Move to L.A. could alter divisions
Construction of an NFL stadium in the Los Angeles area could come with another change: a possible shift in division for the Oakland Raiders or the San Diego Chargers.
The teams have proposed a shared $1.78 billion stadium in the city of Carson — one of two stadium projects being considered by the NFL near Los Angeles that could bring professional football back to the region after a two-decade absence.
Carmen Policy, a former San Francisco 49ers executive who was hired to help oversee the Carson project, said Monday that the teams have agreed to shift divisions, if necessary, to make the project acceptable to the league.
The Chargers and Raiders are rivals in the AFC West, which could make game scheduling and other issues difficult in a shared stadium.
The teams have made clear to the league and NFL owners that “you send us to LA and you’ll make the decision as to who plays in what conference or division,” Policy told reporters after detailing stadium plans for business leaders and a sports group at an event in downtown Los Angeles.
“There are some very interesting scenarios, depending on how all this turns out,” Policy said.
Policy detailed the possible division shift on a day when the teams unveiled the latest design updates for the 65,000-seat stadium, which would rise on the site of a former landfill about 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
The renderings show an open-air stadium wrapped in steel bands, its seating shaded by canopies, with features that range from a nearby stage for live music performances to an authentic farmers’ market.
• Philip Rivers held a press conference to discuss his $84 million, four-year extension to remain a Charger through 2019, “wherever we are.”
Signed through 2019, River said, “To spend my whole career in one place is very special.”
Quick kicks
A person with knowledge of the situation says the Arizona Cardinals and running back Chris Johnson have agreed to terms on a one-year contract. Johnson, who turns 30 next month, played last year with the New York Jets after spending his first six NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans. … Cleveland Browns backup center Ryan Seymour has been suspended by the NFL without pay for this season’s first four games for taking a banned substance. “Although I did not knowingly take a substance that was on the NFL’s banned list, I do know that as an NFL player I must take full responsibility for everything that is in my body,” Seymour said. “I will be much more careful in the future so something like this never happens again.” … Minnesota Vikings right tackle Phil Loadholt’s season is over because of a torn left Achilles tendon suffered in Saturday’s preseaon game. … St. Louis Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines, who started 15 games as a rookie sixth-round draft pick out of Missouri, will miss the entire season with a foot injury, suffered when he was stepped on the first weekend of training camp.