HEADLINES

City Of Los Angeles News & Rumors

NFC West Notes: Allen, McGlynn, L.A.

March 21st, 2014 at 12:35pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent defensive end Jared Allen seemed on the verge of reaching an agreement with the Seahawks yesterday, but continues to deliberate for now. Allen seems to be not only weighing offers from the Seahawks and other suitors, but also considering whether he’ll even continue his career. While retirement seems unlikely for the veteran pass rusher, there were rumblings about that possibility earlier this month, and according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Allen told him at the start of free agency that there was a “walk-away number” he wouldn’t go below.

As we wait for Allen to make his decision, let’s round up a few other items from out of the NFC West:

  • After meeting with the Redskins earlier this week, free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn will visit with the Rams, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter).
  • If there’s someone “remotely associated with the NFL” who believes it was a coincidence that Rams owner Stan Kroenke purchased land in Los Angeles large enough to accommodate a stadium, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com has yet to meet that person. In a lengthy piece, La Canfora explores the possibility of the Rams or Raiders eventually making their way back to L.A.
  • Antonio Cromartie’s one-year deal with the Cardinals has a base value of $3.5MM, and it’s guaranteed for almost the entire amount, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links). The contract includes a $1MM signing bonus, a $2.25MM guaranteed base salary, $25K in total per-game roster bonuses, and an extra $750K available via incentives.

Extra Points: Cassel, Muamba, L.A., Patriots

February 5th, 2014 at 12:03pm CST by Luke Adams

Fans of Phil Simms and Jim Nantz will be pleased with the NFL’s new schedule for Thursday Night Football, which will feature eight 2014 games broadcast by CBS and eight by the NFL Network, according to an official release. All 16 games, however, will be produced by CBS and will feature Simms and Nantz on color and play-by-play respectively. Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • With Matt Cassel voiding the final year on his contract with the Vikings, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com predicts that the free agent quarterback will be seeking a salary in the neighborhood of $4-5MM this offseason.
  • The CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers have released linebacker Henoc Muamba, allowing him to pursue NFL opportunities, the team announced today in a press release (hat tip to Pro Football Talk). The first overall pick in the CFL’s 2011 draft, Muamba has reportedly worked out for multiple NFL teams in recent months, including the Ravens, Colts, and Browns.
  • In an interesting piece, Jack Bechta of the National Football Post draws on his extensive experience as a player agent to explain how the NFL’s free agent period really works.
  • While it doesn’t sound like Los Angeles is on the verge of getting an NFL team anytime in the immediate future, Tim Newcomb of SI.com writes that there are now three potentially viable stadium locations in the area for an NFL franchise.
  • Safety may not be an area of need for the Patriots in 2014, but the team should keep it in mind for the future, says Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com.

Rams Eyeing Return To Los Angeles?

January 31st, 2014 at 10:47am CST by Zachary Links

FRIDAY, 10:47am: At a press conference today, commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that Kroenke informed the league of his Los Angeles land purchase, and that he’s not aware of any plans for stadium developments on that land (Twitter link via Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com). Goodell also cautioned against “overreacting” to the news (Twitter link via Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com).

THURSDAY, 8:13pm: Rams owner Stan Kroenke is said to have bought a 60-acre lot in Inglewood, California that could potentially be a used for an NFL stadium, sources tell Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times. The timing of this development is especially curious since the Rams have been unable to secure a new stadium in St. Louis and can move after the 2014 season per the terms of their lease agreement.

So far, the Rams have declined comment when asked about whether they’ve secured the piece of land in question. Farmer rightfully notes that 60 acres of land alone wouldn’t be enough to accommodate a stadium and the necessary parking, but an adjacent 238-acre lot could conceivably become available for purchase and tied into a project.

Los Angeles has been without an NFL franchise since the Rams and Raiders left after the 1994 season. The L.A. market has been used as leverage many times to get stadium deals done in other cities, but this is the first time an NFL owner has bought a piece of land in the L.A. area capable of accommodating a stadium. Relocation would be a very complicated process and would require the support of three-quarters of NFL owners, but the temptation to bring an NFL franchise to the nation’s second-largest media market has been strong ever since it was left without professional football nearly 20 years ago.