Appeals court allows suit over Rams’ relocation to proceed

Another attempt by the National Football League to stop a legal showdown over the move of the Rams from St. Louis to Los Angeles has been turned away.

The St. Louis PostDispatch reports that a Missouri appeals court issued a ruling Tuesday that allows a lawsuit to proceed.

The St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, St. Louis city and St. Louis County filed suit in 2017, alleging that the Rams’ departure violated a 1984 league guideline that was established after the Raiders moved from Oakland to Los Angeles.

The league, the Rams and team owner Stan Kroenke have argued that the disagreements should be settled outside of a courtroom based on an arbitration agreement.

A St. Louis judge in December allowed the case to proceed. The parent company that owns the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL Sabres has hired Christopher Schoepflin to oversee its dealings with federal, state and local governments.

The hiring on Tuesday comes at a time the Pegula Sports and Entertainment-owned teams will be seeking public financial support to upgrade their facilities, including the possibility of the Bills building a new stadium.

Schoepflin has extensive connections at the state level by having spent the past eight years working in the administration of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

He also has nearly 16 years of experience at Empire State Development, New York’s economic development agency, which provides financial assistance to companies looking to settle or expand in the state.

In 2012, Empire State played a role in negotiating the Bills’ 10-yearlease, which included $227 million in taxpayer funds committed to renovations and annual expenses.

Last month, Bills and Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula told The Associated Press the NFL team has yet to determine whether to renovate its existing 46-year-old facility or build a new one. Pegula said formal discussions won’t begin until after the gubernatorial race is settled in November.

The Sabres are also expected to seek public assistance in preparing plans to make significant upgrades to KeyBank Center, which opened in 1996.

The Atlanta Falcons have signed defensive tackle Michael Bennett in a move which could reflect a new injury concern with starter Grady Jarrett.

Jarrett left the final drive of the Falcons’ 37-36 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday with an ankle injury. Coach Dan Quinn said Monday that Jarrett is still being evaluated.

The Falcons’ defense already has lost starting safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen to seasonending injuries and linebacker Deion Jones for at least eight weeks. Guard Andy Levitre also is on IR.

Bennett was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept 11. He was drafted by Jacksonville in the sixth round of the 2015 draft and played in only one game in 2017.

The Falcons waived defensive tackle Justin Zimmer.