So there was some pretty big news come out of the NFL owners meetings in Houston on Tuesday.
Multiple reports indicate that the league’s committee on relocation to Los Angeles has formally recommended the joint stadium plan of the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers in Carson over the plan set forth by the St. Louis Rams in Inglewood.
CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora was the first to break this momentous news. He also made sure to note that no vote has taken place as of yet:
The LA Committee has formally recommended the Chargers/Raiders project in Carson. No voting taking place yet. Stay tuned
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 12, 2016
The league’s 32 owners do not necessarily have to take up this recommendation. Though, it must be noted that the committee has been working hard the past several months to figure out what the NFL itself views as the most logical stadium plan. That will most definitely be taken into account.
This comes on the heels of a report from the Los Angeles Times earlier this week that suggested a new plan including the Chargers and Rams in Inglewood has picked up momentum around the league.
Though, that idea may be dead in the water. The Chargers reportedly don’t want any part in a potential joint stadium venture with the Rams.
More than that, Raiders owner Mark Davis and Chargers owner Dean Spanos met for an extended period of time a closed-door atmosphere in Houston on Monday night, which was likely an attempt to build a consensus for their two-team plan in Carson.
All the major power players regarding the plan, including former San Francisco 49ers general manager and Cleveland Browns executive Carmen Policy, were on hand for that meeting.
Whatever was said in that closed-door meeting is anyone’s guess, but it’s safe to say that the Chargers and Raiders have doubled down on what seems like an awkward marriage.
Adding to the drama, Rams owner Stan Kroenke had a somewhat dire warning for owners around the NFL:
Hearing Stan Kroenke told owners this morning not to cross him; believes there would be collusion if chose Carson with Chargers-Raiders.
— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) January 12, 2016
A stance that’s surely going to go over like a led fart, Kroenke is placing himself behind the proverbial eight-ball here. Some of the most powerful owners the sports world has to offer aren’t going to be held hostage by one of their own.
In terms of what makes sense here, it is rather simple. If the Chargers are not prepared to move forward with the Rams plan in Inglewood, it’s obvious the Carson plan would receive the 24 votes necessary to approve relocation of the Chargers and Raiders.
Two teams in the second-largest media market in the United States has much more financial upside than a single-team market. That’s also important to take into account here.
A vote on relocation is expected Wednesday.