The NFL "desperately wants to do something to prevent what looks like a near-fait accompli -- the Raiders moving to Vegas and the Chargers moving to be the second team" in L.A., according to a source cited by Peter King of THE MMQB. The Chargers in L.A. is "just not smart," as it would be "Clippers II." But the league is "equally concerned about the Raiders leaving northern California, because of a couple of reasons." They will "never come close to duplicating the fervor of Oakland in transient Vegas, and the league knows how valuable the turf is" in the corridor encompassing San Jose, Santa Clara, S.F. and Oakland. The league really wants to "keep a second team there, but probably can’t" without Raiders Owner Mark Davis "taking on a partner, which he has shown no signs of wanting to do." It is going to end "about as poorly as anyone could imagine if a second team floods a market with a team L.A. doesn’t want nor will support, and if the Raiders end up in Nevada, depending on the tourist economy" (MMQB.SI.com, 11/14). In California, Mark Whicker writes the Chargers moving to a "sharecropper’s future" in L.A seems a "morbid option." The Rams got to L.A. first and "filled the NFL hole." It is "difficult to imagine the city even noticing the Chargers are there" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 11/14). In L.A., Sam Farmer noted the "best situation from the league’s perspective would be if the Chargers could find a way to stay in San Diego; the Raiders could find a solution in either Oakland or Las Vegas; and L.A. could remain a one-team town -- with an open spot for a second franchise at the Inglewood stadium." That way, the league could "continue to use L.A. as leverage to get stadium deals done in other cities" (L.A. TIMES, 11/13).
CAUSE FOR CONCERN? PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio cited sources as saying that concern "currently exists at the league level regarding the ability of the Chargers and Rams to strike a deal and to work together on building and sharing a stadium and a market" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 11/13). CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora cited sources as saying that the Chargers have "little recourse but to exercise their option to join the Rams" in L.A. after their stadium ballot measure failed last week. The franchise went into the vote "anticipating a defeat, but these results were more lopsided than many anticipated" and leave Chair Dean Spanos "with little choice." A source said, "If Dean stays, it's not because he thinks he can get a stadium in San Diego. It's just because he doesn't want to take the deal in Inglewood." La Canfora noted Spanos will wait until "after the season to formally announce plans," but it would be "surprising if the team does not relocate" (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/13).
SHOPPING SPREE? La Canfora cited sources as saying that the Raiders are the only team "yet to reach the spending threshold mandated" in the CBA. The club has a few months to "spend the required money itself." Otherwise, the NFLPA will "do it for them" (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/13).
