Isn't that a coincidence how it all worked out for the NFL in its Los Angeles relocation resolution?
Despite the recommendation from the NFL Committee on Los Angeles Opportunities to back the Chargers-Raiders plan in Carson, Calif., the Rams eventually won by a near unanimous vote to relocate to Inglewood, with the objecting Chargers given the option to join the Rams.
Sentiment Growing For Rams-Chargers Merger
The NFL owners, gathered in Houston for winter meetings, gave the Rams the nod by a 30-2 margin, according to NFL.com.
Based on earlier reports, the news lends itself to a predestined outcome. In other words, the fix was in all along.
Texans' Bob McNair Second Owner To Back Carson Project
"The Rams could be joined by the Chargers, who have a one-year option to decide if they want to relocate and join the Rams in Inglewood," NFL.com reported. "Per NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, the Chargers will have up until the conclusion of owners meetings (March 20-23) to decide if they're playing in LA or SD in 2016. The window creates the possibility -- however slight -- that the Chargers could remain in San Diego. The city is hosting a June vote for $350 million in public funding toward a new facility to replace Qualcomm Stadium. It is possible the Chargers put off a final decision until that vote takes place."
The Raiders withdrew their application and will try to work out a stadium solution -- in Oakland, first, the report added. If the Chargers do not join the Rams, the Raiders will have a one-year option to join the Rams.
A day earlier, The Los Angeles Times reported that sentiment had swayed toward the Inglewood plan in a joint venture between the Rams and the Chargers, but the sticking point was how to get the Chargers into Inglewood without making it appear that the organization stabbed the Raiders -- their partners for the Carson stadium -- in the back.
Problem solved.
The real question is whether the Carson plan ever had any traction against the Rams' Inglewood plan. Reports kept indicating that neither the Chargers-Raiders plan, nor the Rams plan, had the required 24 owners votes for approval. Yet the final vote had only two dissenters -- presumably the Chargers and Raiders.
Earlier Tuesday, the "powerful" Los Angeles relocation task force -- a group of six influential owners -- recommended the Carson project, according to USA Today Sports.
"Typically deferral deference in the NFL is granted to the committees," sports consultant Marc Ganis told USA Today Sports last week. "This is the most powerful committee I have ever seen put together in the NFL."
A week before Christmas, Texans owner Bob McNair became the second owner on the L.A. relocation committee to throw his support behind the Carson project. Carolina's Jerry Richardson was the first.
Based on the evidence, how did we get here?
It seems the Rams were the men with the plan all along.
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