Shaw Says Baltimore Remains in the Running to Get Rams

St. Louis continues to gain momentum in its bid for the Rams, and an improved Orange County offer is still being considered, but team President John Shaw discounted reports Thursday that Baltimore has fallen out of running.

Asked if the Rams had narrowed their choices to St. Louis and Anaheim, Shaw said, “Absolutely not. I don’t know where those perceptions came from. We really haven’t had any conversations with St. Louis for a few weeks. They’re trying to come in next week, but I’m not sure whether (those meetings) will materialize.”

Wednesday’s vote among NFL owners to approve the Washington Redskins’ proposed move to Laurel, Md., about 20 miles south of Baltimore, seemed to swing the Rams’ pendulum toward St. Louis.

The main reason: St. Louis offers the path of least resistance.

With the Redskins hoping to corner the Washington and Baltimore markets with a new 78,600-seat stadium in Laurel, many believe Washington owner Jack Kent Cooke will rally enough support to block Baltimore’s attempts to land a franchise.

Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer said that a recent meeting with Ram officials left him less optimistic that the team will move to Baltimore.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said the Laurel resolution does not bar Baltimore from getting a team.

Meanwhile, the Orange County task force working to keep the Rams in Southern California recently made an enhanced offer that includes a $60-$70-million renovation of Anaheim Stadium, a $12-million practice facility, and ticket and luxury box sales guarantees.

“We’re still reviewing it,” Shaw said. “We’re hoping to get together with them next week too.”