bid to own a team in his hometown and his hometown only.
    

What we do not know:

1. Has Khan purchased the 40% share owned by Enos Stanley Kroenke?
2. Has he reached an accommodation with Silent Stan?
3. Is Stan planning to use his right of first refusal?
4. Will the owners waive the cross-ownership clause for Silent Stan?
   
5. Will 75% of the NFL owners vote him into the club?

This is going to be very interesting to watch. To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Khan is of East Indian extraction. To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a non-white owner of non-European extraction. The NFL Owners' club is a very elitist and clickish group. However, they have not blocked the acquisition of a team often. I will have to look for the last precedent.

For a 30 year Ram fan who has been following this process every day, closely, this outcome is nothing short of a shocker. Never once in all the pieces I read was the name Shahid Khan ever mentioned. He completely evaded our Radar net. He was nowhere on the scope. If these reports are accurate, Khan abruptly materialized out of thin air to snatch the team when nobody expected it.

Perhaps I speak out of turn, and out of school, but I suspect Mr. Khan may have some difficulties with the owners, whether real or contrived. I suspect he may have to negotiate a deal to get into this exclusive club. Methinks we will find out exactly what the NFL wants more: A team in St. Louis or a team in Los Angeles?