Random Ramsdom, 12/28: More On A.J. Smith, Jon Gruden And The Rams' Future

The St. Louis Rams have one game left in their season, one game left to determine whether or not they finish with three wins or just two. For head coach Steve Spagnuolo, the difference between 11-37 or 10-38 is negligible. Either one is impossible to stand by in a league where teams go from worst to first every season. Coaching changes, front office shuffling and draft talk will take over, if it hasn't already, the conversation in the weeks ahead, so strap yourself in and get ready.

Today's must-read link comes from Bernie Miklasz at the Post-Dispatch, who offers a quick take on all the coaching rumors bouncing around yesterday. The key takeaway here is to remember that it's all talk, calculated rumors whose intent has less to do with the Rams' next coach and general manager and more to do with PR for the names being floated.

One thing I do wonder about in the A.J. Smith talk, would his ego really work well with an established coach like Jon Gruden or Jeff Fisher?

Now, the links:

The St. Louis Rams Play A Joke. Too Bad It's On Us - After the Colts and Vikings both win, it's clear that only one team has quit on their coach and city in the NFL. It's the Rams and they're a joke.

Burwell: Rams' top need is for someone to be in charge - Bryan Burwell at the PD set aside the excuse making on behalf of Spagnuolo et al long enough to make the argument for some leadership at Rams Park. It reads as though he's advocating for a team president, but really he's just making the point that someone needs to be in charge, accountability. Devaney and Spagnuolo share that now, and it's confusing. Also, he's wrong on the salary cap info.

2012 Pro Bowl rosters and the NFL Draft - The 2012 Pro Bowl rosters contain plenty of first round picks, as you would expect. What's surprising is how many players on the list entered the league as undrafted free agents.

Panthers’ Newton Prepared to Prove the Critics Wrong - Remember when people said Cam Newton wasn't worthy of the first pick in the draft? Remember when they said that his "entertainer" quips revealed he lacked the character to be an NFL quarterback? I wonder what those people are saying now.

Pro Bowl Snubs: Matthew Stafford, Aaron Hernandez Among Those Left Out - The NFL released the 2012 Pro Bowl rosters on Tuesday night and as usual there were plenty of snubs. Rams running back Steven Jackson wasn't the only one left off the list.

Draft Prospect: DT Brandon Thompson, Clemson 6'2 310 - Our own ValdezY continues his series on NFL prospects with a look at Clemson DT Brandon Thompson, who might be the best DT in the draft class this year, certainly among 4-3 tackles.