Owner Mark Davis and the Raiders currently do not have a home for the '19 seasonGETTY IMAGES
The office of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said that it has "not spoken with the Raiders about the possibility of the team playing its home games" in the city next season, according to Matt Kawahara of the S.F. CHRONICLE. A report earlier this week said that there have "been talks between the mayor’s office and the Raiders about the team making San Diego its temporary home before moving to Las Vegas" in '20. San Diego mayor's office Senior Dir of Communications Craig Gustafson said, “Our office has not been in communication with the Raiders.” Kawahara notes the Raiders "do not have a home stadium in place" for '19. It was also reported last month that the Raiders had "held preliminary talks about playing home games at AT&T Park" in '19 (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/9).
DESERT DISH: In Tucson, Greg Hansen noted local attorney Ali Farhang recently called Raiders President Marc Badain and "pitched a plan" for the Raiders to play their '19 home schedule at the Univ. of Arizona's Arizona Stadium. Farhang "planted the possibility of the Raiders relocating to Tucson for a year," and he and Badain "agreed to talk again." Before making this call, Farhang "got approval" from UA President Robert Robbins and AD Dave Heeke to "pursue the Raiders." Farhang also "got the blessing" of Cardinals President Michael Bidwill and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. Farhang: “I’d really like to bring our Tucson leaders to Oakland, meet with the Raiders brass and show them why this is the perfect Raiders move. It would be totally unexpected and out of the box. It would be visionary in a lot of ways" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 1/9).
DECISION TIME: ESPN's John Fox said despite Raiders coach Jon Gruden having "final say" in personnel decisions, Gruden and new GM Mike Mayock will be "looking for consensus" on most moves. Fox: "There is going to be consensus. Sure, there will be debate, there will be arguments, but you always feel better about the decision when everybody agrees." However, Gruden is "making the final call," so Mayock has to "come in and be okay with that." The power structure "is what it is" ("NFL Live," ESPN, 1/8).
