The Vikings are likely never going to leave Minnesota, but Red McCombs got some leverage he needed to get a stadium deal done when the prime competition to bolt to San Antonio -- the New Orleans Saints -- got tentative approval for a new stadium.

With Los Angeles still an open market in the NFL, few would have thought San Antonio would get a second glance from the league, especially after being rebuffed twice in expansion.

However, L.A. remains vacant and no less than three teams have dangled San Antonio as a possible landing site for an NFL franchise. One obviously is the Vikings — owned by San Antonio native Red McCombs. The other two were Arizona, which got a new stadium deal approved by state referendum last November, and New Orleans.

The interest in both teams was such that the Vikings-Saints exhibition game slated for Aug. 11 will be played at the Alamo Dome. But, New Orleans now looks to be out of the bidding for the Texan billions.

On Wednesday, the Saints were told that, in fact, they will get a new stadium deal. The timeline, however, is as vague as French Quarter politics. The Saints were told it could be five years or 20 years, but that a new stadium deal will get done. If that’s enough to satiate owner Tom Benson and his ridiculous umbrella dancing sideline antics, the Saints are staying put. That leaves the heart of Texas one option — the Vikings.

As stated before by VU, the NFL and the Vikings have what we believe to be a near iron-clad agreement to keep the team in Minnesota, but, with little progress on a stadium deal, having potential competition like the Cardinals and Saints out of the picture, San Antonio’s only hope is their hometown hero — Uncle Red.
We’re not trying to get the Chicken Little complex aroused in Minnesota, but, with the competition out of the way, the Vikings are now looking down the barrel of the Texan gun as the primary — if not the only — option of ever getting the NFL into San Antonio.

THURSDAY NOTES
* The Vikings made an interesting signing Wednesday, hooking up with Mississippi quarterback Romaro Miller Wednesday. Miller broke former Viking Archie Manning’s career passing records at Ole Miss and was the trigger man for an offense that featured first-round RB Deuce McAllister. If Miller can produce anywhere near what the Vikes think he can, Billy Cockerham’s days as the No. 3 QB may be numbered.
* Don’t miss out on a day of Vikings news. VikingUpdate.com is doing an Internet simulcast of daily news and, while the bells and whistles will take awhile to bring up to speed, your daily fix of VU won’t get lost in the shuffle. Bookmark it now and stay with us. You’ll be glad you did.