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Sources: Davis Plans To File Papers In January To Move Raiders To Vegas Barring Surprise

Raiders Owner Mark Davis yesterday "informed fellow owners that, barring an unexpected surprise, he plans in January to file papers to move his team from Oakland to Las Vegas," according to sources cited by Jim Trotter of ESPN.com. A source who was present for yesterday's owners meeting in Houston said, "Mark Davis said that he was committed to Las Vegas 100 percent, and that there were several market studies being done by the Raiders." Trotter noted there "appears to be growing support for Davis among some owners as he has made no progress with Oakland officials over the last few years." Another source familiar with the Raiders' presentation said, "I don't know what there is to say other than, 'Congrats, Raiders on getting the largest public subsidy ever and cleaning up our L.A. (mess)." Davis said Oakland was "in the driver's seat if they could've put together anything," but they "came up with nothing." He said that the Raiders "could play a preseason game as soon as next summer in the existing Sam Boyd Stadium, but that that facility isn't up to NFL standards for regular-season games" (ESPN.com, 10/19). Davis following the meeting said, “When I met with (Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval) for the first time, he looked me in the eye and said, ‘Are you using us for leverage to get a better deal somewhere else?’ I told him I’ve never done that with a city, and if they come up with what we’re talking about, then we will be moving, or doing our best to come to Las Vegas.' About a week before he called the special session, he called me up there and we had lunch. He looked me in the eye again and said, ‘Does that still stand?’ I said absolutely” (ESPN, 10/19).

LEVERAGE PLAY? USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero notes Davis is "feeling disrespected" by the city of Oakland and is "eager to secure his franchise’s long-term home." Davis: “My thing is I've never played cities against each other." But he said that the city raising rent on the Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum "just showed disrespect" to the organization. Asked directly if Davis is required to keep talking to Oakland to satisfy the relocation criteria, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “Mark has given his best effort to try to do that." Davis said he told Sandoval he was not using Las Vegas "as leverage." Davis: "I told him. I looked him right in the eye and said: 'That's not the way I do business'" (USA TODAY, 10/20). In S.F., Rachel Swan notes Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf yesterday "reiterated her commitment ... not to spend public funds to build a football stadium." She said, "While I’m committed to keeping the Raiders, I will not enter a bidding war with Nevada using public funds." Schaaf said that she is "still working on an alternative plan for a new Oakland stadium in partnership with Alameda County" and a group headed by Pro Football HOFer Ronnie Lott (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/20). CSN Bay Area's Barry Tompkins said Davis has given Oakland and Schaaf "plenty of time, plenty of chances, plenty of opportunity." Tompkins said Schaaf "seems to be leaning more toward keeping" the A's in Oakland rather than the Raiders ("Sports Talk Live," CSN Bay Area, 10/19).

PAY FOR PLAY? In N.Y., Ken Belson notes Davis has "not said how he and his partners would pay for the relocation of the team or the privately financed part of the new stadium." Yet Davis "appears to be moving faster than had been expected." Meanwhile, the NFL "wants to see what role, if any," Las Vegas Sands Chair & CEO Sheldon Adelson "might have." He has "expressed interest in ownership rights" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/20). The AP noted none of the owners yesterday "wanted to touch the relationship an NFL team might have with a casino mogul" (AP, 10/19).

A LITTLE PUSH BACK? In Las Vegas, Richard Velotta notes when Goodell addressed the media yesterday, he "downplayed the Raiders’ relocation efforts" and "didn’t discuss the Raiders until journalists began asking questions" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/20). Goodell: "Our staff is working with the mayor and officials in the Oakland area to see if there are alternatives out there but we don't have one yet. ... That's part of the frustration Mark has" (ESPN, 10/19). In Las Vegas, Ed Graney notes Goodell "didn’t totally exclude the NFL acting as developer" in Oakland to "facilitate a deal." Graney: "That’s how strongly some within the league are fighting the Las Vegas option. Many believe the NFL could attempt to delay a vote on relocation to as late as early summer." Still, even some who are "against the idea of Las Vegas getting the Raiders believe a vote could occur some time in January." Giants President & CEO John Mara said, “That’s reasonable" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/20). CBSSN's Adam Schein said Goodell and Davis "are clearly not on the same page when it comes to the Raiders' future" ("Time To Schein," CBSSN, 10/19). Bleacher Report's Jason Cole tweeted, "Goodell really wants to keep team in Oakland. To the point he's working with city separately from the team" (TWITTER.com, 10/19).

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