I’m not going to continue to cover the whole NFL-to-LA thing much until I see the realistic prospect of a team coming here. But I did get a chuckle out of the Vikings recent attempt to prop up Ed Roski’s preposterous bid to bring a team to SoCal. (The COI in no way represents Los Angeles.)

Despite what you’re hearing in the media, Roski and his partners have zero chance to lure a team here, for reasons I’ve detailed previously. But that doesn’t mean NFL owners aren’t unwilling to use Roski’s ridiculous attempt as leverage to rape their community for a bright, shiny new stadium.

Three months ago the Vikings reported publicly that they had rebuffed a bid by Roski to bring the team to Southern California. But now seeing that their Twin Cities stadia bid is on the wane, suddenly the team is having a fake change of heart. From the MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE:

Billionaire developer Ed Roski wants to build a privately-financed $800 million stadium if an NFL team agrees to move to Industry, which is about 15 miles east of Los Angeles. The Vikings, whose Metrodome lease expires after the 2011 season, have been one of the teams mentioned as potential candidates for relocation. The stadium in Industry, by the way, would open in 2012.

“The Vikings are watching these developments with interest,” said Lester Bagley, the team’s vice president of public affairs and stadium development. “But, we are currently focused on achieving a workable stadium plan to keep the Vikings here in Minnesota.”

OK, the Roski bid has no chance to succeed, but that doesn’t mean that Vikes Owner Zygi Wilf isn’t stupid enough to try to move the team. If AEG were to step in with a legit offer to build a stadium, as it did a few years ago (and was snuffed out by local, thieving politicians), there might be a flicker of possibility that Lipstick City could steal the Vikings.

But does the NFL really want another heritage team to move, ala the Browns-to-Balto? True is, there’s not much the league could do if Wilf wanted to move the team. More likely though, Wilf will just have to wait a little longer to get a stadium deal in place in St. Paul. It will happen eventually, and the veiled threats about Los Angeles will do nothing to speed the process.

Superficially, L.A. has no NFL prospects at present. But I do think a financially-distressed NFL team owner (think Art Modell) could some day bolt for an existing facility (Coli, Rose Bowl) in L.A. County with assurances that a future stadium will be built. Current candidates include Wayne Weaver in Jacksonville, Tom Benson in New Orleans and of course, Alzheimer Al in Oakland.

That sort of thing could play out almost overnight. Just ask Baltimore Colts fans.

Don’t be shocked if we’ve got NFL back in the basin in the next couple years, with almost no notice. And no, Ed Roski won’t be anywhere near it.