NFL

Weekly Industry NFL stadium roundup

2009-10-24T01:22:28Z

State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg was a guest in the Chargers owner Alex Spanos' luxury box at a recent San Diego game. The legislator, who pushed through a bill to allow the NFL stadium plan in Industry to proceed, was reportedly there for a fundraiser, writes Michael Gardner in the San Diego Union-Tribune. (The Chargers have been listed as a potential candidate to move to Los Angeles.)

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says there are "positive developments" in the Los Angeles area. "But now we have to figure out how to pay for it. And in our economic system, that is a big challenge. It's at least an $800 million stadium," he told the Associated Press.

The St. Louis Rams are the most likely to move to the future Industry stadium site because the team is currently up for sale and they have an opt-out clause with their Jones Dome lease after 2014 season, writes Peter King in Sports Illustrated.

Ed Roski, Jr.'s development company, Majestic Realty, has fielded requests to reserve the 176 luxury suites and almost 40,000 for the 12,500 club seats, writes Jon Wertheim in Sports Illustrated.

Heck, even the New York Times took up the news.

For an archive of NFL stadium stories, click here. Follow news on the NFL stadium in the LA-area and more on Twitter @jmswgnr. Suggestions for future links are welcome here.

Attempt to waive rules for NFL stadium project may be slowed

2009-09-05T00:54:48Z

With a week left in the legislative session, proponents of a professional football stadium in the Los Angeles area pushing for a relaxing of environmental laws may face steep opposition from Democratic legislators and run out of time, a state senator said Friday.

State Sen. George Runner (R-Lancaster) said Friday that he is open to expediting the environmental approval process for projects but an exemption from environmental law may be difficult with only days left in the legislative session.

"This is a difficult time to move that bill that quickly," said Runner, the vice-chair of the Environmental Quality Committee that oversees the California Environmental Quality Act, the environmental law that governs new development.

The proposed exemption's bill language appears not to be finalized and doesn't have an author, officials said Friday.

Billionare developer Ed Roski Jr. and his representatives from his company, Majestic Realty Co., met with two legislative leaders Thursday in Sacramento to pitch the 75-000-seat stadium in Industry as a job-generating project.

But it turns out Majestic and its lobbyists have been seeking an exemption from environmental rules holding up the proposed football stadium near the 57/60 freeway interchange, according to local officials. A neighboring city, Walnut, filled a lawsuit against the project in March, objecting to its environmental impact study.

Roski met Thursday with Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), which also included Maria Elena Durazo, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, legislative officials said.

Runner said he hasn't been approached by Roski or stadium proponents about the exemption. "All we know is that the discussion is going on," he said.

State Sen. Bob Huff (R-Glendora), who oversees the portion of Industry where the stadium is proposed, also wasn't approached by stadium proponents, said Huff's spokeswoman Junay Gardner.

Huff, whose wife Mei Mei Huff is on Majestic's payroll, has publicly supported the stadium.

Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) was approached by "stadium proponents," said Hollingsworth's spokeswoman Melanie Reagan. It wasn't immediately clear with whom and when Hollingsworth met them.

Hollingsworth pushed hard for a controversial bill some critics argued would have benefited the proposed NFL stadium during the recent state budget stalemate. The bill, named after Industry, would have extended the life of redevelopment agencies for 40 years without having to prove blight as long as the state received a 10 percent cut of the property-tax revenue.

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, a Democrat from Los Angeles, pulled the bill after critics said it would help fund the infrastructure for the stadium project.

The legislature ends its session Sept. 11.

For an archive of NFL stadium stories, click here. Follow news on the NFL stadium in the LA-area and more on Twitter @jmswgnr

New NFL season approaching, fresh approach

2009-09-05T00:04:27Z

Readers:

Another National Football League season is upon us and the Los Angeles area won't have a team, nor a start date on construction of its proposed $800-million stadium project.

But this blog has returned and it'll document why.

It'll feature more breaking news than before and a collection of news across the NFL that relates to the elusive question: Will the NFL ever return to LA?

For an archive of our stories, click here.

Keep checking back for more.

Thanks.

Follow news on the NFL stadium in the LA-area and more on Twitter @jmswgnr

Did he really ask that?

2008-12-22T20:21:53Z

There's an old saying in politics, whether you are republican or democrat, that thou shall never speak ill of another party member.
It's also goes for the journalism profession, but today I'm going to break that unwritten rule. I'm embarrassed today of being a sportswriter, and I have Detroit News columnist Rob Parker to blame. He clearly stepped over the line Sunday when questioning Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli after the Lions became the first NFL team in history to go 0-15.
Parker tried to place the blame on the Lions defense, and defensive coordinator Joe Barry, asking Rosemead native Marinelli why he hasn't replaced his DC, who also happens to be his son-in-law.
When he didn't get the answer he wanted, he crossed the line, asking Marinelli, "Do you wish your daughter would have married a better defensive coordinator?"
This coming from someone who probably doesn't know the difference between a 'Cover 2' or a 'Plug 1.'
Why get personal, Rob?
The Lions problem lies not with the coaching staff, but with the players that former team president Matt Millen put together. I reflect back to motor sports, and what Al Unser Jr. once told me, and that was that if two cars are close in performance, the better driver can make a difference. But if one car is clearly quicker, the best driver in the world is not going to make that difference up. It's the same in team sports, where if the gap in talent level is too great, the best coaching staff in the world is not going to be able to win with it.
Figure out what a 'Plug 1' is yet, Rob?

Patriots' cheerleader fired over outrageous Internet photos

2008-11-05T22:41:22Z

According to the Boston Herald, Caitlin Davis got kicked off the squad after pictures surfaced on Facebook that apparently showed her drawing on a passed-out person with a marker.

It appears the scrawl included the words "penis," 'I'm a Jew' and a pair of swastikas on the victim's face, neck, arms and torso.

49ers: Nolan out, Singletary in

2008-10-21T19:40:31Z

Chicago Bears legendary linebacker Mike Singletary is taking over the coaching job in San Francisco:

click here for Singletary story

The 49ers could be looking to get rid of Mike Nolan

2008-10-20T22:31:56Z

It looks like Coach Mike Nolan's time with the 49ers may be over:

link to story on Nolan

Top fantasy players this week

2008-10-19T15:19:31Z

This list is from Yahoo! Sports "Big Board" If you're starting one of these ten, You're probably doing all right in league play:

1	Frank Gore, SF, RB	Martz's new "Marshall" plan has been top 13 RB each week	3
2	LaDainian Tomlinson, SD, RB	After 5th sub-100-yd game WK 6, calling for team to improve run	1
3	Adrian Peterson, Min, RB	AP owners lamenting missed opportunities past 2 weeks (NO, DET)	2
4	Marion Barber, Dal, RB	Major workload ahead with rookie Jones, Romo out	4
5	Clinton Portis, Was, RB	No. 1 fantasy back has been matchup indifferent this season	9
6	Brian Westbrook, Phi, RB	Week 7 bye won't come soon enough (ankle, broken ribs)	5
7	Steven Jackson, StL, RB	Power/versatilty skills on display past 3 (142 yfs average)	8
8	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari, WR	Has 70+ yards and/or a TD in 20 straight games	10
9	Brandon Marshall, Den, WR	No WR getting the kind of love Baby TO is (14 looks per)	7
10	Ronnie Brown, Mia, RB	Guy gone wild(cat): 6 TDs, 1 TD pass, 116 yfs avg in past 3	12

Pacman in rehab?

2008-10-16T23:53:54Z

is Pacman Jones finally getting a little help?

link to Pacman story

One tough Gaucho

2008-10-16T22:28:26Z

Dallas' Tony Romo, ruled out for four weeks two ago, may now play on Sunday.

All it took was one call from Brett Favre.
Tony Romo, after speaking with the future Hall of Fame quarterback, who is known for gutting it out, may play this weekend, despite breaking the pinkie finger on his throwing hand.
Here's the Associated Press story of Romo practicing on Thursday.

Cowboys get Roy Williams from Lions

2008-10-14T23:24:28Z

Roy Williams should fit nicely in the Cowboys offensive attack.

You have to hand it to Jerry Jones, after losing Tony Romo and Adam Jones on back-to-back days, he continues to wheel and deal, acquiring receiver Roy Williams from the Detroit Lions in exchange for three draft picks.
Here's the Associated Press story on the trade.

Comments: Can you imagine an offense led by Tony Romo, once he returns, that features the power running of Marion Barber, the reliability of tight end Jason Witten and a receiving corps that will have Terrell Owens on one side and Roy Williams on the other? This could be the best attack since, well last season's New England Patriots. As far as the Lions are concerned, with three high draft picks, including a first-round selection, it will give the Motor City team a chance to rebuild, and in this case, the right way now that the horror of Detroit - Matt Millen - is gone. I see it as win-win for both teams.

Rushing dominates NFL in 2008

2008-10-14T21:01:23Z

Six weeks into the season, NFL clubs are successfully running the ball. The NFL per-game rushing average at this point in the season is among the highest in the league in 20 seasons, and rushing touchdowns are at a 24-year high.

]]> Arizona Cardinals running backs coach MAURICE CARTHON believes that the increase in rushing yardage comes from an influx of talent at the position.

"This last draft brought in a bunch of good, young running backs," says Carthon. "Teams are giving the younger guys chances to run the ball. They are being given opportunities."

NFL Network analyst STEVE MARIUCCI agrees.

"The rookie running back class has been spectacular this season," says Mariucci. "This class is a great addition to the NFL. Mix that in with the veterans and this group of talent has made teams willing to spread out the defense to give these backs running room."

Atlanta Falcons head coach MIKE SMITH, who has the league's second-leading rusher in MICHAEL TURNER (597 yards), believes it is all one process. "When you couple the talent at the running back position with detailed running schemes and offensive lines which have developed great chemistry, you are going to have success," says Smith.

Arizona offensive coordinator TODD HALEY has noticed that teams are implementing different schemes and systems to utilize their skill players.

"Certain teams use a system with multiple backs," says Haley, noting that the Cardinals are one of those teams with veterans EDGERRIN JAMES and J.J. ARRINGTON and rookie TIM HIGHTOWER. "If you have multiple backs with different styles, as we do here in Arizona, you can force defenses to prepare for more than one guy and that is where the advantage lies."

Carthon knows that finding each player's strength and finding the best way to utilize each back is a recipe for success.

"There are good situations to give your running backs a chance to play," says Carthon. "For us, Tim Hightower has shown he can do some things in short yardage. Edgerrin is durable and can be counted on. And J.J. has ability with his speed. All three of these guys have specific talents and deserve an opportunity to play. So we try to get them in the game and use them as much as we can. They all go out and do whatever is asked of them - whether it is running, blocking or catching the ball."

Across the league, teams are also finding success by running the ball into - where else? - the end zone. This season, there have been 159 rushing touchdowns, the most through the first six weeks since 1984 (167).

Commish gobbles up Pacman

2008-10-14T20:47:55Z

Adam "Pacman" Jones will be doing a lot of watching in the next few weeks after being suspended by the NFL Tuesday.

NFL chief Roger Goodell was numb on the Adam "Pacman" Jones situation last week, but today he laid down the law, suspending the Dallas Cowboys' defensive back, who was involved in a scuffle with his bodyguard at a Dallas hotel last week.
Here's the story that says Jones will be suspended at least four games.

Fight over NFL stadium getting nasty in Walnut

2008-10-14T20:04:07Z

The debate in Walnut about a proposed NFL stadium in Industry has turned nasty, with residents harassing each other at City Council meetings. The city is staffing the meetings with cops. Here's the story.

link to Walnut NFL story

Check out this Forbes.com list of likely-to-move sports teams

2008-10-14T16:41:12Z

Ed Roski Jr. and John Semcken want to move an NFL team to Industry. This article has a few NFL teams that might relocate.

link to forbes article