Rams Deny Team Is for Sale

UPDATE (1:30 p.m.): In a chat with St. Louis Rams fans, President Kevin Demoff denied any reports of the team being for sale by saying, "Sometimes reports are so baseless they don't even merit a response. Stan Kroenke is as excited about this year's team and the Club's future as he has been at any point during his ownership tenure."

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The St. Louis Rams are for sale, along with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, according to NBC 10 Philadelphia reporter Howard Eskin.

This comes hours after longtime Philadelphia Eagles president Joe Banner announced that he was stepping down from his position to become a strategic adviser for the team as he transitions for a departure.

It is believed Banner is looking to lead an NFL ownership group that would purchase a franchise or set up a franchise team in a new market. ESPN reports:

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When asked if that could include the possible franchise in Los Angeles, Banner said he would be "open to L.A. I don't want to single them out, but that's something I think I can do -- set up a franchise, help build a stadium, hire a coach, hire good people to build a winning organization."

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A Browns spokesperson has already denied Eskin's report, saying the team is not for sale.

Eskin went on 92.3 The Fan this evening to further expound upon his earlier statements. He said the Bills are Banner's top target, but he was also told by an NFL official that "Cleveland and St. Louis may be for sale."

It is difficult to believe that owner Stan Kroenke would put the Rams up for sale just years after becoming the majority owner.

In 2010, Kroenke purchased the remaining 60 percent of the team from Chip Rosenbloom and sister Lucia Rodriguez for $450 million. It is believed the Rams' total value is $750 million.

Kroenke was the lead investor in 1993 to bring the St. Louis Stallions to Missouri, which would have brought the NFL back to his home state. Additionally, the Rams owner bought his initial 30-percent stake in the team in 1994 on the predetermined condition that the Rams would move to St. Louis.

Bills owner Ralph Wilson has repeatedly said the team will not go up for sale before his death, in which case it will be sold to the highest bidder.

Neither the Rams nor Bills have not made a public comment on whether the teams are for sale or not.