Owners seeking 'solutions' on L.A.
Goodell still expects vote on relocation, possibly by January.
Roger Goodell expects NFL owners will eventually vote on franchise relocation to Los Angeles. The league’s commissioner said Wednesday the owners — during league meetings in New York — expressed interest “in wanting to be there, but also recognize we need to find solutions.”
The St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers all have designs on moving to L.A., which has not had an NFL franchise since 1995, when the Rams and Raiders left. The current timetable calls for submission of applications to relocate in January, when the owners could vote.
Steelers president Art Rooney said he doesn’t envision that timetable being changed, noting St. Louis, Oakland and San Diego “still are putting together their proposals” to keep their teams.
Meantime, owners approved more international games through 2025 on Wednesday, including ones in places other than England. Possibilities include Mexico, Germany and Canada.
“We think it’s time to expand our international series to other countries and respond to the growing interest in our game not only in the U.K., but elsewhere around the world,” Goodell said.
Mexico, where one regular-season game was played in 2005 and drew a record attendance of 103,467, is a front-runner for next year.
Giants: Team doctors, trainer Ronnie Barnes, the head of facilities and the players union spoke to the team Wednesday after tight end Daniel Fells was hospitalized with MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that kills thousands a year.
“It’s a very serious thing, has been that way in this league for quite a few years,” coach Tom Coughlin said.
Coughlin said Fells hopes to get out of the hospital today, although his season is now over after being placed on injured reserve.
Since the diagnosis, the team’s facility has been disinfected and the players were lectured and given time to ask questions.
Dolphins: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill says he became frustrated during a recent practice and regrets that he disparaged two teammates.
Annoyed that defensive players were practicing aggressively during a workout that’s typically low-key the day before a game, Tannehill sarcastically told two players they would receive a “scout team trophy.”
“I hold myself to a higher standard than to take a shot like that,” Tannehill said. “I’ve talked to those guys and cleared the air with them, and we’re moving forward. This is behind us.”
Jaguars: Tight end Julius Thomas is moving closer to making his season debut. Thomas practiced without a cast for the first time since breaking his right hand in the preseason opener Aug. 14, but he still hasn’t been cleared to play.
Rams: Linebacker Alec Ogletree underwent surgery to repair his fractured right fibula Tuesday, and coach Jeff Fisher left open the possibility that Ogletree could come back this season.
Bills: Signed veteran kicker Billy Cundiff in a move that leaves Dan Carpenter’s future uncertain in Buffalo following his latest missed field goal. Though Carpenter remains a member of the Bills, coach Rex Ryan called it “a possibility” he will be down to one kicker by Sunday, when Buffalo travels to Tennessee.