Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones for years "has been pushing" for Raiders Owner Mark Davis to sell the team or at the very least "relinquish control of the team," according to sources cited by Mike Freeman of BLEACHER REPORT. The feeling is that Davis is "incapable of maximizing revenues and the brand, creating value for the team and league, improving the league or advancing its goals or agenda in general." Jones is a "highly influential owner, so if he's only willing to support the Raiders' move to Vegas if this change happens, that could throw a wrench in the works." When Davis flirted with moving the Raiders to L.A., Jones was "highly vocal with other owners that if the Raiders were to be considered, Davis had to sell or give up control." But an NFL owner "outlined another scenario." The owner said that it is "possible NFL owners vote to reject Davis' request to move the team, then Davis moves it anyway, but there's no legal fight." In other words, the owners "would publicly denounce the move, but there'd be no court entanglements the way there were" with late Raiders Owner Al Davis (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 5/13).
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman on "The Dan Patrick Show" last Thursday said she believes Davis is "very earnest" about moving the team to Nevada. Goodman: "I know he's focused on what's best for the team and if in fact the Oakland fans and the Oakland public aren't going to really come forward and build the team that stadium, he wants to move." Goodman added, "Our first obligation, of course, is to our tourists and our convention business and so this is just another piece. But we are grown-ups and we are ready and we are the place for this" ("The Dan Patrick Show," 5/12).
BLANK CHECK: Falcons Owner Arthur Blank said that he "wants to make sure" Las Vegas is "fully committed to supporting a team before he can advocate" a Raiders move. Blank: "Whether or not there are enough people in Las Vegas to support a team is a question. I haven't seen the data on that to support it or not support it. It's certainly a dynamic market. It's a growth market. It's got tremendous tourism, a lot of convention business. So it's certainly a consideration. We'll see what the facts bear." ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure noted there will "be discussion about how the gambling that drives Las Vegas, specifically sports betting, would affect the public's perception of that city hosting an NFL franchise." Blank: "Obviously, we'd have to build a wall around the football operations and the franchise itself, which I think they can do effectively. That (gambling) opportunity exists in any market" (ESPN.com, 5/13). MGM Resorts VP/Race & Sports Jay Rood said, "We're one of the most highly regulated industries in America. ... And I would think the leagues will embrace that. We want the same thing the leagues want: games played with integrity." Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino VP/Race & Sports Operations Jay Kornegay said, "The officials and leagues understand it more now and I'm confident we'll move forward without any issues. The NFL will see the regulations. ... We can convince the league -- be it the NFL or NHL -- that there's no harm in taking wagers on teams that call Vegas their home." Rood added, "You come to Vegas, you take Vegas the way Vegas is" (L.A. TIMES, 5/15).
THE OTHER GUYS: Former Vikings Owner Red McCombs said that he "still believes San Antonio is the best place for a relocating Raiders team." In San Antonio, W. Scott Bailey noted McCombs has "worked with other local leaders for nearly two years to convince the NFL franchise to move here." McCombs: "I had praised Mark for being so candid. But I think he has been less than candid. I have not heard from him since all of this Las Vegas thing began to hit the media" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/13). In Boston, Ben Volin wrote he is "still having a hard time buying" the Raiders' potential move "as anything more than leverage against the city of Oakland" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/15).
