The offseason has officially started, and Mike has gone through the list of the other 31 NFL teams to try to find a new team to root for.
As mentioned in the most recent podcast, no team ranks above a "Maybe."
A lot of factors will play into any final decision, ranging from, but not limited to:
- The owner's support of either Carson or Inglewood. Pro-Carson owners (which would also be pro-St. Louis) are viewed more positively then pro-Inglewood (pro-Kroenke) owners.
- The team's history of winning or losing.
- The team's coaches through the years. Coaches Mike doesn't like will affect their ranking.
- Other factors.
Arizona Cardinals - Pros: The team was in St. Louis from 1960 to 1988, and current owner Mike Bidwill was staunchly pro-STL in the recent situation (note to Jerry Jones: his father was the one who moved the team). Also, Kurt Warner, who won a Super Bowl for St. Louis, got this team to a Super Bowl. Lastly, this is the team that the late Pat Tillman (a true American hero despite the suspicious circumstances of his death in Afghanistan) played for. Cons: A long history of losing - their last league title was won when the team was still in Chicago.
Chicago Bears - Pros: many of Mike's friends - including Tim - are Bears fans, and Super Bowl 20 (Bears over Patriots) was the first Super Bowl Mike remembers seeing. Cons: Mike has never had a good experience in Chicago and also loathes certain Chicago teams of the Owned-by-Jerry Reinsdorf persuasion.
Cincinnati Bengals - Pros: Owner Mike Brown (inherited the team from his father, the great Paul Brown, and a notorious cheapo) is rumored to be one of the two no-votes in the final 30-2 LA vote. This, of course, cannot be confirmed. Cons: Brown's bad ownership (again, attributed to his being a cheapo) and the team's recent spell of postseason ineptitude, which Tim rails against often.
Cleveland Browns - Pros: Mike can tell you from personal experience that the Dawg Pound are great fans. Cons: No Super Bowl appearances, and historically bad ownership under Randy Lerner (something Aston Villa fans are all too aware of) and now Jim Haslem. Also, this team, in its pre-Modell state, had Marty Schottenheimer (whom Mike holds in very low regard) as their coach.
Green Bay Packers - Pros: a community owned team that calls home a town of just over 104,000. Full disclosure: Mike's sister is a fan and owns 1 share of Packers stock.
Houston Texans - Pros: Mike has maternal family ties to Houston and really likes the city. Also, owner Bob McNair was on the LA committee and worked with STL task force leader Dave Peacock on getting the (now dead) stadium plan together. Cons: The Texans once had Wade Phillips as their head coach.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Pros: Owner Shad Khan was screwed out of buying the Rams in 2010 by Kroenke. Since buying the Jaguars, despite consistent rumors that the team will move (they have a lease on their stadium through 2030, folks), Khan is at least trying to make it work in Jacksonville. Cons: Khan also owns Fulham, which he got relegated from the Premier League in his first year as owner.
Minnesota Vikings - Pros: Mike loves Minneapolis. Cons: the team has a history of postseason choking and is 0-4 in Super Bowls. Also, the owner was reportedly pro-Inglewood.
New England Patriots - Pros: Owner Bob Kraft was on the LA committee and supported Carson. Also, the team is in the middle of a dynasty and has fairly likable players. Cons: Cheating, especially in Super Bowl 36. Also, Kraft's ties to Sunil Gulati.
New Orleans Saints - Pros: Mike is half-Cajun, and the Saints represent Cajun Country. Winning in recent years, including winning Super Bowl 44 over Indianapolis, also help. Cons: Prior to Hurricane Katrina and the hiring of Sean Payton, the Saints have been a terrible team. Also, they once had Wade Phillips as their head coach.
New York Giants - Pros: Owner John Mara is a third-generation owner who sat on the LA committee and favored Carson.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Pros: Mike's dad is from Pittsburgh and the Steelers are his team. The team has 6 Super Bowl victories, the most of any team. Owner Art Rooney II, another third-generation owner, was on the LA committee and favored Carson. Cons: the city itself - while Mike's dad is from there, Mike himself is not a big fan on account that it's easy to get lost.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Pros: It's the birthplace of the Tampa 2 defense. Cons: Pre-Tony Dungy, this team has a terrible history, including starting their existence 0-26. Also, the Glazer family, which owns the team, also owns a certain team called Manchester United (which Mike famously hates).
Chargers (still in San Diego at the moment) - Pros: Owner Dean Spanos got screwed in the LA situation, but has the first option to go to LA. Cons: Team has never won a Super Bowl and once hired Marty Schottenheimer.
Raiders (still in Oakland at the moment) - Pros: Owner Mark Davis also got screwed in the LA situation (as a proxy of his late father Al Davis, whom NFL owners still hate), and now has the option to move to LA should the Chargers stay in San Diego. Davis is also rumored to be one of the 2 no-votes in the final 30-2 vote. Also, this was the team of Mike's late grandmother.
Next time: the teams Mike ranks as No or Absolute No.
