The San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders might not be any closer to moving to Los Angeles, but the two teams have taken an important step in the process.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the two AFC West rivals have hired former San Francisco 49ers top dog Carmen Policy to direct relocation efforts with the National Football League.
Policy, who was a member of the 49ers front office during its run to league supremacy in the 1980’s and 1990’s, previously worked to keep the Los Angeles Rams in Southern California back in 1994—a plan that failed at the last minute when the Rams decided to move to St. Louis.
It’s rare that two different teams would work on a joint stadium project, but that became a reality when the Chargers and Raiders announced a plan to build a stadium in Carson earlier this year. In addition to the it passing through a city council vote in the Southern California city, the NFL appears to be taking the plan seriously. It’s being considered along with the Rams plan in Inglewood, and could come up at the owners’ meeting in San Francisco this week.
Policy, once one of the top general managers in the NFL, has some sway in the league office. Teaming up with then 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo, he was widely respected around the NFL for a near quarter century span.
Speaking to Pro Football Talk, Policy had this to say about the stadium plan:
“Technology will make these teams feel at home on game day. The experience with the Jets and Giants verifies that. They’ll be equal owners, equal occupants.”
Policy’s role will be to persuade the league to support the Carson project. In this, his well-known negotiation skills will be brought to the table.
Photo: Zimbio