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Apparently, there’s a rumor that radio host Rush Limbaugh plans to buy the Minnesota Vikings and move them to Los Angeles. We hadn’t previously heard that one. But former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty had, and he mentioned it to Limbaugh during an interview on Limbaugh’s weekday show.

In response, per Limbaugh’s website (via Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com), Limbaugh laughed it off — but he never denied it.

In 2009, Limbaugh emerged as a minority partner in Dave Checketts’ bid to buy the St. Louis Rams. Checketts removed Limbaugh from the group not long after Commissioner Roger Goodell pointed out Limbaugh’s “polarizing comments” about Donovan McNabb from 2003.

Thus, it would be a significant challenge for Limbaugh to ever get the 24 owner votes necessary to purchase a team. But by failing to throw water on the rumor that he’s a candidate to buy the Vikings and move them to L.A., Limbaugh has given the story legs, as evidenced by the fact that Zulgad and then Seifert and others (Internet hack included) have posted a story regarding what most likely is a non-story.