The Los Angeles Rams are closer than ever to signing a lease to play in St. Louis, the Orange County Register reported in today's editions, but that does not mean the team is ready to leave Anaheim, Calif.
Rams president John Shaw said yesterday that most details for a St. Louis lease are in place, including an oral agreement to sell a minority stake in the team to businessman Stan Kroenke if the Rams sign a lease.
But, Shaw added, any St. Louis lease won't be the final word on the Rams' future.
"Signing a lease could be the beginning of this whole process," Shaw said. "If there is an announcement of a lease in St. Louis -- and I stress 'if' -- the next step would be to take that to the [NFL] for approval."