The people of St. Louis couldn't help but wonder about the future of the Rams after learning that team owner Stan Kroenke recently acquired a 60-acre parcel of land in Inglewood, Calif.
While Commissioner Roger Goodell downplayed the purchase last week, telling NFL Network that Kroenke "hasn't determined what he's going to do with that property," the St. Louis Business Journal cited the English newspaper Metro to report that Kroenke does, indeed, have a plan for the land.
The Rams owner reportedly is aiming to purchase the license for a new Major League Soccer team to be based in Los Angeles.
According to the report, Kroenke has been given permission to name the team the "L.A. Gunners," serving as a sister team to the London-based Arsenal, of which Kroenke owns a share.
"Stan is a very successful developer," Goodell said last week. "He has billions of dollars in projects around the country of real-estate development. I think, instead of overreacting, we should make sure we do what's necessary to continue to support the team locally, which the fans have done in St. Louis. And make sure we can do whatever we can to make sure that team is successful in the St. Louis market."
At first blush, Kroenke's land purchase appears to be less about a tangible move west and more about gaining leverage with the people of St. Louis on a new stadium agreement. Still, Rams fans won't sleep well until any threat of the franchise relocating is put to bed, especially with the team's stadium lease due to expire at the end of next season.
The "Around The League Podcast" recapped Super Bowl XLVIII live from MetLife Stadium right after the game.