NFL Notes: Los Angeles, Browns, Giants & Packers

Los Angeles

Albert Breer of the NFL Network addressed the recent developments involving the NFL relocating a franchise to Los Angeles.

• The “two-team” partnership between the Raiders and Chargers is a big development for the NFL, which was anticipating opposition to the idea of a shared stadium. 
• The NFL is considering a 168-acre parcel for the new stadium in Carson, which is considerably smaller than the space in Inglewood, though Breer notes that Cowboys Stadium sits on just 77 acres.
• Breer adds that the Carson bid is about 4 weeks behind Inglewood in terms of development, and that the biggest difference is getting the necessary signatures to re-zone the land.
• The key factors in comparing the two bids are: transportation, access/infrastructure, cost, size/design, certainty of completion and financing.
• Breer believes that having an NFL team in Los Angeles by 2016 is a realistic goal.
• Breer adds that the Raiders and Chargers organizations have put a timeline on their respective cities to finalize deals.
• Until a permanent home is built, Breer mentions the Rose Bowl, the Coliseum and Dodger Stadium as temporary sites, but a franchise could also stay in its home city in the interim.
• Jason La Canfora mentions that: “The more people I talk to about this Chargers/Raiders proposal in Carson, the more I get the sense this thing could really happen.”
• La Canfora suggests that the NFL could sweeten the pot for Stan Kroenke to keep the Rams in St. Louis.

Browns

• The Browns have met with representatives for CB Buster Skrine and OLB Jabaal Sheard.  The team is particularly interested in bringing back Skrine, but will not want to get in a bidding war for him. (Jeremy Fowler)
• The “buzz” continues to be that TE Jordan Cameron will not return to Cleveland, and NT Ahtyba Rubin is also unlikely to return. (Jeremy Fowler)
• The Browns met with QB Brian Hoyer‘s agent in January, but talks have not resumed since. (Jeremy Fowler)
• The Browns met with Louisville WR DeVante Parker, who could be an option with one of Cleveland’s two first round picks. (Jeremy Fowler)

Giants

• The Giants have met with the representatives for free agents S Antrel Rolle, CB Walter Thurmond and DL Mike Patterson, among others, this week, though nothing appears imminent. (Dan Graziano)

Packers

• Miami ILB Denzel Perryman and Mississippi State ILB Bernardrick McKinney both confirmed that they have interviews scheduled with the Packers during the combine. (Rob Demovsky)