In L.A., Vincent Bonsignore reports Rams Exec VP/Football Operations & COO Kevin Demoff said that a report that the Chargers "were likely to remain in San Diego" for the '16 season was "completely false." Demoff: "We continue to have ongoing discussions with the Chargers about their opportunity to partner with us in Inglewood. Any reports to the contrary are false." Bonsignore notes the Chargers are "simply doing their due diligence crunching all the various numbers that would result in a move with the Rams to Inglewood," and it is a "painstaking process digging into all the materials." Bonsignore: "The Chargers are taking their time. But I suspect they are closing in on a decision" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/27).
FISTS OF FURY: In L.A., Bill Plaschke wonders if Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer has the "fortitude to punish" F Blake Griffin for breaking his hand after reportedly punching an assistant equipment manager. Griffin "behaved like a bully, and the Clippers cannot tolerate a bully, especially since they used to be owned by a bully." When Griffin "returns from his likely two-month absence because of the broken hand, he should be suspended without pay long enough to make everyone realize that the new Clippers are not going to tolerate being the old Clippers" (L.A. TIMES, 1/27).
YOU'RE MY RIGHT HAND: 49ers GM Trent Baalke said that team Senior Personnel Exec Tom Gamble "was the key man in turning" the team on to new coach Chip Kelly. The MMQB's Peter King noted Gamble is Baalke's "right-hand man in all things personnel and the sacrificial scout in Philadelphia when Kelly" and Eagles Exec VP/Football Operations Howie Roseman "clashed." Baalke said, "I talked to my most trusted agent, Tom Gamble, and I got the answers to every question I had. All I had to do was ask Tom. That drove the decision-making process as much as anything" (MMQB.SI.com, 1/25).
A NEW BREED: In Dallas, Rick Gosselin wrote the reason the Mavericks will not tank to get a good draft pick is that the team is "averaging 20,100 per game" at American Airlines Center this season. Gosselin: "Start tanking and the crowds will drop. That's taking money out of (team Owner) Mark Cuban's pocket. The new breed of owner in all sports is a businessman first and foremost. Better to be mediocre and playing in front of a full house than bad with dwindling crowds and no guarantee that you'll win the lottery" (DALLASNEWS.com, 1/26).
