The NFL is riding "undeniable momentum in the direction of L.A. that has not been present before," and be it relocation by the Rams, Chargers or Raiders, the league may "ultimately be inclined to back the teams in whatever direction they decide to go," according to Kevin Acee of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. That support "seems particularly strong" for Chargers Owner Dean Spanos, "long considered a league loyalist who goes along with the greater good." Several owners "indicated their compassion for the plight Spanos has presented them regarding his 14-year effort to get a new stadium in San Diego" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/28). In St. Louis, David Hunn wrote the fight for a team in L.A. "changed battlefields last week," when debate "moved from the public forum into a private and much more managed setting: owners committees." There "is no longer real discussion of whether owners will try to relocate," but rather which cities "will lose a team." NFL owners "are looking for certainty," and the plan to build a new stadium in St. Louis "isn’t yet that." St. Louis Sports Commission Chair Dave Peacock said, "We still have to get ducks in a row on our side, in our community" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/30).
BEAUTY OF THEIR DREAMS? In Boston, Ben Volin wrote Kroenke "is quite serious about L.A., and was not-so-silent at the owners meetings, noticeably chatting up fellow owners between sessions and spending what seemed like an hour with a Los Angeles reporter at the league’s big party on Monday night." What is "shaping up to be the NFL’s perfect scenario has the Rams and Chargers moving to a new stadium in L.A. and the Raiders to St. Louis, giving the NFL the two teams it craves in L.A., an expensive new stadium in the entertainment capital of the world, new stadiums for all three teams, and the continuation of football in St. Louis." But all that seems certain at this point is that the NFL "doesn’t believe two L.A. teams plus a San Diego team could survive," and that the Raiders "can’t anchor L.A. by themselves" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/29).
JURY OF THEIR PEERS: Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said of Spanos, Rams Owner Stan Kroenke and Raiders Owner Mark Davis, "They’re doers, their teams are in a position that can do it. It’s going to mean a huge risk and a huge commitment of dollars to whoever does it. That will assure us that they’ll kill themselves making this a success. Los Angeles is big to the NFL, it’s bigger than your normal consideration. Los Angeles just has a ‘wow’ factor that we’ve got to do it right. And that’s my biggest concern. All of these guys are capable, they’ve got teams that the fans of Los Angeles are familiar with in all cases; two that have been in Los Angeles and one that’s been right down the road. So this is a good situation" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 3/27). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote if you listened closely last week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "was saying one thing" about the NFL returning to L.A., while Giants President & CEO John Mara and Patriots Owner Robert Kraft "were kind of saying another" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/29).
DOSE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE: A ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH editorial stated Rams fans and St. Louis-based companies should "do their own market assessment" of the NFL, as the league does its own market assessment of the city. The editorial: "What are the chances we can get a team that doesn’t stink year after year? How about an owner who doesn’t hide from his customers? How about a front office that doesn’t lie and mislead the fans? How about some players who don’t make the same mistakes week in and week out?" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/28).
