May 22nd 2008 3:50PM by Tom Mantzouranis (author feed)
Filed under: Rams, NFC West, St. Louis Chip Rosenbloom disputed a report by Michael Silver that the Rams are up for sale and maybe headed out of St. Louis, saying, “We are not shopping the team.” It’s in Rosenbloom’s best interest currently to say that, but I believe him. Sort of.

Forgive me while I mince words. I don’t believe Rosenbloom literally — Silver is better than to pull a Tomase on this scoop. The new owners have at least looked for interested buyers. I just think they haven’t found any.

First, there’s all of this CBA uncertainty (you may not’ve heard about it, it’s sort of flying under the radar). estimated the value of the Rams’ franchise at $908 million. Though I’m sure peace will be brokered before all hell breaks loose, I’m also not willing to bet $908 million on it, and I don’t think any potential buyers are either. That investment doesn’t make sense when the league’s fiscal forecast can be much different in a couple of years.

And besides a roster, coaching, and front office overturn that can happen as soon as ‘09, the team can opt out of its lease with the Edward Jones Dome in 2015 (not 2012) if it is not considered one of the top eight stadiums in the league (which it will not be). By that time, Los Angeles will probably be occupied, leaving upgrades to the Dome (at hundreds of millions of dollars) or a new stadium in St. Louis as the only viable options. That’s a choice I’m not sure many owners are going to want for a team whose local support is already dwindling, especially if the economy hasn’t turned itself around by then.

So no, I don’t see the Rams being sold — until these uncertainties crystallize, anyway. ‘Til then, Rosenbloom’s words are merely spin control.