City Of Los Angeles - Pro Football Rumors

West Notes: Seahawks, Boldin, L.A., Cards

June 11th, 2015 at 12:47pm CST by Luke Adams

After the team traded away four-year starter Max Unger, Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable says that he expects “quite a battle” at the center position, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times writes.

Lemuel Jeanpierre, who has been with Seattle since 2010 – but has made only eleven starts – appears to be the frontrunner. However, Patrick Lewis started four games last year and is a definite contender. Also in the mix are Drew Nowak and rookie Kristjan Sokoli.

While the center position may be up in the air, the Seahawks fortified tight end in a big way when they acquired Jimmy Graham from the Saints in the Unger deal. Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two West divisions:

The 49ers saw multiple players retire this offseason but Anquan Boldin said that he didn’t give any thought to joining that list, as Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group writes. “If I felt we didn’t have a chance, I probably wouldn’t be here,” Boldin said Wednesday at minicamp. “There’s a lot of talent in this locker room. If we play the way we’re capable of playing, we’ll be right in the mix.”
Longtime NFL executive Carmen Policy is helping the Raiders and Chargers with their Carson stadium project, and in Q&A with Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News, Policy lays out his case for why Carson is the ideal location for the NFL to return to L.A.
Demaryius Thomas, who received the franchise tag from the Broncos this offseason, has until July 15 to work out a long-term contract with the club, and his teammates are keeping a close eye on the situation, as Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com details.
The Cardinals lost what little experience they had at the tight end position when John Carlson suddenly retired in May, leaving them to work with a much younger group, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic writes.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

West Notes: Manning, Los Angeles, Bush

June 10th, 2015 at 6:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has spoken with other players who walked away from the game because they grew bored with the tediousness of studying film and the monotony of practice. That’s not the case for him, however.

“I think everybody likes continuity and some consistency in what you’re doing. But I will say at age 36 when I got here and now 39 that I have been stimulated by the changes, which I do think keeps you engaged and energetic and focused in meetings,” Manning said, according to Arnie Stapleton of The Associated Press.

Here’s more from the West divisions..

Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles News Group gave us a preview of what to expect from the New York meetings today between NFL owners and contingents from the Rams, Chargers, and Raiders – the three teams weighing moves to the Los Angeles Area.

Like Frank Gore before him, 49ers offseason addition Reggie Bush is ready to prove that there is life for running backs after the age of 30, Cam Inman of the Mercury News writes. Carlos Hyde is projected to take the starting job, but the door is open for Bush to win the gig. Even after nine seasons and 9,758 all-purpose yards, the veteran looks spry and capable of playing at a high level.

The Raiders are committed to going younger at cornerback and coach Jack Del Rio says he’s up for the challenge, as The Associated Press writes. “We feel like there is some talent in that group,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “They do need to be developed. They do need to be worked. A lot of times when you bring in older guys that may be safer guys Week 1, they’re not able to hold up in Weeks 15 and 16, and they’re not really changing the makeup of the team. We feel like it’s time to develop these guys, bring these guys along.” Right now, it sounds like the starters will likely come from a bunch that includes 2013 first-round pick DJ Hayden and second-year players TJ Carrie and Keith McGill. An offseason addition could change that, but Del Rio sounds like he’s going to try and develop the guys he has.

AFC Notes: Jags, Broncos, Chargers, Jets

June 6th, 2015 at 9:34am CST by Rob DiRe

Jaguars coach Gus Bradley was quick to praise receiver Allen Robinson on Friday. The 21-year-old wideout broke his foot in November, but he’s already proven why the organization used a second-round pick on him.

“He had a really good day today,” Bradley said (via Ryan O’Halloran of Jacksonville.com). “Sometimes you come back from an injury like that and you wonder about the confidence level. He’s playing with a lot of confidence – he jumped right to the front of the line [during drills]. He has some ownership and he’s going to take advantage of his opportunities. I think he missed being out and he’s not going to miss out on [his chances].”

In ten games as a rookie, Robinson compiled 48 catches for 548 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Let’s check out some more notes from around the AFC…

Demaryius Thomas has not reported for voluntary workouts with the Broncos this offseason, and Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today writes that this is one of the negative effects of the franchise tag. While fellow franchise-tagged players Stephen Gostkowski and Dez Bryant have both been spotted amongst the team, the tag has been license to not workout with the team in most other cases.
The Chargers have not been extremely cooperative with the efforts to get a new stadium built in San Diego, and one might even accuse them of trying to sabotage those plans in order to have a clear path to Los Angeles, writes Kevin Acee of the U-T San Diego. Acee presents a timeline along with a compelling case that the Charger’s were never interested in staying in San Diego.
The NFL wants two teams in Los Angeles (the Chargers and Raiders) to share the new stadium, according to Carmen Policy, advisor on the possibility of building a stadium, according to Daniel Kaplan of the Sports Business Journal (via Twitter). He adds that this does not bode well for the Inglewood proposal.
Muhammad Wilkerson‘s contract situation is definitely the biggest question mark left on the table for the Jets this offseason, and Field Yates of ESPN highlights one player or contract that most desperately needs to be addressed in the near future for each NFL team, from extensions and restructuring to front office and cap management issues (subscription required).

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Extra Points: L.A., NFLPA, Stacy, QB Market

June 4th, 2015 at 1:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFL’s owners typically don’t meet in August, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that the owners have scheduled an extra meeting this year to discuss the prospect of relocation to Los Angeles. Per Rapoport, the additional owners meeting will take place on August 11 in Chicago.

The purpose of the August meeting isn’t to make any major decisions, according to Rapoport, who indicates no major news is expected to come out of the session. But the NFL believes there needs to be some sort of update between May’s and October’s meetings, particularly to focus on the progress of stadium plans in the St. Louis, San Diego, and Oakland markets.

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

The NFL Players Association’s executive committee is pushing for the performance-based pay pool for 2015 and beyond to rise by at least $1MM per team, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports, who notes that the union and the league are still negotiating the parameters of the program for 2015. Per Marvez, the NFLPA’s executive committee also wants only a single “payee” to appear as the representative on a player’s contract, which would protect players from being sued for commission if multiple agents couldn’t agree on a split.
Don Banks of SI.com delves into the back story behind the one-word tweet (“Yikes”) that Zac Stacy published after the Rams drafted Todd Gurley in April. Stacy was traded to the Jets two days later, but the running back and Rams COO Kevin Demoff both insist the since-deleted tweet wasn’t meant to be read negatively, and didn’t immediately lead to Stacy being shipped out of St. Louis.
In the wake of Cam Newton‘s new extension, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com takes a look at what it will mean for Russell Wilson, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Joe Flacco, and Andrew Luck. Interestingly, Corry suggests Newton’s contract could have more of an impact on Manning’s and Flacco’s negotiations than Luck’s.
Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports identifies six players drafted in the first round in 2012 who will be under the microscope this season. These players, including linebacker Bruce Irvin and defensive backs Morris Claiborne and Mark Barron, didn’t have their fifth-year options exercised for 2016, so they’re eligible for unrestricted free agency at season’s end.

Sunday Roundup: Richard, Sanchez, Sherman, L.A.

May 31st, 2015 at 8:54pm CST by Rob DiRe

Earlier today Rory Parks rounded up a few stories to pass along that came across the ticker. Here are a few more Sunday stories that are worth checking out:

Sam Bradford has been anointed the presumed starter in Philadelphia, but his road to the job won’t come without competition. Mark Sanchez has made it clear that he wants to be the Eagles’ starter, and Phil Sheridan of ESPN believes he will have a chance to win it.
Kris Richard is settling into his new role as Seahawks defensive coordinator, and he has made it clear that he is taking over Dan Quinn’s defense with a “if it’s not broke. don’t fix it” approach, according to the team’s official website. Working under Quinn, Gus Bradley, and Pete Carroll has given him a unique perspective on how to run a defense.
Mike Sherman has left the NFL for the amatuer ranks, becoming the head coach at Nauset Regional High School in North Eastham, Massachusetts, reports Kevin Patra of NFL.com. Sherman, who has recently served as offensive coordinator for the Dolphins, and amassed a 59-37 record during his six years as head coach of the Packers from 2000 to 2005.
Gil Brandt of NFL.com has a note for any fans in Los Angeles hoping for an NFL team, the Hollywood Park grandstand was demolished today (via Twitter). The proposed NFL stadium is planned to take its place. Austin Knoblauch of the Los Angeles Times has the full story of the demolition.

West Notes: Relocation, Seahawks, Walker

May 24th, 2015 at 9:53am CST by Rory Parks

Last week, Rams fans in St. Louis received a bit of good news when league commissioner Roger Goodell noted that the efforts to keep the Rams in the Gateway City by building a new stadium on the riverfront had made “tremendous progress.” Although financing plans still need to be worked out, a number of football scribes, like Ben Volin of The Boston Globe and Bernie Miklasz of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, wonder how Rams owner Stan Kroenke and the league itself could justify moving the Rams to Los Angeles if St. Louis comes through with funding for a new stadium before the team’s current lease with the Edward Jones Dome expires.

That question becomes particularly relevant if the Carson plan, in which the Raiders and Chargers would share a stadium in LA, continues to gain momentum. As Miklasz points out, the Carson proposal would allow the league to solve its “California problem” inside California without having to move a franchise from another region. Furthermore, the Chargers and Raiders have been waiting for a new stadium for years, while the Edward Jones Dome is comparatively new.

But Miklasz is keeping his optimism in check, because the NFL has refused to confirm that a new stadium will assure St. Louis of a place in the league. The city has gone to great lengths to keep the Rams in St Louis, as they have committed to constructing a new, $985MM stadium while still paying off the cost of building the Edward Jones Dome, and the league has repeatedly stated that it strongly prefers to keep each team in its current market. And yet, without the NFL’s public commitment that the riverfront project, if successful, would keep the Rams in place, Miklasz writes that the whole ordeal becomes a question of honor. And honor is one department in which the league sometimes falls short.

Now let’s take a look at a few more links from the league’s West divisions:

Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets that there will not be three teams in Southern California until the Chargers‘ stadium situation is resolved in some way. As Breer notes (via Twitter), it is possible that, if the Chargers reach a deal to stay in San Diego, the Raiders and Rams could share the Inglewood stadium, which is designed to house two teams.
On a less serious note, Chargers superfan Dan Juaregui, otherwise known as the costumed “Boltman,” has contacted an attorney about the possibility of filing an antitrust suit against the NFL on behalf of Chargers fans if the Chargers should relocate to Los Angeles. While the attorney himself noted that such a suit would be feasible, Kristina Davis of The San Diego Union-Tribune, citing Chargers counsel Mark Fabiani, says the city gave up its right to sue the league over relocation in its stadium lease.
Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times summarizes former agent Joel Corry’s analysis of Russell Wilson‘s contract negotiations with the Seahawks. Our Luke Adams wrote a piece on Corry’s original article several days ago.
Jayson Jenks of The Seattle Times describes the difficulty opposing defenses will have to face when confronted with the Seahawks‘ triple threat of Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, and one of the biggest prizes of the offseason, Jimmy Graham.
Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post looks at the value and versatility that newly-acquired defensive tackle Vance Walker, who was used sparingly with division rival Kansas City, brings to the Broncos.

Los Angeles Relocation Notes: Thursday

May 21st, 2015 at 1:33pm CST by Luke Adams

With the league’s spring’s meetings having taken place in San Francisco this week, the possibility of moving one or two NFL franchises to Los Angeles was a point of discussion for owners and the commissioner. While no significant steps forward were made, we have a few more updates on the L.A. situation. Let’s round up the highlights….

There was “strong positive buzz” about the Carson stadium plan coming out of the owner’s meetings, several high-ranking ownership sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. La Canfora’s sources had plenty of praise for Chargers owner Dean Spanos, who has “moved expertly” through the process while Rams owner Stan Kroenke has rubbed the league office the wrong way.
As La Canfora details, the Chargers and Raiders appear more willing to cooperate with what the league wants, whereas Kroenke has “shown willingness to go rogue,” which could mean that the Carson plan has taken the lead as the favorite over Kroenke’s Inglewood project. With the Rams‘ lease in St. Louis up at season’s end, and Kroenke financing the Inglewood plan on his own, he could decide to go to court if the NFL objects to his moving to L.A., writes La Canfora.
If the Chargers and Raiders were to move to Los Angeles for 2016, the Rose Bowl could potentially support both teams in the short term, and possible realignment (with the Chargers moving to the NFC) would be “no hindrance,” per La Canfora.
While the Chargers‘ odds of moving to L.A. may be increasing, Spanos continues to insist that he’d like to see the franchise stay in San Diego, as Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune details.
49ers owner Jed York suggests that the Los Angeles stadium proposals are much further along than any stadium plans in St. Louis, San Diego, or Oakland, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “The most progress that has taken place has been in Los Angeles,” York said. “Does that mean you’re going to have a team there in 2016? The chances you’re going to, they’re higher than not — based on all the work that has gone into it and the momentum behind it. And a lot of that is pushed by home markets not having viable solutions for teams.”

Extra Points: Heyward, Giants, Brees

May 20th, 2015 at 9:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward said he’s in no rush to get his contract done, Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweets. The veteran would like to get a deal done as soon as possible, but he’s not dwelling on it. The 26-year-old has appeared in every regular season game for the Steelers since his debut in 2011. Over the last two seasons, he has started 29 games for Pittsburgh and racked up a combined 114 tackles and 12.5 sacks. Here’s more from around the NFL..

After Robert Kraft decided to accept the penalties brought against the Patriots, speculation began to fly that the owner made a back-room deal with Roger Goodell that includes leniency for quarterback Tom Brady. Giants owner John Mara finds that theory to be preposterous. “I believe [Patriots owner Bob Kraft] ultimately accepted the penalties because he knew he didn’t have anywhere to go” with an appeal or a potential lawsuit, Mara told Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.
Giants center Weston Richburg is disappointed by the news of Will Beatty‘s injury but he also doesn’t see the team going out-of-house to replace him. “We were gonna depend on him big-time, but it’s a next man up mentality,” Richburg told SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Twitter) “We have guys here who can step up.”
Drew Brees is confident that the Saints‘ young, inexperienced receivers keep the offense moving in the absence of tight end Jimmy Graham and receiver Kenny Stills, who’ve both been traded away, The Associated Press writes. While nine-year veteran Marques Colston remains on the roster, most of the receivers and tight ends on the club haven’t been asked to play prominent roles yet.
Some are wondering why the Inglewood stadium could be the only possible L.A. host of Super Bowl LIV and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) explains it’s because it’s the only site that could have a team playing there in 2018. The Carson project simply wouldn’t be ready in time.

Goodell Talks Brady, Pats, Oakland, L.A.

May 20th, 2015 at 4:07pm CST by Luke Adams

At the conclusion of this week’s NFL meetings in San Francisco, commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the media, and while he took questions from reporters, he – unsurprisingly – didn’t drop any bombshells. Still, Goodell shed at least a little light on a few topics, so let’s check out a few highlights from the commissioner’s presser:

As Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports details, Goodell strongly hinted that Tom Brady‘s best chance at reducing his four-game suspension would involve the quarterback handing over text messages and emails that he didn’t initially surrender to Ted Wells. Goodell was also asked directly if Robert Kraft‘s decision not to appeal the Patriots‘ penalties would factor into Brady’s appeal, and replied with one word: “No.”
Contradicting a report from earlier this week, Goodell said that the NFL didn’t ask the Patriots to suspend the two staffers – Jim McNally and John Jastremski – who starred in the Wells Report (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
Asked about discussions with St. Louis, San Diego, and Oakland about stadium plans, Goodell noted that he had yet to hear from Oakland about a plan for the Raiders. While he didn’t go so far as to call it frustrating, the lack of a proposal has “clearly irked” Goodell, writes Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Goodell on the Oakland situation: “We don’t have a deadline, but this is not a new issue that we’re all dealing with here. This is something that the Raiders have been working on a stadium for years. This is something that’s been very publicly debated. So we do need to have a proposal from the people here about how they’re going to be able to keep the raiders here in Oakland.”
Colts owner Jim Irsay said today that it’s just a matter of “when” – not “if” – a team relocates to Los Angeles, but Goodell cautioned that a return to L.A. isn’t “inevitable,” per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “There is certainly momentum, there are certainly opportunities,” Goodell said. “I can’t remember the last time we had two facilities that are actually entitled and are being developed. That’s a very positive development, and in fact there are actually even two more sites that have been entitled, but the two that we’re focusing on are obviously the Carson site and the Inglewood site. I think those are positive developments, but a lot more work has to be done.”

Latest On Los Angeles Relocation

May 19th, 2015 at 10:44am CST by Luke Adams

Momentum continues to built toward the NFL returning to Los Angeles for the 2016 season, multiple sources tell Albert Breer of the NFL Network. One of those sources tells Breer that the league is “confident” there will be multiple viable options on the table before year’s end to make relocation to L.A. a realistic possibility.

While no significant movements forward are expected to be announced this week, Los Angeles will be a topic of discussion at the NFL’s spring meetings in San Francisco. Here’s more on what to expect at those meetings, and going forward:

The cities of St. Louis and San Diego have made progress toward new stadiums, but Oakland has moved backward since March, “losing time without making any progress,” writes Breer.
Breer also notes that Rams owner Stan Kroenke‘s Inglewood project continues to maintain an “incremental lead” over the Carson project spearheaded by the Raiders and Chargers. An outcome is “unlikely to crystallize” until late 2015, perhaps in advance of the NFL’s December meetings.
While NFL executive Eric Grubman appreciates the city of San Diego expediting the process by submitting a proposal to build a new stadium, he tells Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com that it still needs some work. “I don’t think they made a specific proposal that includes all the key elements of how they get entitled and so forth and so on,” Grubman said. “So first of all, I haven’t dug into it. And second of all, I don’t know what the timing of that proposal could be.”
As Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com details, Grubman also indicated that the league will look into compressing the window for teams to formally apply for relocation, which currently runs annually from January 1 to February 15.

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