NFL Owners Expect Chargers To Move To L.A.
With the Rams set to move to Los Angeles for the 2016 season, the Chargers now face a decision on whether or not to join them. The team will have just over two months to come up with a plan for 2016, but according to multiple reports, NFL owners expect Dean Spanos‘ franchise to ultimately make the move to Inglewood.
While Spanos will have to overcome the initial shock of losing out on the Carson project, the thinking among owners is that, once he has a chance to process the Inglewood opportunity, he’ll “pounce,” writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. According to Florio, the Chargers have already begun working directly with the league to finalize the parameters of an Inglewood deal.
That detail is important — as Florio notes, the NFL will be involved in the negotiations, if necessary. Stan Kroenke has reportedly promised the rest of the league’s owners that he’ll be reasonable and won’t play hardball when it comes to taking on a partner – or a tenant – and it sounds like the NFL will be keeping a close eye on the situation to make sure the talks go smoothly.
Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com and Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune also suggest it’s more likely that the Chargers will make the move to L.A. rather than staying in San Diego. Acee tweets that, at best, it’s 50/50 that the team will try to make a go of it in San Diego, and he acknowledges that even that estimate may be optimistic. “99 out of 100 would take this [Inglewood] deal,” one source tells Florio.
It’s still possible that Spanos will have the Chargers play at least one more year in San Diego in the hopes that the city can improve its stadium proposal by the end of 2016. But there are plenty of incentives for Kroenke and the Rams to try to secure a partner in Inglewood sooner rather than later.
As Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported earlier today, and as Florio confirms, the Rams can’t sell PSLs and stadium naming rights, among other things, until February 15, 2017, unless they bring a second team aboard before then. If they were to strike a deal with the Chargers, the Rams can begin selling those premium products right away.
Florio passes along a couple other items of note related to the L.A. situation, writing that owners were “blown away” by the Inglewood presentation in Houston, with one source suggesting that if the Inglewood proposal was like watching Star Wars, the Carson plan was like watching “a home movie from the ’70s.” Florio also reports that there’s a strong belief Bengals owner Mike Brown was one of two owners who voted against the Inglewood plan.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Los Angeles Leftovers: Raiders/Chargers Notes
Earlier today, we rounded up several updates on Los Angeles relocation from the perspective of the Rams and their Inglewood stadium project. Of course, while the Rams have some sense of resolution now, the other two teams involved in the situation – the Raiders and Chargers – remain in limbo.
The Chargers will have to regroup and decide whether they want to attempt to work out a deal with Stan Kroenke at the Rams that puts them in Los Angeles for 2016. As for the Raiders, the official statement from the team in the wake of the NFL’s big Tuesday decision didn’t even mention Oakland, and owner Mark Davis alluded to finding a home for the franchise. So while the Raiders may end up back in Oakland in 2016, the club’s long-term future in the Bay Area is far from secure.
Here are a few updates on the Raiders’ and Chargers’ situation as those franchises look ahead to their next steps:
- If the Chargers end up deciding to move to Inglewood, the Raiders may zero in on San Diego, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter links). Bonsignore adds that there’s no chance the Raiders will try to move to St. Louis, and Jaguars owner Shad Khan told Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link) that his franchise won’t be heading to Missouri either.
- According to Peter King of TheMMQB.com, there are some indications that Chargers owner Dean Spanos will try to strike a deal with Kroenke and the Rams within the next month or two, but that’s not his first preference. King adds that it’s a long shot to think that the Inglewood stadium will ever be a real option for Mark Davis and the Raiders.
- Spanos, who will spend the next few weeks weighing his options, called the process “excruciating, for everyone,” per Bernie Wilson of The Associated Press. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), the Chargers brass was “floored” by Tuesday’s outcome.
- Spanos’ options if he tries to strike a deal with Kroenke will likely come down to putting up $500MM+ for the new stadium to become a partner in the project, or going in as a tenant, says La Canfora (Twitter links). As the CBS scribe observes, coming aboard as a tenant on an affordable lease would be more within Spanos’ price range, but he wouldn’t share in the wealth as much in that scenario.
- Per La Canfora (Twitter links), the Rams can’t sell PSLs and stadium naming rights, among other things, until February 15, 2017, unless they bring a second team aboard before then, so there’s incentive for Kroenke to get something done with Spanos and the Chargers.
Latest On Possible Relocation For Chargers, Rams
After much back-and-forth in Houston, NFL owners have voted to approve a plan that will put the Rams back in Los Angeles. However, it’s not immediately clear what this news means for the other two teams that were vying for L.A. relocation. The Chargers will have the option to join the Rams at their Inglewood site until through January 16th, 2017. If they do not sign up to share a stadium with the Rams by then, the Raiders will have first crack at stepping in as the second team in Inglewood. Rams owner Stan Kroenke is celebrating tonight, but this news isn’t necessarily good news for the Chargers or Raiders. The Bolts, in particular, don’t seem to have much leverage now to work with the Rams if they do decide to relocate.
“My goal from the start of this process was to create the options necessary to safeguard the future of the Chargers franchise while respecting the will of my fellow NFL owners. Today we achieved this goal with the compromise reached by NFL ownership,” Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in a diplomatic statement. “The Chargers have been approved to relocate to Los Angeles, at the Inglewood location, at any time in the next year. In addition, the NFL has granted an additional $100MM in assistance in the event there is a potential solution that can be placed before voters in San Diego. I will be working over the next several weeks to explore the options that we have now created for ourselves to determine the best path forward for the Chargers.”
Here’s more on the Rams, Chargers, Raiders, and Los Angeles:
- The Chargers have until the March 23rd – the conclusion of the NFL meetings – to decide whether they’re playing in the L.A. area or in San Diego for 2016, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
- Mark Davis said that this decision is “not a win” for the Raiders, as Judy Battista of NFL.com tweets. “We’ll see where Raider nation ends up,” Davis said.
- Davis made zero commitment to playing in Oakland in 2016, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com tweets. Of course, since L.A. is now not in the cards for the Raiders, it’s hard to see them playing anywhere else this fall. Beyond the 2016 season, however, it remains to be seen where the Raiders could wind up. He also said the extra $100MM that will be granted to his team by the NFL if he stays put “won’t bridge the gap” in Oakland (link).
Rams To Move To Los Angeles, Chargers Could Join
8:20pm: Giants co-owner Steve Tisch says it’s “unlikely” that the Chargers will play in L.A. in 2016, as Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post tweets.
7:50pm: The Rams are officially moving to Los Angeles and the Chargers will have the first crack at joining them through January 16th, 2017, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Following that, the Raiders will have preference, sources say.
If either the Rams or Chargers remain in their current cities, then they will receive $100MM to build stadiums (link). Meanwhile, USC has signed off on two NFL teams sharing the L.A. Coliseum starting as soon as 2016, Jason La Canfora of NFL.com tweets.
7:02pm: The Raiders have agreed to exit their “exclusive partnership” with the Chargers, setting up a potential pairing of the Rams and Chargers in Los Angeles, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweets.
If they leave San Diego, the Chargers could join the Rams immediately in Los Angeles for the 2016 season while playing at a temporary site. Alternatively, the Chargers could wait and play in San Diego until 2017 or later. Theoretically, the Chargers could treat their current home – Qualcomm Stadium – as their temporary site until the brand new facility is built in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will be the likely stopgap for the Rams until their new stadium is erected.
6:46pm: The Rams are heading back to Los Angeles, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (on Twitter). The only question now is whether the Chargers will join them now or join them later. 
On Tuesday night in Houston, owners cast their votes on two proposals: one which would green light the Chargers/Raiders plan in Carson, Calif. and the other pairing the Rams and another team in Inglewood, Calif. That first round of votes did not yield the 24 votes needed for either proposal. Now, it appears that the Rams have gotten the green light to move to their planned stadium in Inglewood. The Chargers could still move to L.A., but they won’t be heading to their proposed site in Carson, it seems.
The Raiders will receive additional loan money earmarked for a future stadium in their home market when this becomes official, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) hears. Bonsignore (on Twitter) believes that the Raiders could now immediately turn their attention to San Diego given the strength of that market.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/12/16
Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves:
- The Jets signed wide receiver Chandler Worthy to a reserve/future deal, as Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets. Worthy was previously on Houston’s taxi squad.
- The Packers worked out former Nebraska linebacker Jason Ankrah on Tuesday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- The Chargers have signed former CFL inside linebacker Dexter McCoil to a futures deal, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun tweets.
- The Broncos have signed tight end Manasseh Garner, punter Will Johnson, and tackle Darrion Weems to futures deals, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets.
- Washington signed defensive linemen Corey Crawford and Kamal Johnson and linebacker Derrick Mathews to reserve/future contracts, as Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post writes.
- The Panthers have signed guard David Yankey to a futures contract, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets.
- The Cardinals signed Quayshawn Nealy to the practice squad, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun tweets.
- The Patriots signed safety Cedric Thompson and wide receiver J.J. Worton to the practice squad and cut wide receiver DeAndre Carter, Wilson tweets.
Owners Leaning Towards Rams/Chargers In Los Angeles
6:29pm: Rams players were told that they could receive word on Los Angeles tonight, Alex Marvez of FOX Sports tweets.
Meanwhile, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross’ plane is slated to leave Houston tonight and Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (on Twitter) wonders if that’s a sign that the L.A. decision will come down this evening.
5:21pm: In Houston, owners have cast their votes on two proposals: one which would green light the Chargers/Raiders plan in Carson, Calif. and the other pairing the Rams and another team in Inglewood, Calif. The first vote has not yielded the 24 votes needed for either proposal, as Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times tweets.
[RELATED: Latest On Los Angeles Relocation]
The Rams/TBD pitch came rather close to winning with 20 votes from owners. Meanwhile, a dozen owners voted in favor of the joint Chargers/Raiders plan. Now, the plans will – again – be put to a vote, with the hope that one of the proposals reaches the necessary 75% (32 votes).
On Tuesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones got the necessary support for his Rams/team TBD proposal to be placed on the voting ballot. Meanwhile, a proposal that would only relocate the Rams to Inglewood was taken off the ballot. It appears that Jones has talked many of the league’s owners into a forced marriage between the Rams and Bolts. The Raiders, theoretically, could be that mystery team, but the Chargers have always been viewed as the stronger fit for L.A. than the Raiders. If the Inglewood plan wins out, the key parties involved will have to figure out how to bust up the paperwork binding the Raiders and Chargers together in a proposed L.A. move.
Latest On Los Angeles Relocation Talks
3:20pm: The Rams/Chargers proposal pushed by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is on the ballot for owners, Vincent Bonsignore of the L.A. Daily News tweets. However, the proposal that would put only the Rams in Inglewood is NOT on the ballot (link).
1:48pm: The league’s L.A. committee recommended Carson over Inglewood by a vote of 5-1, with Chiefs owner Clark Hunt representing the lone dissenter, tweets Jason Cole of Bleacher Report. According to Cole, Hunt believes that if the NFL relocates to L.A., only one team should move.
1:12pm: The NFL’s meetings in Houston got underway earlier today, with the league’s owners in town to try to work out a resolution for the Los Angeles relocation issue. While Browns owner Jimmy Haslam isn’t in attendance – his wife Dee is there in his place – the rest of the NFL’s owners are reportedly involved in today’s sit-down, including Seahawks owner Paul Allen, who rarely attends league meetings.
According to several reports, the morning session in Houston has concluded, with the Inglewood and Carson presentations having been made during that meeting. Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com tweets that Disney CEO Bob Iger was the frontman for the Carson presentation, though Chargers owner Dean Spanos and Raiders owner Mark Davis also participated. That presentation went over very well with NFL owners, per Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Stan Kroenke of the Rams presented the Inglewood plan to his fellow owners.
Multiple reports have suggested that the six-owner Los Angeles committee will recommend the Carson plan over the Inglewood proposal, with Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Daily reporting that the committee has already made that recommendation. Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link) hears that recommendation hasn’t been formally made yet, but it does sound as if the committee is leaning toward Carson.
What does that mean? Well, it’s worth remembering that the day began with only two proposals officially on the table — Kroenke’s Inglewood stadium plan for the Rams, and the Chargers/Raiders proposal for a Carson stadium. Kaplan acknowledges that it’s unclear whether the L.A. committee is specifically recommending the Chargers/Raiders plan as is, or if the committee believes more generally that the NFL should move to Carson over Inglewood.
If a Rams/Chargers partnership, as proposed by Jones, is officially put on the table, it’s possible the committee modifies its recommendation. According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link), there are still multiple owners pushing hard for a Rams/Chargers union in Inglewood.
Although a Rams/Chargers team-up in Inglewood may be the preferred outcome for many NFL owners, it remains to be seen whether Spanos will get on board. A source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that the Chargers could get enough votes to resist a “forced marriage” with the Rams in Inglewood. Given all the bridges Kroenke has burned in St. Louis, he may be in Los-Angeles-or-bust mode, which could give the Chargers some leverage to get the Rams to come aboard their Carson project instead, Florio suggests.
Coach Rumors: Koetter, Bucs, Babich
Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, the presumed favorite to replace Lovie Smith as Tampa Bay’s head coach, has finally had a formal interview with the team, tweets Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
While Koetter’s name surfaced as a candidate for the job within minutes of the team parting ways with Smith, the Buccaneers interviewed two other candidates first — Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin and Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott sat down with the Bucs during their respective teams’ bye weeks.
Let’s check in on a few more coaching-related stories from around the NFL….
- The Chargers have hired former Jacksonville DC Bob Babich as their new linebackers coach, as Ricky Henne of Chargers.com writes. The job was previously held by Mike Nolan, who has moved on to other opportunities. Babich has 33 years of coaching experience, including his DC job in Jacksonville from 2013-2015.
- Cowboys defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, who interviewed with the Browns for their head coaching position, has elected to remain with the Cowboys, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com. Henderson never seemed likely to land Cleveland’s HC job, but there were rumblings suggesting he would join Adam Gase‘s staff with the Dolphins.
- Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer announced today that he has not renewed Jeff Davidson‘s contract, meaning Minnesota will be in the market for a new offensive line coach (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press). Per Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link), Giants offensive line coach Pat Flaherty will interview for the Vikings’ position.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
NFL’s L.A. Meetings In Houston Underway
The NFL’s team owners are meeting in Houston this week to try to reach a consensus on the Los Angeles relocation situation, and those meetings are now underway, having begun around 9:00am CT this morning.
Currently, two proposals are on the table: Stan Kroenke‘s plan, which would see the Rams move to an Inglewood stadium, and a Chargers/Raiders plan led by Bob Iger and Dean Spanos, which would result in those two clubs sharing a stadium in Carson. Kroenke and Iger are expected to make presentations today, with the six-owner Los Angeles committee eventually making their own presentation, and a recommendation, tweets Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com.
However, as Nick Wagoner and Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com outline, those two plans aren’t the only potential outcomes in play. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has put forth a proposal that would involve the Rams and Chargers sharing a stadium, either in Inglewood or Carson, and there are other scenarios that could be discussed today.
Here’s more on the Los Angeles talks, with some sort of resolution potentially around the corner:
- There’s still some hope that a vote on the L.A. situation could happen today, tweets Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. However, there’s no set timetable.
- Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) hears that the L.A. committee is expected to recommend the Carson site to the rest of the league’s owners for approval, and Acee hears the same thing from a source of his own (Twitter link). Cole cautions though that a recommendation isn’t the same as approval (Twitter link). It’s also not clear if the committee’s recommendation would change if a proposal involving a Rams/Chargers union is officially put on the table.
- Kroenke has made it clear that he’s open to a partner in Inglewood, and while Spanos has been averse to that idea so far, a new proposal could be more financially beneficial for the Chargers than the one Kroenke made in 2015, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggests that, with the idea of a Rams/Chargers partnership reportedly gaining momentum, this week’s meetings could come down to a tug of war over whether those two teams should play in Inglewood or Carson.
Coach Rumors: Hue, Giants, Saban, Campbell
Hue Jackson, who has received legit interest from the 49ers and Browns, will fly to New York this week and will meet with the Giants no later than Thursday morning, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Giants, who will talk to Jackson once the owners meetings in Houston conclude, are “serious” about the Bengals offensive coordinator, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
Here are a few more Tuesday morning coaching updates:
- Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if Nick Saban will be any more open to an NFL return after adding another NCAA championship win to his résumé on Monday night. For what it’s worth, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets that the Buccaneers are considering almost every head coaching possibility, including Saban.
- Former Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell is free to seek other job opportunities, and has received inquiries from the Vikings, Cowboys, and Chargers, league sources tell Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. A Monday report indicated that Campbell is likely to move on from the Dolphins.
- For now, the Eagles aren’t planning any more head coaching interviews, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who tweets that the club will regroup and assess its options after this week’s owners meetings. La Canfora and ESPN’s Bill Williamson (Twitter link) both identify Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson as a strong candidate for the job.
- The Colts are interviewing former Bears defensive backs coach Jon Hoke today, after having spoken to Bills DBs coach Donnie Henderson on Monday, per Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter links). While Henderson may not end up in Indianapolis, he won’t return to the Bills, a source tells Marvez.