City Of Los Angeles - Pro Football Rumors

St. Louis Finalizes Plan For New Rams Stadium

October 13th, 2015 at 6:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The St. Louis stadium task force appears to have finalized its financial plan to build a $1 billion NFL stadium, as Jacob Kirn of the St. Louis Business Journal writes. The task force submitted a term sheet to the league, outlining how stadium construction would be funded and how the local government plans to share revenue with the team playing there. The financial plan could be key in helping to retain the Rams, though there is still a great deal of in-fighting amongst local officials. It also doesn’t help that Rams owner Stan Kroenke seems hellbent on taking his team to Los Angeles, regardless of what the city of St. Louis has to offer financially.

Owners have been waiting anxiously to see that financial plan, Peter King of The MMQB writes. St. Louis stadium task force chief Dave Peacock tells King that he is confident in the proposal.

“The only step after that,” said Peacock, “is we have to get the support of the alderman of St. Louis, which would take about four weeks. We feel the support is there to get this done. We want a long-term lease, a 30-year lease, and we’re glad the league wants this term sheet to examine our proposal. It shows they seriously want to consider our proposal.”

Peacock also doesn’t think that there is irreparable damage between Kroenke and the city, despite the way things appear from the outside.

NFL Notes: L.A., St. Louis, Preseason, Arrests

October 9th, 2015 at 9:56pm CST by Rob DiRe

Here are a few other stories of note from around the NFL this Friday night:

While no decisions have been made about the Los Angeles market, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report says that he has spoken to five NFL owners, and the preferred situation would be for the Rams and Chargers to join forces there. The Raiders could still get back into the conversation, but Cole says that owner Mark Davis would make it easier for himself if he sold part of the team to relieve financial constraints, which would make the other owners more comfortable with the move.
While the Rams are pushing to move to Los Angeles, the city of St. Louis is making its efforts to keep the team in town, but City Comptroller Darlene Green questions the financing the most recent stadium proposal, writes David Hunn of St. Louis Today. “Taxes will increase,” Green said. “And that’s not what was promised to our citizens.”
At the recent meetings, NFL owners discussed the idea of reducing the preseason from four games to three, as Cole tweets. The owners also discussed expanding the regular season beyond 16 games, but those two ideas are not tied together.
Arrests among NFL players is down 35% since the league expanded its policies and programs from last year, and future NFL chief disciplinary officer Todd Jones is encouraged by the early results, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. He adds that the NFLPA is protesting Jones’ appointment as a direct violation of the collective bargaining agreement.

Zach Link contributed to this post.

Latest On Los Angeles

October 8th, 2015 at 3:21pm CST by Zachary Links

Sources have suggested to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News that Rams owner Stan Kroenke might simply go back to the Edward Jones Dome on one-year leases and turn attention to Toronto or London. Alternatively, if the Chargers and Raiders move to Los Angeles, the Bay Area and San Diego could be markets he considers as a new home for the Rams. It’s not immediately clear if an international move or relocation to Oakland or San Diego is a consideration for Kroenke. I’m personally skeptical of the probability of those ideas, they are interesting to note as the race to Los Angeles continues.

Here’s more on L.A..

Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters, including Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) that he’s encouraged by the fact that there are two possibilities for how to enter the L.A. market at this time. Right now, those two plans are ostensibly the Rams‘ proposed project in Inglewood and the joint Chargers/Raiders plan for Carson, Calif.
While those are the two competing plans at this time, a source tells Bonsignore (Twitter link) that there seems to be a lot of pressure to put the Rams and Chargers in a room together. Due to financial constraints, many have wondered if the Raiders could wind up getting squeezed out.
The NFL’s return to Los Angeles seems both inevitable and hugely complicated, James Bell of USA Today writes.

Latest On Los Angeles

October 7th, 2015 at 7:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Raiders owner Mark Davis could be on the verge of selling a piece of the team to a Los Angeles investor, a source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). The sale of a minority stake would be done in hopes of facilitating a move of the team from Oakland to the Los Angeles area. The Raiders might need a shot in the arm as there has been speculation that a deal can be brokered between the Rams and Chargers, busting up the current partnership between Oakland and the Bolts.

Meanwhile, after the conclusion of the owners meetings, Steelers owner Art Rooney told Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links) he expects a vote on a potential move in January. Interested teams will submit their applications after season, he added. The league has not expedited the relocation process or changed any of the deadlines, however, and it’s possible that no move will take place for the 2016 season.

Latest On Rams, Chargers, Raiders, L.A.

October 7th, 2015 at 12:51pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFL’s team owners are meeting this week, and while those meetings are taking place in New York, it’s another major U.S. city that’s dominating discussions: Los Angeles. With the league considering possible relocation, Peter King of TheMMQB.com writes that a franchise may not move to L.A. until 2017, and it could be end up being either one or two teams.

According to King, owners aren’t expected to make a decision until January, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of notable updates to keep an eye on this week. Let’s dive in….

Team owners are somewhat at odds over the best path back to Los Angeles, as Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times details. While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is among the proponents of Stan Kroneke‘s plan for the Rams, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Texans owner Bob McNair are believed to prefer the Carson project, since they reportedly feel that Chargers owner Dean Spanos has done more to exhaust stadium possibilities in his own market.
Speaking of Kroenke, the Rams owner ticked off one check-box today for a potential move to L.A., as his fellow owners approved his cross-ownership proposal. Kroenke will retain ownership of the Rams, transferring ownership of the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche to his wife, writes Farmer.
While the Chargers and Raiders are ostensibly partners in the Carson plan, there has been speculation that perhaps a deal can be brokered between the Rams and Chargers, writes Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. If Kroenke and Spanos were to reach an agreement that would allow their two franchises to share the Rams’ proposed Hollywood Park location, it would leave the Raiders on the outside, but owner Mark Davis says he believes “everything is going to work out” for his club.
There are no formal presentations from team owners on Los Angeles scheduled for today, but Kroenke, Spanos, and Davis will have an opportunity to address their fellow owners, should they choose to, tweets Judy Battista of the NFL Network.
According to Jim Trotter of ESPN (via Twitter), he’s getting the vibe at the owners’ meetings that it will take a successful Hail Mary to keep the Chargers in San Diego long-term.
Count Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie among the owners who believes there will be a team in Los Angeles in 2016, tweets Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal.
With St. Louis vying to keep the Rams, their stadium project got good news and bad news this week. The stadium secured a $158MM naming rights deal with National Car Rental, as David Hunn of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch details. However, Ray Hartmann of St. Louis Magazine reports that the St. Louis stadium plan calls for $215MM more in taxpayers’ money than what was initially anticipated.

Latest On Los Angeles

October 6th, 2015 at 8:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Colts owner Jim Irsay says there’s a “high likelihood” that there will be one or two NFL teams playing in Los Angeles by the 2016 season, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times tweets. Meanwhile, it was previously reported that if the NFL were to put only one team in L.A. for 2016, that they would not be following up with a second club later on. When asked if that’s the case, however, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (link) said, “No. Emphatically, no.”

Of course, there are also some secondary matters for the league to address when it comes to Los Angeles. Jaguars owner Shahid Khan told Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports (on Twitter) that while there’s been a lot of discussion, there is still no resolution on the matter of L.A. relocation fees or temporary venues for a team (or teams) to play in while a permanent stadium is built. On the whole, Khan feels that the NFL in L.A. will happen in 2016, but added (link), “The best solution might be something that’s not even presented. There might be Plan C.”

The Chargers have been heavily linked to L.A., of course, but San Diego will not give them up without a fight. The mayor of San Diego has been personally contacting NFL owners about his city’s latest stadium funding plan, sources tell Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (via Facebook) and while the league is impressed with the plan, there are serious roadblocks. The mayor likely can’t bring it up for a vote before January at the earliest and the NFL believes it will have made a decision on which team(s) will relocate to Los Angeles by then. Also, the Chargers are working to make their Carson project happen and likely aren’t in a position to throw real support behind San Diego’s plan.

Recently, we learned that Rams owner Stan Kroenke is reportedly more willing to share his proposed Inglewood stadium with another club than originally thought. However, it remains unclear whether that other club would be Kroenke’s “tenant” or if it would have more of an “equity” stake in the stadium. Kroenke, of course, prefers the former option, but he is open to a more equitable arrangement as well, which would require a significant financial investment from the second team. Some owners are against the idea of the Rams going to L.A. since it appears that they have a viable stadium offer on the table in St. Louis, but Kroenke appears determined to head west.

La Canfora’s Latest: Jets, Fins, LA

October 4th, 2015 at 9:59am CST by Rory Parks

The Dolphins and Jets are in the midst of their Wembley Stadium showdown, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports has been busy rounding up news from both teams. La Canfora also passes on some notes from the NFL-in-Los Angeles saga, so let’s dive right in:

The NFL has given the Jets no indication that Sheldon Richardson will be subject to any immediate discipline on top of his four-game suspension that ends today. Richardson, of course, was suspended for violations of the league’s drug policy, but while facing that suspension, he was arrested for resisting arrest, allegedly speeding at over 140 mph with a 12-year-old relative in his car, smelling of marijuana, and having a fully-loaded automatic weapon in the car. Richardson, who has a court date later this month, could of course be suspended for those alleged transgressions at some point down the line–in fact, the Jets are said to be bracing for a 10-game ban–but for now, the NFL has simply stated that the matter is “under review.” As such, Gang Green expects to have Richardson back with the team during its Week 5 bye and suited up for its next game in Week 6.
The 2016 fates of Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson, of course, are inextricably linked, and Wilkerson’s agent, Chad Wiestling, says his client will not entertain any in-season extension talks with the Jets. Wilkerson, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency at season’s end, is off to a typically excellent start to the 2015 campaign, generating significant pass rush and excelling as a run stuffer in the middle of the Jets’ defensive line. Between his play and the exorbitant contracts handed out to fellow top defensive linemen like Marcell Dareus, Wilkerson’s value is on the rise. It is expected that the Jets will put the franchise tag on Wilkerson–at an estimated $15MM–but in this case, the tag may simply be a precursor to a trade, given the team’s pressing needs in other areas and the league-wide interest in Wilkerson. Wilkerson, for his part, hopes to stay with the Jets, but given that New York’s extension offers to this point have been more in line with contracts signed by less-accomplished players like Cam Heyward and Corey Liuget, the Jets would have to considerably up the ante if they want to retain Wilkerson’s services on a long-term basis.
Despite the swirling rumors regarding Joe Philbin‘s job security, La Canfora says Dolphins ownership is not considering any immediate changes even if the team’s disappointing start to the season continues. Owner Stephen Ross, who has been striving for continuity in the wake of the major overhauls the club has undergone in recent years, reportedly wants to see things through with Philbin. It is not inconceivable that Miami could make changes in the bye week with respect to an assistant coach, play-calling duties, etc., but for the time being, Philbin himself is safe. How much good will he has left, however, remains to be seen, particularly if today’s game in London continues on its current trajectory.
Rams owner Stan Kroenke is reportedly more willing to share his proposed Inglewood stadium with another club than originally thought. However, it remains unclear whether that other club would be Kroenke’s “tenant” or if it would have more of an “equity” stake in the stadium. Kroenke, of course, prefers the former option, but he is open to a more equitable arrangement as well, which would require a significant financial investment from the second team. At the moment, all options are on the table, and should the league approve a two-team arrangement in Inglewood, it appears as though it would be able to make the finances of such an arrangement work. But if a vote was taken today, neither the Carson project nor the Inglewood project would have enough support (24 votes) to move forward. It could be that Kroenke, who is said to have only 10-12 fellow owners in his corner at the moment–the Chargers/Raiders project in Carson has considerably more support–is becoming more receptive to compromise in order to bring his vision to fruition.

Extra Points: Cassel, Bryant, Cruz, Los Angeles

October 2nd, 2015 at 7:59pm CST by Rob DiRe

In a chat with for the Dallas Morning News, columnist Kevin Sherrington guesses that the Cowboys will dress Kellen Moore as the backup this week while Matt Cassel continues to learn the offense. He does note that if Brandon Weeden doesn’t turn things around, Cassel will eventually get the chance to start, which is key since he is doubtful Tony Romo will be ready to return as soon as he comes of the IR-DTR.

Sherrington also believes the Cowboys could be in the market to add a wide receiver, specifically one who could threaten to take the top off the defense. He cites the team’s inability to get the ball to any wideout other than Cole Beasley since the injuries to Romo and Dez Bryant.
Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant has had his suspension ended after the team played their fourth game last night, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The team will still have a roster exemption until Tuesday, October 13th.
Free agent wide receiver A.J. Cruz has been suspended for the next four games of the regular season, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). He has previous experience with the Arena Football League and was on the Bears’ 90-man roster this offseason.
The league office has informed teams that they will be discussing “relocation guidelines” surrounding a potential Los Angeles franchise at next week’s owners’ meeting in New York, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). It is unclear if they will discuss relocation fees and a timetable for the move (via Twitter).

Some NFL Owners Oppose Rams Moving To L.A.

September 28th, 2015 at 7:36pm CST by Zachary Links

A group of influential owners strongly opposes the relocation of the Rams to Los Angeles, multiple sources tell Mike Florio of PFT. That group apparently includes Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, who is emerging as one of the more outspoken members of the league’s L.A. committee. One source indicated that these owners view the Chargers and Raiders as more eligible to move under the league’s relocation policy, especially since it appears that St. Louis has a quality stadium proposal on the table.

Right now, it’s hard to say whether the Chargers and Raiders have the upper hand over the Rams. At this time, it appears that the Chargers definitely have the votes to block the Rams and that the Rams probably have the votes to block the Chargers.

Here’s more on the L.A. situation..

If only one team goes to L.A., it could be the Chargers, Florio writes. One league source says that the thinking is that moving the Bolts would make the most sense, because it would preserve much of the San Diego fan base while expanding the team’s existing fan base in L.A.
Neither L.A. proposal has enough league votes to make the move, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com writes. At least 24 of the league’s 32 teams must vote in favor of a franchise in order for the transaction to be authorized and things are very fractured at this time.
Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune doesn’t believe that the Chargers will be willing to share a stadium with the Rams. If the Rams relocate to L.A., he believes that the most likely scenario will be Rams owner Stan Kroenke paying off the Chargers and Raiders as a consolation prize.

AFC Notes: Geno, Raiders, Browns, Chiefs, Broncos

September 25th, 2015 at 7:32pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Geno Smith‘s prospects when it comes to turning into a viable starting quarterback in the NFL ostensibly aren’t good, but one of his Jets teammates – receiver Brandon Marshall – thinks the 24-year-old has a bright future.

“But like I said from the beginning — and I’ll stand by this — Geno is going to have a monster year, but unfortunately he’s not in it right now,” Marshall said Friday on SiriusXM Radio, according to Newsday’s Kimberley A. Martin. “But he’ll get his shot. He’s still young and he has a long career ahead of him.”

Smith was supposed to be the Jets’ starter this year, but ex-teammate IK Enemkpali broke Smith’s jaw with a punch in August. Since then, Ryan Fitzpatrick has taken the reins and helped lead the Jets to a 2-0 start. As a result, Fitzpatrick has earned a vote of confidence from head coach Todd Bowles. Even without Fitzpatrick to take into consideration, the fact is that Smith hasn’t played well during his career. The 2013 second-round pick’s completion percentage sits in the high-50s and he’s thrown 25 touchdowns against 34 interceptions in 30 games.

Other news and notes from the AFC:

Oakland city and stadium officials have restarted exploratory talks on a new stadium with the Raiders, ESPN’s Bill Williamson reports. The Raiders have set a deadline for Oakland to figure out a new stadium plan by year’s end. If no progress is made, the Raiders – whose lease expires at the end of the season – could relocate to Carson, Calif.
The Browns had two first-round picks in the 2014 draft. They came out of the round with cornerback Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel. Gilbert’s career has been an abject disaster thus far, and Manziel’s hasn’t been a whole lot better. The Browns’ Sunday opponent is the Raiders, whose first two picks in 2014 were star linebacker Khalil Mack and blossoming QB Derek Carr. With that in mind, Tom Reed of Cleveland.com took a look at what could have been for the Browns.
In other Browns news, they tried out free agent receiver Jerry Rice Jr. this week, tweets Pro Football Talk. The son of the greatest wideout ever went undrafted out of UNLV in 2014 and has spent time with Washington and Baltimore.
Chiefs safety Eric Berry, who won an offseason battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, has regained his spot as a starter in the team’s base defense, coordinator Bob Sutton said (link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star). This comes on the heels of the three-time Pro Bowler playing 71 of 73 snaps in the Chiefs’ Week 2 loss to Denver. Berry’s increase in playing time means a decrease for Hussein Abdullah, who played 37 percent of snaps in Week 2 compared to 86 in Week 1.
The Broncos’ defense has allowed the fewest yards per game and the seventh-fewest points per game this year. Their players and coaches believe third-year tackle Sylvester Williams has played a key role in their success. “It’s exciting to start to see him develop into the type of player that we all know that he can be,” linebacker Von Miller said, according to Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post. “He’ll have a heck of a year. He’s truly a hard worker,” added defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. “He’s got talent, but a lot of guys have talent and they don’t work how he does.”

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