Raiders File Paperwork To Relocate To Las Vegas

By ESPN

The Oakland Raiders have filed their paperwork to relocate to Las Vegas, the league announced Thursday.

The team's relocation to Las Vegas must be approved by three-fourths of the NFL's team owners. The vote for relocation is expected to take place at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix on March 26-29.

"The application will be reviewed in the coming weeks by league staff and the stadium and financing committees," the league said in a statement.

When reached by ESPN on Thursday, Raiders owner Mark Davis confirmed the papers have been filed but did not offer further comment.

Davis first made public his interest in moving to Las Vegas last spring. Influential owners such as the Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones and the New England Patriots' Bob Kraft have seemingly shown public support for the team's move.

The Raiders had until Feb. 15 to apply for relocation.

The proposed 65,000-seat domed stadium with natural grass the Raiders want to play in (and share with UNLV) is expected to cost $1.9 billion, including $750 million in hotel tax revenue, $650 million from billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson and $500 million from the Raiders and the NFL.

On Thursday, Adelson's casino company agreed to pay almost $7 million in penalties to U.S. authorities to settle an investigation into the company's business dealings in China -- including an unsuccessful attempt to acquire a Chinese basketball team. A company spokesman denied any link between that effort and the $650 million for Las Vegas stadium, saying "one has absolutely no bearing on the other."

The Las Vegas stadium is expected to be on a 62-acre site on Russell Road, west of Interstate 15 and the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on the south end of Las Vegas.

Cleveland Browns Close to Signing Jamie Collins

The Cleveland Browns are close to signing linebacker Jamie Collins, and a deal could come as soon as Friday, according to a league source.

Re-signing Collins was an offseason priority. The Browns acquired him midway through the 2016 season in a trade with New England for what likely will be a third-round compensatory pick. CBSSports.com first reported the imminent deal.

The new contract would keep Collins off the free-agent market. A year ago, the Browns lost four starters on the first day of free agency. When they traded for Collins, they called him a cornerstone of future defenses; re-signing him would be a first step in the team keeping its own.

The day the 2016 season ended, owner Jimmy Haslam said retaining key players was a key offseason priority.

Sunday, January 22 Schedule (All Times Central)

NFC Championship

Green Bay at Atlanta, 2:05 p.m.

AFC Championship

Pittsburgh at New England, 5:40 p.m.