Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones on Saturday said the NFL is "closer than ever" to returning to L.A., according to Arash Markazi of ESPN L.A. Jones added, "Ever being since they left, which has been a long time much to my surprise and anticipation. There are some viable ways for a team or teams to be in Los Angeles. We've got some very talented and very qualified people that want to be a part of it that are not a part of the league right now." He said, "I think we're closer. I say that not just wishing. I say that, technically, because I'm aware of some things that make sense." Jones: "I wouldn't want to give you a timeframe on it but I do think that the commitment and the substance with that commitment is right around the corner." He said that he "likes" the Farmers Field project and AEG Chair Phil Anschutz. Jones said of the project, "There are no misgivings at all about it. It has outstanding people involved. Phil Anschutz is an outstanding individual and would be an asset in any way for any group to be involved with and he has quite a sports background and quite a background in venues ... I'm actually involved in a company that just hired the lead guy that was involved in putting that Farmers Field project together so all those people have a lot of talent" (ESPNLA.com, 7/20). Jones said of bringing the NFL to L.A., "You have all the aura that the NFL is enjoying today: its interest, its visibility, and then you have the entertainment capital of the world and you really have some great tradition. So I think really much sooner than later, this is the time to be in Los Angeles. And I'm personally a big proponent of it." Jones said the league is "way down the road from a team in London relative to" having a team in L.A. (THEMMQB.com, 7/22).
