Not so fast L.A.: Chargers relocation rumors nothing but the same

Everybody relax. If you were one of the many fans who read in the news recently that a Chargers move to Los Angeles seems “inevitable” and that “there is no reason to believe that they will play anywhere but in L.A. in 2017,” I’m going to need you to calm down. There is no reason to be more fearful of a move than you were last month.

Flashback to last year around the time San Diego was eliminated from playoff contention and you’ll recollect that the same things were being said. There was a sense that the team was preparing for an imminent move. Players seemed skittish to talk on the subject, and last season’s final home game had all the makings of a farewell finale.

In totality, the team didn’t move and management decided to give San Diego another chance to keep its sole football franchise from relocating (or the city of San Diego gave Dean Spanos another chance to keep his own team from relocating, however you want to look at it).

The bottom line was this: Noise was generated, rumors were circulating and speculation was running rampant. I mean seriously, the players were getting teary-eyed knowing that they might have played there last game at the ‘Q’ for crying out loud.

While Spanos might be in the midst of selling out his own team to play puppet for Stan Kroenke and the L.A. Rams, he could also be lobbying to make adjustments to “Measure C,” the hotel tax funding plan, just as easily.

As many of you know, the Chargers are one of the most tight-lipped organizations in all of sports (see 2016 NFL Draft). There is simply no way of knowing what is going on behind the scenes unless somebody blurps out direct quotes from the horse’s mouth. While most fans hope to see the team remain in San Diego, myself included, the possibility of moving North to L.A. remains entirely possible. However, scenarios such as the Raiders moving to Las Vegas, or additional funding by the NFL to keep San Diego as a football city, can buy the team time to hash out a plan to avoid relocation.

All in all, hope is not lost Chargers faithful!!! Rumors will continue to run rampant that much we do know. Just understand that not everything you hear is definitively true and rumors have many purposes such as to gain leverage in certain situations or simply a small time reporter gaining more notoriety for example.

At the moment, it’s important for us to rally around this team and continue to support them as a franchise–as hard as that may be sometimes. The playoffs are still a possibility, and I’m sure a trip to the postseason would alleviate some of the pressure to relocate. As fans, all we can do is sit back and wait.

So why not enjoy the last five weeks of the season before everyone spews out offseason hot takes on relocation, right? After all, nothing cures organizational dissatisfaction more than wins.

Fortunately enough for the Chargers, that’s exactly what they need to save their season, and quite possibly, the place they call home.