Don’t bet on the NFL falling in love with Las Vegas

It's an All-Star hookup that could lead to this season's biggest score.

Tom Brady to Wes Welker?

Drew Brees to Jimmy Graham?

Aaron Rodgers to just about anyone?

Nothing so tame.

It's New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to Las Vegas gambling mogul Steve Wynn in a possible casino development deal that could have both men doing the billionaire's touchdown dance.

Why, it might even force the NFL to finally quit its hypocritical obsession with Las Vegas and its legal sports betting industry.

Wynn was present on the sidelines at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., before Sunday's Patriots-Colts game.

Kraft played the gracious host, and according to published reports, the two also met with 20 local activists.

The project is no sure thing. But if the plan leaves the drawing board, gains zoning approval and somehow gets built, it will be located across from the stadium.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, prepare to pull your hair out.

It wouldn't make Wynn a part-owner of the Patriots; casino guys aren't allowed to do that.

But it would make Kraft the landlord for a casino development that obviously would benefit from its location next to the home of New England's extremely popular football team.

Largely lost in the media enthusiasm over the possible Kraft-Wynn combination is the laughable predicament in which such an arrangement would put the NFL.

After all, the league has gone well out of its way to shun Las Vegas, its casino advertising and marketing campaigns, and especially its legalized sports betting subculture.

While former Mayor Oscar Goodman and others have approached various professional sports leagues on behalf of Las Vegas interests, the NFL has made it clear that our iconic, gambling-centric city isn't in its expansion plans: Wouldn't dream of soiling its pristine gridiron garments with all that wagering and sin.

Our popular Super Bowl parties ---- many of which are hosted by former NFL stars ---- have drawn the league's ire.

Over the years, flags have been thrown and legal threats have been made about the casinos' use of the sacred words, "Super Bowl."

That's why you will see the "Big Game" and not the "Super Bowl" advertised on marquees across the Las Vegas Valley.

And our legalized sports betting is anathema to the league's higher purpose and professional purity.

Forget that long before it gained its televised rock-star status, the NFL was developed in part by illegal bookmakers and high-rolling gamblers. In a previous generation, game-fixing rumors shadowed the league.

Then there are the players. For every milk-drinking Tim Tebow-type, there are twice as many bull-necked bruisers who make headlines for brandishing firearms and beating their wives.

Rumor has it some teams are considering replacing their official game programs with police mug books just to cut out the middleman.

It almost makes you wonder whether Wynn, who was raised in the gambling racket as the son of a bingo hall operator, knows what he's trying to get himself into.

He appears to have the full confidence of Kraft, who invoked the name of the Patriots' popular coach when he called the casino man the "Bill Belichick of casinos," adding, "We have the best operating person in the world. We like to win."

Sure. But Wynn has walked away from many proposed casino resort deals.

Through the years he has shown interest in setting up shop everywhere from London to Iguazu Falls.

Accustomed to having the best of every deal in Nevada, Wynn finds himself at a political disadvantage in the Foxborough deal.

Competing Suffolk Downs racetrack has the support of House Speaker Robert De Leo and Mayor Thomas Menino.

But if the Kraft-Wynn project somehow comes together, it might finally force the NFL to step up and cease its hypocritical stance on Las Vegas and gambling.

Although, admittedly, that's a long-shot bet no Strip sports book would take.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.