NFL Notes: London, Eagles, Falcons & Saints

London

Jason La Canfora reports that the NFL could schedule a team to play multiple games in London during the same season, as they continue to explore potential relocation options.

“We’re focused on getting as many teams as possible and coaches and owners and players as possible to go through the UK experience and play a game here either as the home team or the away team.” Mark Waller said. “This year, we’ve added three more teams that will go through it for the first time, and we’d like to keep adding more new teams each year so that more people feel confident about the experience.

“Ultimately, the owners will decide (if a team relocates to London) and for us it’s important that as many owners as possible have had a first-hand experience when they do come to the point where they will decide, that they can feel directly responsible, that they’ve already experienced it, and that they know what they are committing to. That’s really an important part of this to us.”

The most complicated issue for a London-based NFL franchise continues to be how the logistics would work during the playoffs.

“I think we’ve always said the playoffs is the most complicated area to solve, logistically and obviously we can mitigate some of it with good planning, good airline partners, good relations with customs and immigration — all those things to make the wheels spin smoothly,” Waller said, “But ultimately the reality is it’s from one week to the next in the playoffs, that’s not going to change. There’s one team at home and one team is away. And one of the things we’ve talked about — and I want to be clear that this definitely is not a definitive point of view — but maybe in the initial period there is a contemplation that there wouldn’t be a London home game in the playoffs, but maybe there is a neutral site on the East Coast that is already established that would not be a massive travel obstacle.”

Eagles

• According to Jason La Canfora, the Eagles signed QB Sam Bradford to a contract during the offseason with an eye towards trading him after the season.
• La Canfora says that the Eagles were hoping to get a second-round pick for Bradford. However, the injury to Teddy Bridgewater resulted in them doing better than their initial expectations, as Philadelphia walked away with a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick that can increase based on conditions.

Falcons

• According to Adam Schefter, Falcons WR Mohamed Sanu will be playing through a separated shoulder today against the Panthers.

Saints

• Ian Rapoport reports that the Saints are benching veteran S Jairus Byrd after his poor performance last week.
• Rapoport adds that the Saints are planning to make other changes beyond just benching Byrd.