Bernie: Kroenke rumors make sense

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RamBill

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Bernie: Kroenke rumors make sense
By Bernie Miklasz

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_1490a1f9-bcc0-516f-82b6-1f5dd55a0a4d.html

From the scuttlebutt file: More than a few smart people around the NFL believe Rams owner Stan Kroenke will attempt to purchase the Denver Broncos should the franchise become available in the relatively near future.

The reason for a potential sale? The declining health of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. The hypothetical Kroenke bid makes sense. Kroenke already owns two franchises in Denver, the NBA Nuggets and NHL Avalanche. And if Kroenke bought the Broncos, he could consolidate his sports holdings in Denver and control the sports marketplace.

That would be an important consideration for Kroenke, who is still trying to satisfy the NFL guidelines that prohibit an NFL owner from owning professional sports franchises in another city.

If Kroenke sold the Rams to buy the Broncos, it doesn’t mean the Rams are safe in St. Louis. If Kroenke failed to receive his desired asking price from a St. Louis-based bidder he could sell the Rams to a Los Angeles group.

This is all speculative because the Broncos aren’t for sale right now.

The only sure way to keep the Rams here is to build a new stadium. The NFL won’t allow the Rams to move if St. Louis is legitimately making progress on a new stadium plan.

Without a workable, doable new-stadium project there are no guarantees on the Rams’ future here.

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The Rams’ fully heated pass rush is heading to San Diego at a good time — or so it seems. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is banged up, either with a “severely injured rib,” according to teammate Antonio Gates, or a “chest” injury, according to the team’s official report. According to Pro Football Focus the Chargers have given up 134 quarterback pressures, the league’s second-highest total. And San Diego’s pass-blocking efficiency is the worst in the NFL, according to PFF.

The Rams’ pass rush has gone wild lately, swarming for 19 sacks and 104 quarterback pressures over the last five games. Rivers is as tough as any quarterback you’ll find, but the punishment may be getting to him. In his first six games Rivers threw for 15 touchdowns with only two interceptions and had a passer rating of 117.6. In his last four games, Rivers has six touchdowns, six interceptions and a passer rating of 76.


Congrats to Class of 2014 Pro Football Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams, who received his Hall of Fame ring Sunday at halftime of the Detroit at Arizona game. Williams and family settled in St. Louis after Aeneas finished his stellar career with the Rams.

Speaking of the Rams and the Hall of Fame: As you probably know, four “Greatest Show” Rams are among 26 semifinalists for 2015 induction. Wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, offensive tackle Orlando Pace and quarterback Kurt Warner. There’s absolutely no chance of all four making it in their first year of eligibility. Keep in mind that the maximum number of modern-era candidates that can be selected is only five.

This year’s list is loaded with worthy candidates, including the first-time eligible Junior Seau and a long line of ballot holdovers that includes Marvin Harrison, Will Shields, Jerome Bettis, Tony Dungy, Tim Brown, Kevin Greene and Charles Haley. I’m on the 46-member selection committee and I believe Pace and Warner have the best chance to make it soon. Bruce and Holt are worthy, but the existing logjam of receivers will probably keep them waiting for a while.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher has been nominated for the fourth annual “Salute to Service Award” presented by USAA, the NFL’s official Military Appreciation sponsor. The winner will be announced during the annual NFL Honors awards show the day before this season’s Super Bowl. Fisher has been a tireless and generous supporter of the armed forces. … Tre Mason’s speed is making a difference in the Rams’ backfield; according to Pro Football Focus, 34 percent of Mason’s total rushing yards have come on runs of 15 yards or longer. The Mason breakaway rate compares to 6.1 percent for Zac Stacy and 9.4 percent for Benny Cunningham.

Our town’s Bradley Beal (Chaminade Prep) returned to the NBA Washington Wizards this week after being sidelined since early October with a fractured wrist. Beal scored 21 points in 26 minutes in his first game back. … Let’s stick with Chaminade alums by offering belated congrats to St. Louisan Chris Wideman, who was named the American Hockey League’s player of the month for October. The Binghamton Senators’ defenseman, 24, scored six goals with five assists in nine games.

Here’s my opinion on the Cardinals’ remaining offseason shopping list: (1) protection for the starting rotation; (2) a righthanded hitter who can play first base; (3) a better No. 2 catcher; (4) another reliever or two. The bullpen needs largely depend on the pitching health and viability of lefthander Kevin Siegrist. If Siegrist is good to go and deemed close to his 2013 form, the Cardinals may rethink their wish list and avoid overpaying in the multiple-team bidding for coveted free-agent lefty reliever Andrew Miller.

Based on the way he’s played so far, Rams rookie cornerback E.J. Gaines rates among the best value picks in the 2014 draft. The Rams chose Gaines (from Missouri) in the sixth round with the 188th overall selection. He was the 27th cornerback selected but is the only rookie cornerback to start all of his team’s games. When quarterbacks have targeted a receiver covered by Gaines this season, they have a mediocre passer rating of 80.6. He’s been beaten for only one TD pass.

Self-promo: If you enjoy listening to podcasts about the Cardinals, I teamed with Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold for a new “Best Podcast in Baseball” offering — a two-parter that can be found on STLtoday.com and iTunes. Goold’s knowledge carries the show; I’m there to provide the bluster. Thanks to the Urban Chestnut midtown brewery and biergarten (in The Grove) for hosting us. And thanks to everyone who showed up to hang with us.
 

mr.stlouis

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Build it and they will stay. That's all we really need to know at this point until the proposal comes out.
 

V3

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I hadn't even heard that rumor. I'm still pissed that Kahn didn't purchase the Rams. Does St. Louis even have any more uber rich people left that could purchase the Rams or is it going to have to be a group type purchase?
 

Thordaddy

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I wonder if Elway has an option and FWIW Bowdens wife is much younger so Denver could be in for a "Georgia" phase if he has children from a previous marriage which would make it even more like our previous situation.
 
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