The NFL's Committee on Los Angeles Opportunities, comprised of six team owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell, "will take a more prominent role" in the coming weeks in the process of putting a team in the L.A. market, according to Sam Farmer of the L.A. TIMES. People such as NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman, who for months had been the point person for the L.A. situation, "will step into the background and defer to Goodell and the committee." Steelers President Art Rooney II chairs the committee, while the other owners on it include the Patriots' Robert Kraft, Panthers' Jerry Richardson, Chiefs' Clark Hunt, Texans' Bob McNair and Giants' John Mara. The move "might seem like a subtle change," but with the league holding its fall meetings in N.Y. the second week of October, it "could represent a major shift." Most significantly, those owners "could tip their hand as to which project they prefer." So far, they "have not taken an official position on that." It is "unlikely Goodell would go against the recommendation of an L.A. committee he appointed," but it is also "safe to assume he has some ability to influence and shape the opinion that comes out of that room" (L.A. TIMES, 9/23).
