3. Ravens cut returner Hester

California cities scramble to pitch stadium proposals.

Kick returner Devin Hester has been cut by the Ravens after the four-time Pro Bowl star struggled in his first season with the team. Signed as a free agent following offseason toe surgery, Hester, who also played for the Falcons and Bears, returned only 25 punts and fumbled four times.

Four San Diego city council members are offering Chargers owner Dean Spanos a lease of $1 a year for 99 years for the Qualcomm Stadium site as a starting point for negotiations for a new stadium. The offer was in a letter sent to Spanos on Tuesday, with copies going to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other NFL owners.

It comes six weeks after a Chargers-written ballot measure asking for $1.15 billion in increased hotel taxes for a new downtown stadium was soundly defeated, the latest twist in the team’s long, bitter attempt to replace aging Qualcomm Stadium.

The Chargers have until Jan. 15 to exercise an option to move to Los Angeles and join the Rams in a stadium in Inglewood scheduled to open in 2019.

Meantime, in Oakland a late bid to keep the Raiders from moving to Las Vegas took a step forward when Alameda County supervisors approved opening negotiations with an investment group on a $1.3 billion stadium project.

If the Oakland City Council approves as well, the city and county can start negotiating a formal agreement with private investors for a stadium project that includes $350 million in public money by way of land and future revenue. The city council was scheduled to consider the issue Tuesday night.

Dolphins: Mike Pouncey’s season is over and his career in question. Miami’s three-time Pro Bowl center was placed on season-ending injured reserve because of a hip injury that limited him to five games.

Miami also signed veteran quarterback T.J. Yates, who will back up Matt Moore for Saturday night’s game at the Jets. Starter Ryan Tannehill injured his knee in Sunday’s victory over the Cardinals.

In addition, the Dolphins decided defensive end Dion Jordan will remain on the reserve non-football injury list for the rest of the season, delaying until 2017 his return from a long suspension and knee surgery.

Bengals: The club finally gave up on kicker Mike Nugent, who had missed more attempts than anyone in the NFL this season, and acquired former Steelers kicker Randy Bullock off waivers ahead of their rivalry rematch Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

Ravens: Cut veteran return man Devin Hester a day after his failure to field two punts resulted in the Ravens starting drives on their 1- and 2-yard line in a 30-23 loss to the Patriots. His first mistake set up an early New England safety.

Cowboys: Activated running back Darren McFadden from the non-football injury list and waived rookie Darius Jackson, a sixth-round draft pick. McFadden was the team’s leading rusher last season but broke his elbow in a household accident during the offseason.

49ers: Placed center Daniel Kilgore on season-ending injured reserve after he injured a knee in the first half of Sunday’s overtime loss to the Jets. The news comes a day after the team lost tight end Vance McDonald for the remaining three games with a shoulder injury.

Bills: Placed safety James Ihedigbo (ankle) on injured reserve, and replaced him by promoting Shamiel Gary off the practice squad. The Bills also promoted offensive tackle Michael Ola from their practice squad to fill a potential need with starting left tackle Cordy Glenn nursing a back injury.

Cardinals: Signed former University of Arizona standout linebacker Scooby Wright from the Browns practice squad. Linebacker Deone Bucannon (ankle), safety Tyvon Branch (groin) and tackle Ulrick John were placed on injured reserve.

Jets: Placed safety Marcus Gilchrist (knee) and right tackle Breno Giacomini (calf ) on injured reserve. Safety Ronald Martin and lineman Craig Watts were promoted from the practice squad.

London games: The Jaguars, Dolphins, Browns and Rams will be the home teams for next season’s NFL games in London. The Ravens will play Jacksonville at Wembley Stadium, where the Saints will face Miami. Cleveland will host the Vikings and the Cardinals take on Los Angeles at Twickenham, where the NFL first played this year.

Obit: Former Ravens, Colts, Jets and 49ers tight end Konrad Reuland died at age 29 following a brain aneurysm suffered last month, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh announced.

PALM BEACH POST Chargers fans hope their team isn’t on the way to join the Rams in Los Angeles after a ballot measure to replace Qualcomm Stadium was defeated last month.