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NFL roundup: Rams owner plans L.A. stadium
St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke plans to build an NFL stadium in Inglewood, Calif., which could pave the way for the league’s return to Los Angeles.
Hollywood Park developer Chris Meany said the stadium plan can accommodate two teams.
Los Angeles hasn’t had an NFL team since 1994, but Kroenke’s real estate development firm, the Kroenke Group, and Stockbridge Capital Group told the Los Angeles Times of their partnership to build a stadium.
Stockbridge Capital Group, which owns the 238-acre Hollywood Park site, already had plans for a mixed-use community on the land that formerly housed the famed thoroughbred racing track, which closed in late 2013. Those plans will now include an 80,000-seat stadium and a 6,000-seat performance venue, the companies told the newspaper. Kroenke had purchased a 60-acre parcel of land in early 2014 that is adjacent to the Forum, the former home of the Lakers and Kings.
The city of Los Angeles lost both the Raiders and Rams after the 1994 season, but none of the previous stadium plans were ever backed by a current NFL owner capable of moving his team into the country’s second-largest market.
According to the report in Monday’s Times, the Rams want to convert their lease at St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome to a year-to-year agreement later this month. If the team and the city fail to come to an agreement to build a new stadium, the Rams could move back to the area it called home from 1946 to 1994.
A plan is being developed for a new stadium in St. Louis along with development around the stadium. Officials putting the plan together are to report to the Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon this week on the proposal.
Kroenke’s announcement is the latest in more than a dozen stadium proposals that have come and gone in the two-decade effort to bring an NFL franchise back to Los Angeles.
There are two other stadium proposals currently on the table for NFL stadiums in Los Angeles, according to ESPN.com. The Anschutz Entertainment Group, the company behind Farmers Field, a proposed $1.5 billion football stadium and convention center expansion in downtown Los Angeles, got a six-month extension in October to its existing agreement with the city of Los Angeles for the project.
—Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera and his family are safe after firefighters battled a two-alarm fire at his home early Monday morning.
Rivera told Charlotte’s WSOC-TV that he heard smoke detectors going off inside the home and that the six people that were in the house all got out safely. Rivera said his wife Stephanie, his two brothers and their wives were inside the home.
Rivera told reporters later Monday that his brothers had been watching football and had the fireplace on.
“They’re football junkies and they were watching football all day. They had the fireplace on for quite a few hours,” he said. “When we got done that night and when I got home and watched the end of the game and shut it down and went to bed it somehow just smoldered and kicked into high gear later on.”
ESPN.com reported that the fire will be ruled accidental as it relates to the fireplace.
—New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could be in line for a second chance as a head coach in 2015.
McDaniels interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons on Friday and the next day with the San Francisco 49ers.
“I’d hate to see him go,” quarterback Tom Brady said on WEEI radio in Boston.
McDaniels spent less than two seasons with as head coach of the Denver Broncos. When he was hired in 2009, Patriots coach Bill Belichick publicly thanked McDaniels for his commitment and endorsed him as a coach. Now 39, McDaniels could be a candidate elsewhere but his next window to interview or speak with any team will not come until the Patriots are out of the playoffs.
—The Atlanta Falcons have been busy in their head-coaching search, already interviewing three candidates with four more scheduled this week.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Falcons interviewed Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase and New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Friday, and Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn on Saturday.
Potential candidates coming this week are Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and former Buffao Bills coach Doug Marrone.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank fired the franchise’s winningest head coach, Mike Smith, on Dec. 29.
—Long-time NFL coach Mike Shanahan has interviewed with the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, according to reports.
Shanahan reportedly met with Raiders owner Mark Davis and other team officials. Oakland is seeking its seventh head coach in the past nine seasons after firing Dennis Allen in September.
The Raiders already have interviewed Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The 49ers reportedly interviewed Shanahan on Thursday and were scheduled to interview former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan on Sunday.
—Fresh off Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit coach Jim Caldwell praised Ndamukong Suh and said keeping the controversial lineman in the Motor City is imperative.
“That will continue to be one of our highest priorities,” in the next couple of months, Caldwell said Monday.
The fifth-year pro, who turns 28 on Tuesday, had two sacks in Sunday’s loss. For the season, he recorded 8.5 sacks and was one of the key reasons why the Lions had the No. 2 rated defense in the league.
Suh becomes a free agent in March and it will cost the Lions more than $26 million to apply the franchise tag to keep him in Detroit.
—Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe could be on the trade block, or the chopping block, if he doesn’t agree to a reduction in pay.
Bowe is scheduled to make $10.75 million in 2015 and $9.75 million in 2016 and 2017. He can also earn $750,000 in workout bonuses.
Bowe caught 60 passes for 754 yards in 2014 in 15 games. He was suspended for the regular-season opener for a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He did not catch a touchdown pass and has not reached 1,000 receiving yards in a season since 2011.
—New Orleans Saints linebacker Junior Galette was charged with domestic violence after a dispute with a woman at his home in Kenner, La.
Galette described the woman to police as a “dancer,” but the Kenner Police Department said the unnamed alleged victim told authorities she was a girlfriend and personal assistant to Galette.
The NFL established clear, firm guidelines for discipline in domestic incidents that result in a six-game suspension for first-time offenders.
—The Seattle Seahawks signed defensive tackle Landon Cohen to their 53-man active roster.
Cohen was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played in 20 games, including four starts, with Detroit, but was released after training camp in 2010. He then spent time with Jacksonville, New England, Dallas and Chicago from 2010 to 2013. He was out of football in 2012.
In six seasons, Cohen has 46 tackles in 40 games played with eight starts.
—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed three more players to future/reserve contracts.
The free agents signed for the 2015 season are safety M.D. Jennings, tight end Taylor Sloat and punter Chase Tenpenny.
Jennings, 26, played extensively with Green Bay Packers in 2011-13, recording 133 tackles in 26 starts. He did not play in 2014.
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