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As the NFL continues to play musical chairs in Los Angeles (while never stopping the music for 21 years), they may actually be trying to add chairs now.

Via Matthew Artz of the Contra Costa Times, a top league executive said the league was willing to help Oakland work toward a new stadium near the site of their existing decrepit one.

Of course, it would be impossible to create a deal before the league’s new Dec. 30 deadline for teams to file relocation bids, but it’s at least some degree of indication the league is willing to work with the Raiders to help create a soft landing if they don’t end up in L.A.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said she was “generally aware” of the NFL’s interest in helping, saying: “While we have not yet engaged in any specific discussions, we will certainly keep this in mind as we evaluate the options and tools for getting to a responsible proposal that works for all the stakeholders.”

Eric Grubman, the league’s L.A. point man, said the help being offered is no different than what San Diego or St. Louis would be offered to create a bid, but he said the league was open to looking at development opportunities there.

“We have for several years stated: ‘Don’t put a real estate developer between the Raiders and the city. If there is development value available, talk to the Raiders about it, or perhaps the Raiders plus [the] league,’ ” Grubman said in an email.

He also pointed out the league has “maintained an active dialogue with the city, and that we would try to be helpful in figuring out how to take advantage of development rights so long as the Raiders were interested in what was being proposed.”

With three teams trying for at most two spots, someone is going to be left out at the end of this process, and while the Raiders have teamed up with the Chargers on the Carson bid, they’re viewed as a tagger-on rather than an integral component, and the possibility of a Rams-Chargers partnership somewhere has gained traction in some precincts.