The Raiders and the city of Oakland have not made "any progress in lease-extension talks" in recent weeks, according to sources cited by Vic Tafur of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Raiders Owner Mark Davis said that he "hasn't asked for a one-year extension on the Raiders' lease at O.co Coliseum -- which expires at the end of next season -- and has no plans to do so." The Raiders "were hoping for a renewed effort by the city after it signed a 10-year lease with the A's last month." But that "hasn't happened," and Davis "appears to be stepping up his efforts to find a new stadium elsewhere." Sources said that it "appears he has the NFL's support." Davis said of meetings with the city of San Antonio last month, "It was a serious conversation. I don't waste my time just having meetings. But we continue to try to get something done in Oakland" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/14). Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio said, “No one really believes that the Raiders will move to San Antonio. But more and more people are beginning to realize that the Raiders are destined to move out of Oakland" ("PFT," NBCSN, 8/13). The San Jose Mercury News' Tim Kawakami echoed that moving the team to San Antonio was "never a serious threat," but it does signal Davis' "clock is running out" on staying in Oakland. If talks with Oakland over a new stadium start "bogging down, L.A. is going to be the first place he looks" ("Yahoo Sports Talk Live," CSN Bay Area, 8/13).
LOOKING FOR THE MAYFLOWER TRUCKS: ESPN's Adam Schefter noted the Raiders are joined by the Chargers and Rams as teams that are "all free to leave" their current markets "assuming they get permission from the league office by January. The NFL wants "at least one, probably two teams, in the Los Angeles market." Schefter: "With so many teams in play for that possibility, at some point one of these is going to happen" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/13). USA Today's Jarrett Bell noted the NFL "does not want to expand to put a couple more teams in the league, so it will have to come from an existing franchise" (ESPNLA.com, 8/13). ESPN's Mike Golic said Davis, the son of the late Al Davis, is "carrying on from dad. ‘I'm not happy here. I may move here.’ We'll see where it goes. But the ... one thing that usually holds everybody up is these long leases, and Oakland and San Diego are in a position where they are going to be able to have the opportunity to move” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 8/14). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said, "I know that the NFL is loath to allow somebody named Davis to make a mint off of having a team in L.A., but it's going to be somebody. Why not the Raiders, who have a built-in fan base there?" ("PTI," ESPN, 8/13). Via the Twitter feed of the L.A. Daily News' Vincent Bonsignore, Davis said, "I think we'd be well received if we ever moved back (to Los Angeles). Raiders nation is strong in SoCal" (TWITTER.com, 8/13). The MERCURY NEWS' Kawakami wrote Southern California "works for the Raiders if there is a clean path to setting up a billionaire to buy into the Raiders and take control in phases" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/14).
