LA a step closer to an NFL return?

NBC Los Angeles is reporting that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be signing legislation to help move forward a potential NFL stadium in Los Angeles. I’ve always seen LA as a city that would support an NFL team if it had one, but not care if it didn’t. Besides, they have the USC Trojans, who are practically a professional quality franchise anyway.

But, it’s a case of if not when for an NFL return to Los Angeles, and this clears a minor bureacratic obstacle.

The question now is how does LA get a team. Presuming that expansion is not an on the table right now, the most likely choices as I see them are:

• A Relocated California team: the Oakland Raiders have been to LA and back before, and San Diego and San Francisco are both seeking new stadiums. Though since the Governor is looking at creating jobs, he’d rather see a team lured to California than just a in-state market change
• Jacksonville Jaguars – Jacksonville has never been an ideal NFL market from a financial perspective, and are looking at having all thier home dates blacked out. They look ripe for the picking, though owner Wayne Weaver doesn’t seem ready to throw in the towel just yet.
• Buffalo Bills -  As long as Ralph Wilson is alive, the Bills will never leave Buffalo. Unfortunately, Ralph is 89 years old, and even the die hard Bills fans (like yours truly) know that when Ralph passes away, the team could go up for grabs and end up anywhere.
• Minnesota Vikings – The University of Minnesota got a new stadium. The Minnesota Twins are getting a new stadium. The Vikings want a new stadium, but is there enough money to go around, especially in the current economic climate to help the Vikings build a new stadium? I’m not so sure.

Read the full story here: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Los-Angeles-Are-You-Ready-For-Some-Football-64701932.html