The Cruise to nowhere? Actor’s reps offer clues as to how to rehab the world’s biggest star…

Kim Masters today offers a fascinating peek behind the curtain of Tom Cruise‘s management team, citing interviews with anonymous sources, presumably Rick Nicita or some other naughty lad at CAA.

“Cruise is said to be looking at a couple of possible projects, including 3:10 to Yuma at Sony Pictures with Walk the Line’s James Mangold directing. Sony likes to spend, it has a lot of Da Vinci Code money, and sources say Mangold isn’t scared of the “cootie factor,” so maybe that will happen. But a comedy sounds like it would be VIM’s choice. “I’d like to see him in another Jerry Maguire-type movie,” he says. “That’s a role that he plays well—and smiles.” A role like that would be aimed at women, who haven’t cottoned much to Cruise lately. But VIM (Very Informed Member of Team Cruise) says this would be the chance to win them back.”

More alarming: It looks more and more like his deal at Paramount may not be renewed…

Developing…