INDIANAPOLIS — Five opinions on the Rams, their lease negotiations, team owner Stan Kroenke and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell:

1. The CVC's proposal to the Rams was a starting point, and not the beginning of the end. The initial pitch won't be accepted by the Rams, but the offer was surprisingly comprehensive. A lot of people are working hard on the lease issue behind the scenes. I feel better about the Rams' future in St. Louis than I did a few weeks ago.

2. I have no doubt that Goodell wants the Rams to stay in St. Louis. He's been in our town's corner for a long time, more than people realize. Goodell, then an NFL executive, was empowered by the league to supervise the two-team expansion process that led to Carolina and Jacksonville receiving franchises.

Goodell recommended St. Louis. After the first expansion team went to Carolina, Goodell talked his NFL bosses into giving St. Louis a 30-day extension to settle an internal lease dispute. When the warring St. Louis factions couldn't work out a compromise, Jacksonville got the second team. Goodell knows how much cost and effort went into getting the Edward Jones Dome built. He respects that history.

3. Since Goodell is the commissioner, he understandably wants to see Kroenke improve on his deal in St. Louis. Goodell won't say anything publicly to undermine Kroenke's leverage in the lease negotiations. But Goodell wants to see a deal get done in St. Louis and will assist if he can.

4. If you assume that it will take a new, publicly financed stadium to keep the Rams in St. Louis, you are mistaken.

5. I understand why so many dots are being connected, but this is why Kroenke is bidding to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers: television money, and lots of it. Kroenke is no fool. He sees what the YES network has done for the Yankees. He sees what NESN has done for the Red Sox.

Those MLB franchises own their regional networks and make a fortune with them. The person who buys the Dodgers will be in position to create a regional network in Southern California that could generate more revenue than any local TV deal in MLB history. Kroenke knows his way through these things, having created a regional sports network in Colorado.

Am I saying that the Rams are definitely staying in St. Louis? Heck, no. But it's smart to take a deep breath and relax, instead of needlessly freaking out over every twist and turn in what will be a lengthy process. The league isn't sold on the stadium plans in Los Angeles. Yes, the lease in St. Louis is a problem. But it can be resolved.

Reading Time, Five Minutes:

Charlie Spoonhour deserves an entire column, so what I'm about to say is woefully insufficient. But here goes: This was one of the best guys, and most genuine, who ever graced the St. Louis sports scene. The late St. Louis U. basketball coach was incapable of lying, being mean or acting like a phony to get over on someone.

Spoon's homespun personality — which contained just the right amount of pepper — remained the same whether he was coaching a team, working the officials, drinking a cold beverage after the game, hanging out and watching baseball at Busch Stadium or listening to Jimmy Buffet in concert.

Spoon took his job seriously but never took himself seriously. He could laugh at his foibles, and ours. He fully embraced life, which makes the end of this wonderful life so difficult to accept. There's only one thing for friends to do in honor of Spoon: raise a glass and stomp your feet.

I had a chance to chat with retired pitcher Curt Schilling, who said he was stunned by Albert Pujols' decision to leave St. Louis. Schilling, though expressing respect for retired manager Tony La Russa, said the loss of pitching coach Dave Duncan would be more harmful to the 2012 Cardinals.

The Rams are promoting Artis Twyman to lead their media-relations department; it's well deserved. ... Rams safety Quintin Mikell told me that Rams players are digging the confident manner of new head coach Jeff Fisher and can't wait to play for him. Former Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo didn't project much confidence.

Fisher told me the Rams are open to the idea of trading the rights to the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. But he added: "I promise you this. We will not be picking second again. This is the last time we're picking second." ... If the Rams stay at No. 2, I wouldn't rule out USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil. Two reasons: Fisher believes in building the lines first; a top Fisher priority is improving pass protection for Sam Bradford.

Our town's Larry Hughes (CBC, St. Louis U.) was waived by the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Hughes, 33, sat out last season before attempting a comeback. He appeared in nine games for the Magic and averaged 1.3 points and 12.7 minutes a contest. ... Unless Thomas Robinson goes crazy on Missouri, the Tigers should edge Kansas tonight at Mizzou Arena.

New England Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater is the son of retired Rams Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater. They will become one of the few father-son combinations to have played in the Super Bowl. Jackie Slater reached Super Bowl XIV with the 1979 Los Angeles Rams. Jackie Slater played 19 seasons and retired after the Rams' first season (1995) in St. Louis.

"He just told me to do everything I can to make sure at the end of the day I have no regrets," Matthew Slater said. "So as far as preparing myself to play the best football game of my career come Sunday, and leave nothing back, hold nothing back — just so I can live with no regrets. I think that was one of the biggest things he missed out on in his career. He never won a world championship and it would have meant a lot to him."

Some advice from retired Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl "Moose" Johnston for Rams fans who have turned on Bradford: "I was with Troy Aikman during our early years in Dallas," said Johnston, an analyst for Fox and the NFL Network. "And it was a tough start for Troy. He really got beat up. But he went on to have a Hall of Fame career. When you're picked No. 1 overall it means you've just been drafted by a bad team. It should take a while to turn it around. And every great quarterback has to have a great supporting cast around him. Be patient. Jeff Fisher is one of my favorite coaches. He'll know what to do with Sam."

Native St. Louisan Michael Bidwill, president of the Arizona Cardinals, told me that his father, Bill Bidwill, recently celebrated his 80th birthday. Bidwill was 57 when the Cardinals moved from St. Louis to Arizona. Michael Bidwill hopes retired Rams-Cardinals safety Aeneas Williams will be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during today's selection meeting. "He's one of my all-time favorite Cardinals," Bidwill said. "Nobody can be more deserving than Aeneas."

Please keep St. Louis soccer legend Harry Keough in your prayers.