City Of Los Angeles - Pro Football Rumors

L.A. Notes: Chargers, Sites, Stadium

October 10th, 2014 at 8:04pm CST by Rob DiRe

The rumors of Los Angeles getting a football team have escalated over the past few days, with the Rams, Raiders, and Chargers all closely connected with a relocation to the city. The Los Angeles mayor said himself he expects a team soon. However, the Chargers might not let the Rams and Raiders move there so easy, writes Daniel Kaplan of the Sports Business Daily.

The team is arguing that even though they are located in San Diego, they collect significant business from the Los Angeles market. In that case, the Chargers would argue that the entrance of another team into that market would negatively effect business for the team.

“Over the last 20 years, there hasn’t been a team in the L.A. market. We have reached out into that market and 25 to 30 percent of our business comes from the L.A. [and] Orange County areas,” said Chargers’ owner Dean Spanos. “Putting a team in there right now, or two teams, would have a huge impact on our business going forward. So we are trying to protect our business in San Diego. … It would really be harmful to us.”

Here are some other notes about the potential of a Los Angeles franchise:

By speaking out against the availability of the Los Angeles market, the Chargers could hope to accomplish more than just an understanding of ownership in that market, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The team could be trying to scare of the Rams and Raiders, or negotiating for a larger piece of the relocation fee. They could also be anticipating a move to Los Angeles along with one of the two former L.A. teams, and could be posturing to pay a smaller relocation fee than the other team.
There are a number or different sites that a potential Los Angeles football team could build their stadium, reports Albert Breer of NFL.com. There are six possible locations, including an AEG site in downtown Los Angeles, a Dodger Stadium site, a site at Hollywood Park with land purchased by Rams’ owner Stan Kroenke, two different sites in Carson, and Ed Roski’s site in Industry (east of the city).
Breer also notes that the Jaguars are another option for the move, but would have a much harder time leaving their stadium. They also would have to pay a much higher relocation fee. Breer notes that their chances are significantly below that of the other three teams.
While many would be excited about the prospect of a Los Angeles franchise, Kerry Cavanaugh of the Los Angeles Times is not optimistic. He writes that the city has had a team dangled in front of it before, and that the believed need for a team is overstated.

Los Angeles Mayor Expects NFL Team Soon

October 10th, 2014 at 10:52am CST by Luke Adams

Amidst reports that the NFL hopes to bring not just one but two franchises to Los Angeles within the next couple years, Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti is the latest to suggest that professional football could return to his city soon. Appearing on radio station KNX on Thursday, Garcetti said that it’s “highly likely” an NFL team comes to Los Angeles within the next year, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

Garcetti expressed doubt about the city of Los Angeles subsidizing a new stadium, but suggested that this year’s sale of the NBA’s Clippers showed “just how valuable the L.A. franchise could be.” It’s worth noting that the mayor won’t be the one primarily responsible for bringing an NFL franchise to the city, and previous mayors have also expressed confidence about the league’s return — still, Garcetti’s proclamation that the NFL is “finally interested” in L.A. again comes on the heels of several other indications that that’s indeed the case.

The Rams, Raiders, and Chargers have been cited as clubs that could potentially move to Los Angeles, considering their uncertain stadium situations. However, despite Garcetti’s prediction of an accelerated timetable for a possible relocation, there’s still a long way to go before it becomes a reality, as Giants co-owner Steve Tisch told the L.A. Times after this week’s owners meetings.

“It hasn’t gone backwards, but it hasn’t gone forwards,” Tisch said of the possibility of an L.A. team. “There seemed to be one or two references to potential new locations, a couple of locations in Carson, but certainly no breaking news.”

NFC Notes: Peterson, Osgood, Fairley, Rams

October 9th, 2014 at 2:42pm CST by Luke Adams

A day after Adrian Peterson‘s trial date for his child abuse charges was set for December 1, the Vikings running back is potentially facing another arrest today, according to Isiah Carey of FOX 26 Houston. Carey reports that Montgomery County prosecutors filed paperwork to have Peterson rearrested after he admitted to smoking “a little weed,” in violation of his bond conditions. There won’t be any action immediately since the judge presiding over Peterson’s case is facing a recusal hearing, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow, but the Montgomery County DA has asked the judge to set aside Peterson’s $15K bond.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

Kassim Osgood was cut this week by the 49ers just days after head coach Jim Harbaugh called him the team’s best special teams player, and Harbaugh said today that he hopes to get Osgood back on the 53-man roster “imminently,” according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link).
The Lions say they declined Nick Fairley‘s fifth-year option for 2015 to motivate him to have a big contract year, and so far that approach seems to be working, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Of course, it’s fair to wonder if Fairley would have been more productive and more consistent anyway, and question whether the Lions should have given up the flexibility to bring him back in 2015 at an affordable one-year price.
As he nears free agency, Falcons running back Antone Smith is increasing his value every time he touches the ball, says ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure.
Passing along news that Rams owner Stan Kroenke figures to be granted an extra year to transfer ownership of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and NBA’s Denver Nuggets, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post suggests there’s speculation that Kroenke will push for a permanent exemption from the NFL’s cross-ownership rule if he tries to move the Rams to Los Angeles. Currently, league rules prohibit ownership of teams in other sports that are in different markets than the owner’s NFL franchise.

West Notes: Raiders, L.A., Chargers, Cards

October 8th, 2014 at 3:37pm CST by Luke Adams

As rumors swirl about the NFL’s goal of moving not just one but two franchises to Los Angeles in the near future, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report hears that the Raiders – and owner Mark Davis – are open to relocating to the NFC if it means getting a new stadium in L.A. Assuming the league gets its wish and relocates two teams to Los Angeles, the Raiders and Chargers appear to be the two most likely candidates, and having two L.A. teams in the same division wouldn’t be ideal, as Cole explains. We’re still a long ways off from this scenario becoming a reality, but the fact that such a possibility is even being considered suggests that it’s not just a pipe dream.

Let’s round up a few more Wednesday items from around the NFL’s two West divisions….

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), if a team were to move to Los Angeles, possibilities for a temporary home (until a new stadium is built) include Dodger Stadium, the Coliseum, and the Rose Bowl.
As they deal with a lack of depth at the linebacker position, the Raiders brought in several veterans for a look, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Tim Dobbins, Jamar Chaney, and Steve Beauharnais all worked out for Oakland, though Beauharnais has since signed with Washington’s practice squad.
The Chargers, who lost Danny Woodhead for the year and have also seen Ryan Mathews and Donald Brown suffer injuries, worked out running backs Cierre Wood and Brennan Clay this week, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
A pair of free agent defensive backs, Robert Steeples and Ross Weaver, auditioned for the Cardinals, tweets Wilson.
Head coach Pete Carroll indicated today that the Seahawks may make a move to add some depth at center, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.

Extra Points: Megatron, Peterson, Bailey

October 7th, 2014 at 10:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Dodger Stadium is in play as a potential temporary venue for an NFL team moving to Los Angeles, according to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times (on Twitter). Hopefully, whatever team moves there will fare better than the Dodgers did tonight. Tonight’s look around the league..

Calvin Johnson carries a cap number of more than $20MM into the next league year and given his recent health trouble, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggests that the Lions could move on from him after this season or next. The fact that Detroit considered trading up for Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans and ultimately decided to use that pick on tight end Eric Ebron suggests that the Lions are at least considering the wisdom of reallocating their dollars, Florio writes.
A source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson hopes to emerge from court tomorrow with a December 1st trial date. If he goes to trial on December 1 and is acquitted that week, he could theoretically return to action on December 7, when the Vikings take on the Jets.
The Ravens tried out veteran cornerback Champ Bailey, a league source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Bailey recently said that he was willing to play nickel or safety if it meant getting back in the NFL. Meanwhile, on the D-line, the Ravens expect to be without Chris Canty for three weeks following a procedure to alleviate swelling in his wrist, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
The Bengals worked out linebackers Adrian Robinson and Yawin Smallwood today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Robinson, who originally signed with the Steelers as a UDFA, also had stints with the Chargers, Eagles, and Redskins.
Linebacker Kevin Reddick is available after being waived by the Chargers and Vic Tafur of The San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter links) could see the Raiders dropping the newly-signed Ray Ray Armstrong in favor of him. The Raiders were fans of the UNC product at last year’s Senior Bowl.
The Vikings cut Mistral Raymond from their injured reserve, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
Somewhat surprisingly, the Raiders were the only team to put in a claim on wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Talk of a new stadium and an NFL team coming to Los Angeles should scare the Chargers, writes U-T San Diego’s Kevin Acee. Both the Rams and Raiders could make a play to return to their one-time home and that would hurt the Bolts’ bottom line.

NFL Notes: Los Angeles, FXFL, Rice, Goodell

October 5th, 2014 at 7:28pm CST by Rob DiRe

The NFL is planning on bringing at least one, but possibly two franchises to Los Angeles within the next 12-24 months, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. If true, either the Rams, Raiders, or Chargers, or some combination of the teams, will be playing home games in Los Angeles by 2016.

Here are some more notes from around the NFL front office:

The FXFL, a new football league that hopes to serves as a developmental league for the NFL, has implemented a number of experimental rules that the NFL has considered in recent years. However, Florio reports that the NFL has not asked the new league to implement any rules on their behalf.
Ray Rice is at the crux of two concurrent investigations, one from the NFLPA and another from Robert Mueller’s investigation of the NFL’s handling of the case. He is doing so to provide full and equal access to both parties, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter).
Commissioner Roger Goodell updated all 32 franchises on the ongoing changes to the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy heading into the weekend, reports Jarrett Bell of USA Today. Goodell expanded his panel of experts on the subject, and took meetings with organizations and individuals at the forefront of the issue.
Ben Violin of the Boston Globe writes that NFL coaches are frustrated by the lack of practice time allowed under the most recent collective-bargaining agreement. He notes that teams are underprepared due to minimal practice and a cutting down of offseason workouts.

Cole’s Latest: Boone, Gordon, Los Angeles

August 11th, 2014 at 5:58pm CST by Ben Levine

Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole sat down with Yahoo Sports’ Adam Lefkoe to discuss some of the more intriguing NFL storylines heading into the second week of preseason. Let’s take a look at some of the key notes:

If the 49ers/Alex Boone saga continues to drag out, Cole believes the team will “eventually” be offered a third-rounder for the offensive lineman. Cole adds that the two sides are not communicating and that there’s been no discussion regarding a new contract.
So what teams would be interested in offering this supposed third-rounder? Cole has heard that the Buccaneers and Giants would certainly be suitors for the 27-year-old, along with a “truckload” of teams that currently need help on the offensive line.
Cole believes that the NFL “would like to find a way” for Browns wideout Josh Gordon to play next season. He first cites Ray Rice‘s suspension, saying a more severe punishment for Gordon would just be additional bad press for the league. He also discusses Ricky Williams‘ first positive test for marijuana and the subsequent lack of discipline.
Cole hears that Raiders owner Mark Davis is “circulating a proposal” to raise funds to buy land in either Inglewood or Los Angeles. He adds that the team has specifically been looking at the former Hollywood Park location, a spot that Al Davis eyed about 20 years ago.

NFL Considering Owning Stadium in Los Angeles

July 19th, 2014 at 7:58pm CST by Ben Levine

The NFL’s return to Los Angeles is starting to look more and more realistic. Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times reports that the league is considering financing and owning a stadium in the City of Angels.

As Farmer writes, the most common scenario would involve a team asking the NFL for financial assistance in building a stadium. The league would assist, but the club would have to pay a hefty relocation fee. However, the team would subsequently have full control of the venue.

Instead, the league seems to be going down a different path. If the NFL owns a stadium, the league would essentially act as a team’s landlord. The league might struggle to find a team willing to work under those conditions, but the NFL could also use various revenue streams to entice a potential tenant.

An NFL-owned stadium would also mean that the venue would host more than regular season (or postseason) football games. As Farmar suggests, Los Angeles could host the draft, the Pro Bowl and a Super Bowl. The writer also believes the league could relocate the NFL Network and NFL.com to the city.

If you ask some of the league’s owners, they’re willing to do just about anything to bring an NFL team back to Los Angeles for the first time since 1994. Take Patriots owner Robert Kraft for example…

“Whatever gets us a team in L.A., that would be awesome. That might be the solution. Whatever it takes, I know I’d be willing to support.”

Poll: Will L.A. Or London Get An NFL Team First?

June 2nd, 2014 at 5:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The NFL is already a multi-billion dollar industry, and its growth doesn’t figure to slow down any time soon. The next logical step in its progression figures to involve placing a franchise in a foreign city, such as London, or a major, currently NFL-free American metropolis like Los Angeles, which has been without an NFL team since the Raiders moved to Oakland in 1995.

One regular season game has been played each year in London since 2007, and Falcons owner Arthur Blank tells Peter King of TheMMQB.com that this could be a precursor to moving a team to Europe full-time:

“I think it will lead to [a team]. I think it will start with an increased number of games. That will be translated into a very successful series of games, and eventually, I think a franchise. And maybe more than one. London’s a big city … I think eventually having that many games says that we really are playing a season in London, so we probably ought to have a team here. I think it will be a natural progression to a team.”

Blank also told King that he believes there will be “one or more teams” in L.A. in the near future. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross agrees, telling the Wall Street Journal’s Kevin Clark last week that he sees a team in L.A. “within five years” (Twitter link).

Along the same lines, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk examined which teams could be moved to London or L.A., and listed the Bills (who cannot move until 2020), the Jaguars (who will play one game in London through 2016), and the Raiders, Rams, and Chargers, each of whom has been headquartered in L.A at one time.

I think that L.A. is the likelier destination for an NFL franchise. A London-based team would cause all sorts of logistical nightmares for teams, and it makes much more sense to place a team in the second-largest city in the United States. What do you think? Will L.A. or London get a franchise first?

Raiders Notes: L.A., Incognito, FAs, Howard

March 24th, 2014 at 3:45pm CST by Luke Adams

With rumors about a move back to Los Angeles constantly swirling around the Raiders, owner Mark Davis didn’t exactly move to shut them down in a conversation with Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com yesterday at the owner meetings in Orlando.

“We’re not done in Oakland. We’re trying really hard, and we’ll see how that goes,” Davis said. “But Los Angeles is something that I’ve definitely thought about and haven’t pursued. There are other places as well. Until we can find out if Oakland is real, then I’m still staying in Oakland. If we can get something done in Oakland, I will stay in Oakland.”

Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post adds (via Twitter) that Davis said today Raiders fans shouldn’t be worried about a possible move to Los Angeles. But as Davis’ specific wording (“not at this time”) suggests, the Raiders owner’s comments come with an implied threat, even if it’s not laid out explicitly. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk digs deeper into that topic, and we’ll dig deeper into a few more Raiders-related items:

Free agent guard Richie Incognito has expressed interest in signing with the Raiders, and Davis didn’t rule out that possibility today, as Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com details. However, Davis also suggested asking general manager Reggie McKenzie about Incognito, and when Marc Sessler of NFL.com did exactly that, he was met with a smile and silence from the GM, as he tweets.
Speaking to Bair (Twitter links), McKenzie conveyed some disappointment in losing Jared Veldheer and Lamarr Houston in free agency, suggesting that the Raiders made fair market offers to both players. The GM also stressed that it wasn’t a case of letting Veldheer go, but rather than the offensive tackle made the decision to leave Oakland.
Austin Howard, one of the Raiders’ major free agent signings this month, was actually signed to play guard rather than right tackle, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. According to Tafur, the team hopes 2013 second-round pick Menelik Watson can take over right tackle in 2014.

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