As if there were any questions, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell put an end to them this week when he told the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams that there will not be a team that moves to Los Angeles for next season, according to league sources.
Goodell also told the Chargers, Raiders and Rams -- each of whom can file a relocation application for the 2015 season starting Jan. 1 -- that any team that is considering relocating to Los Angeles should look to 2016 instead, according to sources.
Once Goodell delivered that message to teams, the Chargers announced that they were going to be staying in San Diego.
Goodell's message still doesn't stop a team such as the Raiders or Rams from filing a relocation application. But those applications, which would require a super majority for approval, would not have the league's support and likely would be rejected.
So the wait for a team in Los Angeles now is expected to go on until 2016, at least.
The Chargers announced Tuesday that they will not exercise their right to terminate their lease at Qualcomm Stadium, stating that they will continue their attempt to build "a Super Bowl-quality" stadium in San Diego.
According to team executive Mark Fabiani, the Chargers are keeping a watchful eye on what happens in Los Angeles, with 30 percent of the team's local revenue -- which includes advertising, sponsorships, club seats and suites -- originating in the Los Angeles market.
