OPINION

By Mike Florio

updated 10:07 p.m. ET June 11, 2008

The Jaguars have been competitive for years and now show Super Bowl promise, but they can't consistently sell out the uncovered seats in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, let alone create the demand to remove those giant tarps covering sections and sections in the building's far corners.

So, with a Los Angeles developer taking the "if they come, I will build it" approach to constructing a new pro football stadium, the Jaguars could be the favorites to fill the 14-year (and counting) void in the nation's No. 2 television market.

Suffice it to say Los Angeles is a complex situation. And Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver isn't the only NFL owner who dreams of placing "Los Angeles" in front of his or her team's nickname.

L.A. developer Ed Roski doesn't want to own an NFL team but does want to build and operate its home stadium. He discloses on the stadium's web site that his group is talking to "teams," but he won't identify the owners. (Of course, it's also a possible bluff, and he has talked to none of the 32 NFL owners.)

Let's assume Roski is talking to several NFL owners about relocating. Let's also assume that, eventually, there will be pro football in Los Angeles. Here is a look at 10 possible scenarios for NFL games returning to L.A.:

Jacksonville Jaguars
Even though we start by examining the Jaguars' situation, it doesn't necessarily mean the team is the most likely to move to L.A. But there have been rumors for years that Weaver is willing to sell, and there has been little talk of local interests buying the team and keeping it in Jacksonville.

At some point, Weaver will realize the Jaguars won't be viable over the long haul in their current home. And when Weaver finally hangs the "for sale" sign on the franchise, Southern California interests could swoop in.

Or maybe Weaver could move the team himself, without selling the franchise. It's a possibility that rarely gets mentioned. But if Weaver's ultimate decision not to sell is driven by a desire to win a Super Bowl, moving the team into a stadium that likely would generate a lot more revenue would give him even more ammo to turn the Jaguars into a championship team before he cashes out on his investment.

St. Louis Rams
With former majority owner Georgia Frontiere deceased and new majority owner Chip Rosenbloom reportedly contemplating a sale of the team, the Rams could be a logical candidate to return to the city from which they bolted in 1994. But the earliest opportunity to exit St. Louis' Edward Jones Dome comes in 2015. By then, Roski's stadium will have a different tenant, or the project likely will have been abandoned.

Still, the Rams would be welcomed back in Southern California with open arms. And their return wouldn't disrupt the division alignment, because the franchise already sits to the NFC West.

Minnesota Vikings
Ownership has been trying for years to get a new stadium in the Twin Cities. The Metrodome lacks the bells and whistles of modern stadiums, so the Vikings lag way behind some other teams when it comes to revenue.

The locals in Minnesota haven't been keen on the idea of using taxpayer money for a new stadium, and the collapse of the I-35 bridge last summer provides a constant reminder that public money is better spent on things that the public uses more than 10 days per year.

Sooner or later, the Vikings' stadium issue will come to a head. The team's lease at the Metrodome expires after the 2011 season, which is only three years away.

New Orleans Saints
The NFL is unlikely to abandon New Orleans as it continues a slow recovery from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. But, sooner or later Saints ownership and league officials will have to face the difficult reality of running a big-league sports franchise in a city that might never return to the big leagues in terms of business or population.

We hope the Saints remain a fixture in New Orleans for as long as there's an NFL. Still, pro football is driven more by business interests than sentimentality. In the end, the dollars and cents might make the Saints a no-brainer candidate for a move.

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Police rule ex-QB McNair’s death a homicide PFT: Woman's family thinks third person involved Curran: Tough, talented — McNair lived up to the hype   Slideshow: McNair's career highs, lows PFT: McNair's ex-teammates bemoan his loss PFT: Shock, sadness at McNair's death McNair brought big-time football to Alcorn St. Discuss: How will you remember Steve McNair? PFT: Favre not so popular in Vikings' camp? PFT: Giants not worried about Manning deal NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: