The St. Louis Business Journal is reporting that FedEx founder and CEO Fred Smith has emerged as a potential buyer for the St. Louis Rams.

Smith does meet one huge qualification for buying Chip Rosenbloom and his sister Lucia Rodriguez's share of the Rams: he has Scrooge McDuck-swimming-pool-of-cash levels of money. He also has an interest in owning a football team, and currently owns a 10% stake in the Redskins, which he'd have to sell in order to purchase the Rams. From the story:

"Fred Smith would be an owner straight out of central casting for the NFL," said Mark Ganis, president of Chicago-based consulting firm Sportscorp Ltd. "He would be very well received in NFL circles. They know him well. He is an entrepreneur who built a business from scratch into one of the most successful companies in the world. He has a marketing and customer service background. He has a love of the game of football. And he looks the part."

"Looks the part," eh? As in he looks like a rich white dude...hey, at least he's alive, which is more than can be said for some NFL owners (looking at you Al Davis).Actually, I think what they mean is he's a wealthy guy with a passion for the game.

Most importantly - for St. Louis-based fans anyway - is that Smith would be likely to keep the team in St. Louis, though he'd most certainly have to immediately answer questions about plans for the Rams stadium/dome beyond 2014.

How does this affect the overtures being made by Dave Checketts? He'll have to line up his investors, and enter the ring as a serious propect. This could also help Rosenbloom get the best price for his share of the Rams.

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In the prediction department, Yahoo! Sports' Michael Silver predicts that the NFL will waive their cross-ownership rules for Stan Kroenke.