The NFL's finance and stadium committees meet today in N.Y. to "begin sorting out how or if" the Raiders might move to Las Vegas, after which committee members will "formulate a firm proposal for all 32 owners to consider" March 26 in Arizona. Raiders Owner Mark Davis or another team rep "will address the committees and express a desire to file for relocation." NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman also will speak (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/11). There is a "growing belief within the NFL that owners will support a move by the Raiders." One high-ranking team official said, "I do think the Raiders will end up in Vegas" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/11).
The Chargers will not be in N.Y. this week and are "not planning to ask for an extension on the L.A. option." This "further fuels the belief" that Chargers Chair Dean Spanos is "prepared to turn the page in San Diego and head north." Sources said that the team's decision "could come any time" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/11). However, there are "grave concerns among owners and the league office about the potential of having two teams" in L.A. (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/10). Sources indicated that "multiple owners have spoken with Spanos recently to express the widely held belief that he should stay in San Diego." The Raiders are "prepared to effectively defer" their option to move to L.A. "contingent on the relocation vote," according to a source (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/11).
