The NFL's current plan is to "send one or two teams back" to L.A. "within the next 12 to 24 months," according to a source cited by Mike Florio of PRO FOOTBALL TALK. The timeline "would include a team announcing its intention to move in the 2015 or 2016 offseason, with arrangements to play at the Rose Bowl or the L.A. Coliseum pending the construction of a new stadium." Possible sites for a venue "include the AEG project at L.A. Live in downtown, the land purchased recently by Rams owner Stan Kroenke at Hollywood Park, Chavez Ravine, and a couple of locations that have not yet been publicly disclosed." Majestic Realty Chair & President Ed Roski’s "shovel-ready site at City of Industry is not regarded as a viable destination." The "universe of teams that may relocate consists of three: the Rams, Raiders, and Chargers" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 10/5).
GOODELL'S BIG WEEK: In N.Y., Gary Myers wrote NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "faces his most important NFL owners meeting this week since he was elected" to the position in '06. Still, there "is no undercurrent among owners to fire Goodell or that he is on a short leash." Goodell's emphasis "will likely be on what programs and policies he is implementing going forward rather than rehash what he did wrong" in the handling of the Ray Rice case. Sources said that there is "more than a small handful of owners who have always had issues with Goodell, believing he doesn’t listen to enough people." Myers noted Goodell "is not fighting for his job, but it will be important for him to prove to owners he won't let them down again" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/5). Jets Owner Woody Johnson: "The general opinion is that Roger has over the last 15 (years) that I've known Roger and as commissioner for the last number of years -- is that he's an honest person, trying to do a good job. Normally very good judgment. I think the owners are going to be supportive." Johnson thinks that the NFL is "moving in the right direction on the issue of domestic violence." Johnson: "We’re going to do better, hopefully a better and more sensitive job going forward as the National Football League, not as society in general. We can only do what we can do" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/4). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote the thing that "made" Goodell, that "personal conduct policy, has helped take him down" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/5).
LEADERS OF THE PACK: In N.Y., Ken Belson writes while most NFL owners "have stayed mum or offered only timid comments and instead have let Goodell speak for them as he tries to repair the damage that has been done to the NFL’s image, and to his own," the Packers' owners in the community "have no such restraint." Even if shares of the team "bestow few rights, the owner-fans are in a unique position to comment on the scandal." Packers shareholders in some ways "are a proxy for fans across the nation and are, broadly speaking, the conscience of the NFL." Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy in the past few weeks "has received his share of letters and emails." Most of the correspondence "has revolved around the team, which is 3-2," but domestic violence "has come up, too." Murphy: "It would be kind of disingenuous to say things were going well. They’re concerned, but they’re glad the Packers haven’t had these kinds of situations" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/6). THE MMQB's Peter King reports owners and "prominent club officials will be the first team personnel to take the one-hour Domestic Violence training class that all NFL employees will be required to take this fall." Owners at this week's meetings will also "hear updates on international games and the real money involved" in the Sunday Ticket-DirecTV deal made last week (THEMMQB.com, 10/6).
