It has become reasonably clear in the last few weeks that a strong group of some of the league’s more influential owners plan to throw their Los Angeles backing toward the Carson project, which would be for the Chargers and/or Raiders.
But Rams owner Stan Kroenke is not without his backing either, and may have the nine votes or non-votes which could block approval of the competing project.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Kroenke’s supporters include Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft of the Patriots, along with Washington’s Dan Snyder, Jeffrey Lurie (Eagles), Woody Johnson (Jets), Ziggy Wilf (Vikings) and Steve Biscotti (Ravens). With Bengals owner Mike Brown a frequent abstainer, that puts them on the magic number of nine with Kroenke’s vote factored in — if all those owners stay lined up with Kroenke’s attempt to take his team to Inglewood.
The Bills, Falcons and 49ers are among franchises identified as being swing votes, creating sufficient uncertainty.
On the other side, you have Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, Steelers owner Dan Rooney and Giants owner John Mara, who were thrilled with last week’s addition of Disney CEO Bob Iger to the Carson project, a move which many feel gave it the legitimacy it may have lacked.
Whether it’s enough to change some of the support Kroneke has remains to be seen.
