If you’re anything like me, you spend every single day thinking about the year 2020. What lies in store for us in 2020 almost seems daunting. Will we even make it there? Do we want to?
But if the prospects for casting another vote to save human civilization weren’t enough on 2020’s table, now it’s the year the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers will not make their Inglewood, Calif. debut. Construction on Rams owner Stan Kroenke’s $2.6 billion stadium has been delayed by, if you can believe it, rain.
Update on L.A. Stadium & Entertainment District at Hollywood Park
📰 » https://t.co/yFUNDDkdm5 pic.twitter.com/UmTf6fMsxy
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 18, 2017
While a welcome change from the seemingly endless drought in Southern California over the last decade, the rain has caused plenty of construction problems. And since it’s, you know, rain in Southern Cal, literally no one could have predicted it. The aquifers and almond fields are drinking it in, but it’s ground action in Inglewood to a halt. The stadium was scheduled to open in 2019. Now, as long as California is still part of the union by that time, it’s 2020.
There’s a ripple effect for all this. The Super Bowl was scheduled to be held at the Inglewood Stadium in 2020 and that’s still on the table. The NFL will just have to grant a waiver, which it will.
Rams stadium scheduled to open in 2019 is being pushed back until 2020 due to weather delays, per source. "Rain killled us," said source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 18, 2017
The real bummer for the Rams is they were going to unveil new uniforms to coincide with the new stadium in 2019. Presumably going back to the old lighter blue and gold colors of the 70s and 80s, with an old school blue and white alternate. The Rams could still break out the new unis in 2019, but Rams president Kevin Demoff hedged on it Wednesday.
“That’s a decision we’ll make in the coming months as we look at the uniforms,” Demoff said via a teleconference. “But we will have the option of beginning a rebrand in 2019 or with the stadium in 2020.”
Without a home stadium, the Rams will be forced to give up another home game for an overseas showcase in 2019. Their current least for the Los Angeles Colosseum runs out in 2018 too, but an extension is probably an easy thing to work out.
Getting into new stadium in 2020 instead of 2019 will cost Rams at least $80 million
($40M+ in both sponsorships and ticket sales)
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 18, 2017
The Chargers are the team really hit by the delay. They were planning to play in the 30,000-seat StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The setting has been called “intimate” and they’re not kidding. That’s not even half the number of seats in a normal NFL stadium.
All the Rams can do is focus on building a team Los Angeles actually wants to see play. Hiring Sean McVay and new coaching staff was a great way to begin that process. It certainly didn’t happen last season under fired head coach Jeff Fisher.
“The thing fans care about the most is that we play better football under coach McVay,” Demoff said “And that we deliver a great fan experience every year. And that can’t change whether you’re in the Coliseum or in the new Inglewood stadium. And we have to make sure that the new stadium is worth the wait when fans walk in on day one.”
Brady “concussion” fallout grows
Tom Brady’s wide Gisele Bundchen revealed that her husband had suffered and played through a concussion last season on CBS This Morning earlier in the week. It’s kind of caused a shit storm.
Of course, we all predicted it, but the surprising fact so far is the New England Patriots and Brady himself haven’t released a statement or responded to inquiries. Brady’s agent, Don Yee, did issue a denial Friday.
“Tom was not diagnosed with a concussion last year,” Yee said. “Many of the protocols and safeguards still are evolving, and it’s obviously a good thing the organization and everyone close to him is vigilant and always looking out for his health.”
@scottzolak I think I found Brady's concussion pic.twitter.com/UHG7fkS5Ap
— Anthony (@antdell101) May 17, 2017
Yee’s statement obviously wouldn’t have come about without Brady’s approval and you can understand why he wouldn’t just immediately come out and contradict his wife. Gisele isn’t a doctor, though, and while her concerns are genuine, they shouldn’t hold any real weight with the league.
Just two days before the NFL released a statement on the concussion claim.
“We have reviewed all reports relating to Tom Brady from the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants and certified athletic trainer spotters who worked at Patriots’ home and away 2016 season games as well as club injury reports that were sent to the league office,” the league said. “There are no records that indicate that Mr. Brady suffered a head injury or concussion, or exhibited or complained of concussion symptoms. Today we have been in contact with the NFLPA and will work together to gather more information from the club’s medical staff and Mr. Brady. The health and safety of our players is our foremost priority and we want to ensure that all our players have and continue to receive the best care possible.”
Brady did make some publicity Friday, announcing that he was the new spokesperson for Aston Martin.
https://twitter.com/astonmartin/status/865537552530395137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbssports.com%2Fnfl%2Fnews%2Ftom-brady-signs-endorsement-deal-with-aston-martin-will-drive-and-pitch-211000-car%2F
Other NFL News
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to back up Jameis Winston. The deal is considerably less than the one Fitzpatrick was looking for with the New York Jets last season. Fitzpatrick will sit on the bench for $3 million which could turn into $5 million with incentives. Last season Fitzpatrick was 3-8 as a starter, completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 2,710 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
The Pittsburgh Steelers cut tight end Ladarius Green Friday. Green was brought in last season on a four-year, $20 million contract to be the team’s franchise tight end, but he didn’t get on the field until Week 10 dealing with concussion symptoms. Another concussion before the season was over wrapped up his 2016 for good. Green caught 34 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown. If Green can prove his concussion issues are gone, he shouldn’t have any trouble landing with another team.
The Oakland and soon to be Las Vegas Raiders finalized their future lease with the Las Vegas Stadium authority, paving the way for the construction of their $1.9 billion stadium in Southern Nevada. With the lease in place, the Raiders are now clear to move in 2020.
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
