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[spuwho]

Well, I hope the Chargers stay in San Diego, a stadium/convention center sounds like a pretty strange use.

Really! We see how well that worked for St Louis!

[tufsu1]

^ especially when their current convention center is already the size of about 4 football stadiums!

[Bridges]

The Chargers are looking to downtown for a future multi-use stadium. I really hate the Chargers, but I want them to stay in SD. If they get the DT stadium built, it would be an instant SB location along with LA.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/02/23/chargers-plan-to-target-downtown-multi-use-stadium-site/

My understanding is that the Chargers have always wanted to be downtown, but the last referendum to support that didnt pass. People resented the fact that the Chargers were not putting in enough of their own skin to have such prime real estate.  Thats why SD kept pushing the Mission Valley proposal.

Yet the Chargers resent the Padres getting prime real estate for Petco Park. The difference in peoples mind is, the Padres play 80+ games a year, whereas the Chargers will play 10 at the most.

Cant have it both ways. If you want the prime real estate and you cant pay for it, then you have to bend and allow it to be multi purpose.

I typically think building new stadiums is a huge taxpayer bailout for billionaires.  Rarely do the returns meet the expense.  But the one place that could work would be San Diego.  The weather there is perfect for year round events.  They would instantly be put back into the Super Bowl rotation, they would compete for CFP games immediately, the proximity to Mexico is also good for attracting top soccer matchups. 

It seems like one of only a handful of US cities that could see a large profit from the stadium expense. 

[Steve]

I'm not sure why the city prefers Mission Valley, especially when SD has a very strong downtown. The Mission Valley thing just seems odd - the best way I can explain it (for those that haven't been out there) is to imagine a stadium in St. John's Town Center. Driving by it, you're in this mixed residential-commercial thing that (while Suburban) seems to work, then all of a sudden you have a large stadium with what seems like parking for 4 million cars. It's just seems like a horrible land use.

The Downtown thing makes a lot of sense (but I gather it's complex - perhaps why the city wants Mission Valley). Not only is it adjacent to the convention center, it's right by Petco Park so parking can be shared.

[spuwho]

Recently fired Tampa Bay Bucs coach Lovie Smith is now the leading candidate to become the new football coach at University of Illinois.

The new Illini AD fired current coach Bill Cubit less than a week on the job. Cubit had signed a 2 year extension just 2 months ago while awaiting the new AD to come onboard.

Lovie still maintains a home in the Chicago area even though he was fired as the Bears coach several years ago. This is not unprecedented as prior Illini coach Ron Turner used to be the Bears OC and his kids were attending the same school and wanted to stay in the area.

[ProjectMaximus]

Without traffic it's over two hours from Soldier Field to U of I. About the same from pretty much any of the desirable western and far south suburbs. For a head coach working 90 hours a week that's a heck of a commute.

Still, better than being across the country from your family so I get your point...just adding in perspective.

[spuwho]

Without traffic it's over two hours from Soldier Field to U of I. About the same from pretty much any of the desirable western and far south suburbs. For a head coach working 90 hours a week that's a heck of a commute.

Still, better than being across the country from your family so I get your point...just adding in perspective.

The Bears hold camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, IL which just happens to be partway between Chicago and C-U.

If memory serves Ron Turner had a 2nd house in C-U when he coached at ILL. My guess is Lovie will do the same.

I have driven I-57 between Chicago and Champaign so much, I could probably do it in my sleep now.

[BridgeTroll]

Players point of view regarding free agency... Pretty good... 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14923607/seven-factors-affect-where-nfl-free-agents-sign-money-location-familiarity-matter

In NFL free agency, cash is king, location matters and state taxes come into play. Do you want to wake up and shovel the driveway in Buffalo when it's 5 degrees outside or wear flip-flops and live on the beach year-round in Miami? Play in California? Man, those state taxes are no joke when they chop up your signing bonus. Where did all my money go? Yikes.

[I-10east]

^^^Mr Hothead isn't exactly the 'beacon of all 32 teams' that he thinks he is. Pacman (yes that's the name that he's stuck with) and Mr Burfict pretty much caused the Bengals that playoff game. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if many teams are staying clear from Jones, despite his talent.

[BridgeTroll]

^^^Mr Hothead isn't exactly the 'beacon of all 32 teams' that he thinks he is. Pacman (yes that's the name that he's stuck with) and Mr Burfict pretty much caused the Bengals that playoff game. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if many teams are staying clear from Jones, despite his talent.

The article was written by Matt Bowen... no one has ever cared what Jones had to say about anything...

[I-10east]

^^^I hear ya, my bad. I don't know why ESPN has them videos attached to unrelated articles. My ADD kicked in, and all that I heard and saw was Pacman's dumb mug talking when I clicked the link. ESPN used to be a respected sports institution, I dunno what happened.

[I-10east]

Here's a 'vision' for a new Chargers downtown stadium. (scroll at the bottom for a short video).

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/21/stadium-renderings-convention-chargers/

[I-10east]

The Pro Bowl is reportedly moving to Orlando. Mickey mouse city, Mickey Mouse game, perfect fit.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/05/19/report-pro-bowl-moving-to-orlando/

[Adam White]

Mickey mouse city, Mickey Mouse game, perfect fit.

[I-10east]

The Citrus Bowl is named 'Camping World Stadium' Who knew?

http://www.clickorlando.com/sports/report-nfl-to-move-pro-bowl-to-orlando