"The NFL doesn't want to see the Rams leave St. Louis, but the lease terms are the lease terms, and both parties agreed to them.

That was league commissioner Roger Goodell's rather stern message to St. Louis regarding the ongoing lease negotiations between the Rams and the Convention and Visitors Commission.

During his annual Super Bowl press conference, Goodell was asked if the league is committed to having a franchise in St. Louis over the long term.

"The answer is we want to keep our franchises where they are," Goodell replied. "We would love to have the St. Louis Rams stay in St. Louis. There are lease issues ... as you know that are articulated very clearly in the lease. Both parties are engaging in that, and they're having that dialogue. We'll allow that process to play out, and at that point in time we'll be more clear about what the issues are and what we need to do to resolve them."

But when asked if it were realistic for a smaller to mid-size market (by NFL standards) like St. Louis to meet "first-tier" lease requirements, Goodell didn't exactly offer a league discount."