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Heard from a league source
that the NFL owners are going to have a meeting coming up to discuss an issue that is probably making some of them a little uneasy.
Recently, the Los Angeles Rams’ settled with St. Louis for $790 million over their relocation to California. St. Louis officials had sought $1 billion in damages after the Rams moved from St. Louis to Los Angeles in 2016, so $790 million was a settlement.
Rams owner Stan Kroenke expects the other owners to split the cost of paying this, so that would be $24.7 million per club. While some would say that isn’t a lot of money to most NFL owners, keep in mind, not all of them are billionaires.
Obviously, the other owners want Kroenke to pay most of this, but he doesn’t see it that way since the league approved the move.
Stay tuned . . .
The Jets got some good news on the medical front (Dr. Ken Montgomery pictured above). Defensive ends Ronnie Blair (illness) and Bryce Huff (back) were back practicing today, and seem on track to play on Sunday. This is good news for the Jets, because their defensive ends have been struggling to a degree, letting too many runs get outside of them, so perhaps Blair and Huff can help. Some might argue the starter opposite Myers sometimes doesn’t do an ideal job setting the edge . . .
With George Fant (knee) not practicing today, and Mekhi Becton (knee) still on injured reserve, from what we understand, the left tackle would be Conor McDermott if both those guys are out.
Chuma Edoga (knee) is back practicing, but they like him better at right tackle . . .
The Jets could have three key additions back to their running game this week. The first two are obviously running backs Michael Carter (ankle) and the underrated Tevin Coleman (concussion).
The third player returning who will help their running game is tight end Trevon Wesco (ankle). He is a tremendous run blocker, who’s had a number of key blocks on big runs this year . . .
New Jets kicker Eddy Piñeiro and practice squad kicker Matt Ammendola seem to have a very strong relationship, often seen talking and hanging out on the field. It looks like the veteran Piñeiro is helping Ammendola, who got replaced recently after some struggles. Very classy . . .
Former NFL GM Michael Lombardi had a challenge for Jets coach Robert Saleh, who said after the team’s 30-9 loss to New Orleans that “we have been getting better.”
“That’s great and the media will write that down and buy it,” Lombardi said on his popular podcast. “At some point, the next question should be ‘Okay Coach Saleh, tell us where you’ve gotten better? Tell us what area your team improved.’Â If I were the GM of the Jets, I would say ‘Robert, where are we getting better and I can see improvement.'”
Lombardi continued: “I don’t see how you can get away with saying that. Make him define what the statement is and he won’t be able to define it.”
Some might agree with Lombardi, some might not, but it might be a good idea to ask the coach to “define” what he means by improvement.
There have been individual players who have improved like guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, Elijah Moore and RB Michael Carter, but from an overall team standpoint, what areas have improved? Some would argue that is a fair question.
Personally, as I wrote the other day, I would stay away from talking about “improvement” after a blowout loss.
But I could be wrong. It’s just one man’s view.
December 15, 2021
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