Red McCombs isn't the only NFL owner likely to use the league vacancy in the Los Angeles market as a bargaining ploy while searching for a new stadium. His bobo owner in New Orleans, Tom Benson, may have the first shot at that tactic.

It’s become pretty obvious that the NFL is not going to allow a team from a major market city move to San Antonio to play NFL football. That became apparent when the league awarded an expansion franchise in Texas but never seriously considered Red McCombs’ home town.

In light of that, the rumor mill began saying the Vikings were headed to Los Angeles — the second-largest market in the country, but one that has been without football for almost a decade. While many of the fans of LA have been apathetic about getting football back, any owner seeking stadium leverage has been able to use the city as a bargaining tool in his favor.

While the rumor mongers and fishwives of the NFL have been consistently saying the Vikings were moving to Los Angeles, a sentiment that got enough credence that half of the 30 original realignment proposals put the Vikings in the NFC West, it now looks as though there may be a new frontrunner to use LA as a bargaining tool for a new stadium.

Less than a month ago, it looked like the New Orleans Saints had found a way to secure a new deal for a stadium when their lease at the Superdome — a fine NFL stadium that hasn’t seen its worst days yet — runs out in 2006. However, like anything that needs approval from Louisiana government officials, accusations have been thrown around that the process of documenting the stadium issue has been as crooked as a dog’s hind leg. The stadium deal is now on hold and funding may not be coming.

What does that mean? Tom Benson, the umbrella-wielding, dancing embarrassment of an owner for the Saints is now using Los Angeles as leverage. With the Saints able to free themselves from their stadium deal five years before the Vikings, the Saints can use LA for their own purposes and, if things fall through, use the vacancy to move the franchise before Red would even have the opportunity.

SUNDAY NOTES
* Mark Aug. 11 on your calendars. It’s going to be ironic that the Vikings and the Saints, both desperate for new stadiums, will play each other in an exhibition game at San Antonio — a city desperate to get a football team with a stadium already built. And, oh, by the way, did you happen to notice two full days of training camp practice off before that exhibition game. Red wouldn’t be scheduling a parade of purple players in San Antonio before that game, would he?
* The names of cornerbacks Dale Carter and James Hasty continue to surface as players the Vikings are likely to go after when free agency opens up June 1.
* While Carter and Hasty continue to draw attention behind the scenes, VU has been told that the use of Tyrone Carter at corner during minicamp may not be a one-time fix. The Vikings liked what they saw and, despite his lack of height, the team believes Carter’s leaping ability offsets his lack of size and that he could become a valued corner in the Vikings defense — although he is still listed at safety and is the first line of defense if Orlando Thomas gets injured yet again. Look for the team explore this option further in training camp.
* Looking to be a season ticket holder for the Vikings? Guess again. Season ticket sales have been shut off for a second straight year. The team set a ceiling of 60,000 season tickets and had enough reorders from current season ticket holders that there remains a waiting list of more than 3,000 for future season tickets. Single game tickets will go on sale in July, but those are likely to be snapped up quite early.
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