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City Of Los Angeles News & Rumors

Latest On Los Angeles

November 22nd, 2015 at 5:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

A process that seemed headed toward an inevitable conclusion’s starting to at least show some inconsistency in its timeline. The NFL may not return to the Los Angeles market in 2016, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeting the three-team pursuit’s encountered “gridlock” in terms of having a team there by next season.

Rapoport notes the league still hopes to hold a relocation vote in May 2016, although that is now uncertain, but hears from multiple sources that 2017 may be when LA reacquires a franchise.

Here is some more on the Rams, Chargers and Raiders’ LA jostle.

  • Rams owner Stan Kroenke is willing to help broker a deal to keep the Chargers and Raiders in San Diego and Oakland, respectively, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Acee adds that the Rams and Chargers’ decision-makers will conduct some kind of negotiation about playing together in Inglewood, where Kroenke’s project is further along, but notes the NFL will likely try to appeal to the three owners’ sense of humanity and persuade at least one of them to remain in their current markets. With Dean Spanos‘ son living in San Diego and working in the Chargers’ organization, Spanos could be the easiest to persuade, Acee writes.
  • St. Louis city comptroller Darlene Green will vote against the latest financing plan for a new St. Louis stadium due to viewing it as “fiscally irresponsible,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Green, one of three members of the city’s Board of Estimate and Apportionment, has been critical of the $1 billion stadium plan that calls for the city to cover approximately $145MM of the costs.

Extra Points: Goodell, Los Angeles, Draft

November 20th, 2015 at 12:05pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFL and NFL Players Associations are engaged in negotiations regarding commissioner Roger Goodell‘s role in player discipline, and according to NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, the two sides are having “the right conversations,” writes Mark Maske of the Washington Post. While there’s been some speculation that resolving Goodell’s involvement in the player-discipline process might have to wait until the next CBA extension, both sides have noted that modifications could be made before that.

“There’s no need for other issues,” Smith said. “We’ve resolved drug policy as a stand-alone issue. We cut side letters to the collective bargaining agreement every year that are issues. At the end of the day, I think that this is an important issue for both sides. And I don’t think either the players or the owners really want to be talking about commissioner discipline during the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl. I don’t think that’s good for our business. I’m sure they don’t think it’s good for our business.”

Let’s round up a few more odds and ends from around the NFL…

  • Having long been on top of the Los Angeles relocation rumors swirling around a trio of NFL teams, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times takes a step back to evaluate where the situation stands now, using a Q&A format to address the most frequently-asked questions about the possibility of the Rams, Chargers, or Raiders moving to L.A.
  • Field Yates of ESPN.com examines a few teams that might like to have do-overs on big offseason transactions, noting that neither the Eagles nor the Rams have made out particularly well in their Sam Bradford/Nick Foles swap. Yates also identifies the Seahawks‘ acquisition of Jimmy Graham and the Cowboys‘ plan to replace DeMarco Murray as moves that haven’t worked out as planned.
  • There are at least 10 NFL teams – and probably more – that will consider drafting a quarterback in the spring of 2016, according to Mike Sando and Mel Kiper of ESPN.com, who take a look at the clubs in need of QBs, along with a few of the top college options available to them.
  • Alabama already had two defensive linemen – A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed – projected as potential first-round picks, and there are some in NFL circles that believe Jonathan Allen could make it three first-round defensive linemen for the Crimston Tide, writes Matt Zenitz of AL.com.

Los Angeles Relocation Fee To Be $500MM+

November 16th, 2015 at 9:07am CST by Luke Adams

NFL owners have informally decided on a relocation fee worth between $500MM and $600MM per franchise for a potential Los Angeles relocation, reports Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal (via Twitter). According to Kaplan (via Twitter), the amount isn’t yet set in stone, but people within the league expect it to be in that $500-600MM range.

The NFL’s relocation policy dictates that a relocating franchise “will ordinarily be expected to pay a transfer fee to the league” in order to compensate the rest of the league’s teams for loss of opportunity to move to that new market themselves, as well as to account for a potential increase in the value of the relocating franchise. Kaplan had indicated (via Twitter) in August that the league may look to share a portion of a relocating team’s profits this time around, rather than charging a straight relocation fee, but it looks like that won’t happen.

Kaplan’s latest report falls somewhat in line with what Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune heard way back in April. At the time, Canepa wrote that the Los Angeles relocation fee could be worth upwards of a half billion dollars, suggesting that he thought it should be even higher than that.

The relocation fee shouldn’t be an issue for any team interested in moving to Los Angeles, though the fact that Kaplan specifies the fee applies “per team” is worth noting. There had been some speculation in the past that the Raiders and Chargers would split the relocation fee if the Carson project were to move forward, but it sounds like that’s not the case. It will be interesting to see if owners are more inclined to support the relocation of two teams rather than one, since that would mean essentially doubling that relocation fee.

Latest On Los Angeles

November 15th, 2015 at 11:37am CST by Rory Parks

11:37am: In a separate piece, La Canfora reports that former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. is in discussions with Raiders owner Mark Davis about joining Davis’ ownership group. Davis, who has been actively seeking minority partners that would inject additional capital into his franchise in advance of the team’s potential move to LA, has previously been very reluctant to yield any controlling interest in the club to others, but given DeBartolo’s excellent reputation around the league, and given that the Carson project still needs to procure more support from other league owners to move forward, Davis may be willing to make an exception. Nothing is imminent at this time, but this is still a development worth keeping an eye on.

10:59am: We heard earlier this week that although the Carson stadium proposal put forth by the Chargers and Raiders continues to gain momentum– particularly now that Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger has agreed to become chairman of the project–there are still a number of high-profile owners who back the Inglewood project, which would see Rams owner Stan Kroenke move his club to Los Angeles.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, those high-profile holdouts include Jerry Jones of the Cowboys, Robert Kraft of the Patriots, Dan Snyder of Washington, Jeffrey Lurie of the Eagles, Woody Johnson of the Jets, Ziggy Wilf of the Vikings, and Steve Biscotti of the Ravens. Bengals owner Mike Brown, meanwhile, frequently abstains from voting and would therefore be counted as a “nay” vote for either project. The Bills, Falcons, and 49ers apparently hold the “swing votes.”

As La Canfora writes, a number of owners were concerned that the Spanos and Davis families’ lack of prior experience in deals of this magnitude would be a major blow to the Carson project. However, the inclusion of Iger, who would “oversee the design, construction and development of the stadium, as well as set the vision for the marketing, branding and in-game experience,” has largely assuaged that concern. But the Carson project still does not have quite enough support from other owners to move forward. Either bid would need the approval of 24 owners, and La Canfora says that while the Carson bid has grown increasingly viable with the addition of Iger, the Kroenke supporters could still quash it.

Nonetheless, Iger’s decision to come aboard at this point in the process could signal his belief that the Carson project will obtain the ownership support it needs. While the Carson team will need at least one of the current Kroenke backers to change his vote, it appears increasingly likely that will happen.

Breer’s Latest: P. Manning, Browns, L.A.

November 13th, 2015 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

There’s a widely-held assumption in NFL circles that Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will call it a career after the 2015 season and will subsequently find work as an NFL executive, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network in his latest column. According to Breer, Cleveland and Tennessee are frequently mentioned as potential landing spots for the future Hall-of-Famer, with Indianapolis and New Orleans “not to be completely discounted” either.

It’s not clear whether or not Manning would be immediately effective if he were to transition into a decision-making role in a team’s front office so soon after his playing career ended. Still, as Breer observes, “it’s easy to figure someone with Manning’s football acumen would be able to figure things out on the fly, so long as the right structure existed around him.”

Here are a few more items of interest from Breer’s column:

  • While the Browns made clear to other teams that they were open for business prior to the deadline, some of their potential trade chips – such as Joe Thomas and Paul Kruger – drew interest, while others – like Barkevious Mingo – didn’t. According to Breer, some potential trade partners had trouble determining “who was carrying the hammer” in Cleveland, since GM Ray Farmer said he’d have to check with other members of the organization before engaging in serious discussions.
  • Continuing to address the Browns, Breer notes that, internally, the team doesn’t see chain of command as having been an issue this year, including at the deadline. Other clubs viewed Cleveland as being indecisive “when the heat was turned up” though.
  • There continues to be steady progress on getting the NFL back to Los Angeles, according to Breer, who provides an update from this week’s relocation committee meetings. As Breer details, some owners are concerned about allowing a team to bend relocation guidelines in order to move, so that club must provide a strong case that its existing market has failed.
  • While there’s no guarantee the Seahawks make a second-half run – as they did last season – the team is confident it still has an impressive core in place. “The guys here feel like once they play for each other the way they know they can, there’s something really strong here,” one Seahawks source tells Breer.

Extra Points: Stafford, Los Angeles, Packers

November 11th, 2015 at 9:12pm CST by Zachary Links

If Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is made available, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) would expect the Texans, 49ers, Browns, and Jets to all express interest given their quarterback needs. Stafford has reasonable base salaries of $17MM and $16.5MM (both non-guaranteed) in 2016 and 2017, so he could have appeal to clubs despite his struggles. Meanwhile, teams looking at QBs feel that Stafford has more to offer than any signal caller in the draft.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Jets owner Woody Johnson says a decision on Los Angeles could come after January and perhaps even as late as March, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets. It sounds like we’ll have to wait a while before we learn the fate of the Raiders, Rams, and Chargers.
  • The Packers worked out defensive tackle Toby Johnson, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • The Saints worked out wide receiver Damarr Aultman, cornerback Dwight Bentley, and fullback Trey Millard, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • The Patriots worked out offensive tackle Reid Fragel, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
  • Former Texans wide receiver DeVier Posey worked out for the Bengals today, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).

Disney CEO Joins Carson Stadium Project

November 11th, 2015 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

The Chargers and Raiders have reached an agreement for Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger to become the chairman of their bid to build a stadium in Carson, California, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. The Carson stadium group has since confirmed the news, officially announcing it in a press release.

According to La Canfora, the move is a potential game-changer, given Iger’s “world-renowned reputation” in the entertainment business, and his expertise on the Los Angeles market. Iger will oversee all the major initiatives on the project, including stadium design, naming rights, and fan experience, in addition to guiding the construction and operation of the new building.

“We now have the kind of leadership and expertise that should calm any concerns about any NFL teams going into L.A. and getting off on the right foot and pursuing the right course,” said Carson Holdings executive Carmen Policy, per Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times. “And certainly if you’re going to do two teams it really lends a layer of talent and experience, plus unbelievable know-how to the whole effort. … Who could we get better to guarantee fan experience than the man who runs the happiest place on earth?”

Of course, before the Carson project is able to move forward with Iger at the helm, it will have to get approval from the NFL. Prior to this development, the Carson stadium plan already had about 16-20 votes of support, by some owner’s estimates, says La Canfora. It would require the support of 24 of the league’s 32 owners in order to proceed.

Several high-profile team owners are believed to be leaning toward Stan Kroenke‘s Inglewood project, believing that the location may be stronger and expressing confidence in Kroenke’s “exhaustive real estate experience.” However, given Iger’s inclusion in the Carson plan, there’s a chance some of those owners re-evaluate their preference. It’s also worth noting, as Farmer points out, that Iger has a working relationship with many NFL owners, as well as commissioner Roger Goodell.

With meetings taking place this week on Los Angeles relocation, there are plenty of other items to round up related to the Rams, Chargers, Raiders, and L.A. Let’s dive in….

  • There’s significant tension between NFL owners over possible Los Angeles relocation, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). The owners of the Raiders and the Chargers believe that the league is pushing for a relocation of the Rams to Inglewood. Meanwhile, Cole says that the Raiders are keeping their possible new L.A. investor under wraps because that individual would be embarrassed if the Raiders are ultimately unsuccessful in their bid to move.
  • Kroenke’s proposed Inglewood stadium is facing scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration, which has released a preliminary report suggesting that the venue is “presumed to be a hazard to air navigation.” Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times has the details. I wouldn’t expect the FAA’s complaint to be a major deterrent if the NFL decides to move forward with the Inglewood project, but it’s another roadblock to overcome.
  • As Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today Sports outlines, despite the fact that Los Angeles is a major market, there’s some skepticism in certain circles that the city could support two NFL franchises after getting by without a single team for so long.

Extra Points: McCourty, Pats, Murray, Cowboys

November 3rd, 2015 at 8:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots tried hard to get cornerback Jason McCourty from the Titans, but in the end they simply could not get a deal done, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. McCourty, selected in the sixth round of the 2009 draft by the Titans, is one of Tennessee’s more effective defenders, racking up 85 tackles to go along with three interceptions a year ago. After missing the first month or so of the season with a groin injury, McCourty has been active for the team’s last four games.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • The Cowboys cut ties with Joseph Randle today, but COO Stephen Jones says that he still doesn’t regret letting DeMarco Murray walk in free agency, as Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News writes. The Cowboys face Murray for the second and final time this regular season on Sunday night.
  • Representatives from San Diego, St. Louis, and Oakland will make presentations to a joint meeting of the NFL’s Los Angeles committee and the Stadium and Finance Committees next week, according to Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego (on Twitter).
  • Tight end Ryan Griffin, who is on the Texans‘ IR-DTR list, says he’ll begin working out with the team on Monday, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter). The tight end adds that he feels good and believes that he’s ready to go.
  • Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com found it interesting that Titans GM Ruston Webster was not at the podium facing questions about the direction of the franchise as interim CEO/president Steve Underwood and interim coach Mike Mularkey spoke. Of course, after Ken Whisenhunt was shown the door, it’s fair to wonder what will happen to Webster. At the same time, the two execs spoke highly of him at the press conference.

West Notes: Kaepernick, Raiders, LA

October 26th, 2015 at 9:42pm CST by Zachary Links

About four weeks ago, there was a heated exchange between 49ers players regarding Colin Kaepernick in a players-only meeting, sources tell Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. One teammate called out the QB and another stepped up in a show of support. That exchange became heated, but the two players ultimately hashed things out. While there is a level of divide in the locker room, Kaepernick has received clear support from some of the team’s most-respected players, Maiocco writes.

Here’s more from the West divisions:

  • Raiders owner Mark Davis told Vincent Bonsignore of the L.A. Daily News that there haven’t been any official talks with Oakland leaders in more than two months. “We’ve gotten to the point now, unless you have something to offer, something different, there is no reason to talk,” Davis said. Davis expressed confidence that he’ll get his team to Los Angeles and he also confirmed that he’s talking to a potential investor about coming aboard.
  • Chargers guard Orlando Franklin has only a slight MCL sprain and is day-to-day, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It was previously believed that Franklin might have suffered a more serious injury.
  • Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson, who has spent the year on the PUP list so far, officially returned to practice today, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. However, Richardson is still on the PUP list as of this writing — the club will have three weeks to move him to its 53-man roster.

NFC West Notes: Kaepernick, Rams, LA

October 22nd, 2015 at 7:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the NFC West:

  • Each game Colin Kaepernick plays this year will be a referendum on what the 49ers should do with him after this season, Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com write. Kaepernick, who has looked shaky this year, is due $11.9MM in base salary and another $2MM in roster bonuses next season. If he’s traded or cut before April 1, the 49ers would save $14MM in cash and $9.4MM in cap space. The duo notes that the Lions are in a similar spot with Matthew Stafford, who could also be dealt. Stafford, like Kaepernick, has no guaranteed money on his contract beyond this season.
  • An NFL source told Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter links) that there are two critical elements to the term sheet the St. Louis stadium task force submitted to the league ten days ago. One key part of it is that St. Louis promised to pay for the potential cost overruns on the project. The other is that the task force has come up with a way to exempt the stadium from being subject to property taxes. That’s potentially great news for the city of St. Louis and bad news for owner Stan Kroenke, who seems very keen on moving the Rams to Los Angeles.
  • The Rams raised the salary of practice squad offensive tackle Isaiah Battle – a supplemental draft pick – to nearly $26K per week, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). That gives Battle, a Clemson product, the highest pay of any practice squad player in the NFL. Most taxi squad players earn about $6,700/week. The Rams used a fifth-round supplemental pick on Battle, which means that they gave up their 2016 fifth-round pick to get him. Even though they cut him from the roster in September, they were able to add him to their p-squad. As it turns out, Battle was the only player taken in this year’s supplemental draft.
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