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THE FUTURE OF THE NFC WEST
BY SCOTTY (Dec 9)

St. Louis Rams head coach Dick Vermeil, center, celebrates with quarterback Kurt Warner, right, and team owner Georgia Frontiere after the Rams defeated the Carolina Panthers 34-21 to clinch the NFC West division title for the first time since 1985 at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 5, 1999. In less than three years, Vermeil has gone from A) the St. Louis Rams' surprise hire; to B) an out-of-touch coaching fossil spouting references to his 1980 Eagles Super Bowl team; to C) fearless leader of the first team to clinch a playoff berth this season. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

The Rams have not only dominated each NFC West team this season but their rival West teams will have a difficult time improving any time in the near future. Each team has made moves for instant success that damaged its future.

What does the near future look like for our division rivals? .

Carolina---They are probably nearest to the Rams in over-all talent. Seifert seems like the right coach. But this team has many holes and many of their key players are aging and/or unsigned. The skill positions players are good but Muhammed and Jeffers are un-restricted free agents.. Their cap is already pressed and so it will be difficult for them to sign both of them. Mushin has already vowed to hold out if they franchise him. And Carruth seems to be finished. They traded their first round pick but got the Dolphins late first round pick.

Atlanta----Last year's big story has fallen on hard times. Chandler is always creaky and they must address that position. Anderson must come back strong,  but knee injuries are devastating to running backs.  Reeves also has issues with team chemistry to deal with. Their cap is very tight and they traded their #1 pick to the Ravens for a #2 last year. As it turns out,  what they thought was going to be the 25th - 30th 1st round pick could now be a Peter Warrick or Chad Pennington type player.

New Orleans----Ricky better be great.  They have absolutley no QB. They have little cap room,  a depleted draft,  and a coach who is on questionable footing. Big troubles. They could have had possibly the #1 pick in this year's draft but now both that and their 3rd round pick is  gone.

The Niners have their 1st round pick, something which is rare in this division, but they have little else. They are 20 mill over the cap and if Young retires as expected it will get even worse. Mariucci may bail. Their troubles are extreme. They will be having some very high picks for the next several years and they better draft well (something they have not been doing).

The Rams have by far the best cap situation of any NFC West team and they also have the youngest roster.

This division is a mess. The Rams can really dominate those teams for awhile.

This season is only the beginning.

GO RAMS!!!!!!