ld, he has a real shot at challenging for the Calder Tro

HOUSTON -- His eyes on Las Vegas, Raiders owner Mark Davis says he hasnt shut the door on anything. Oakland, though, might have shut the door on itself as home for his team.Oakland was in the drivers seat if they couldve put together anything, Davis said Wednesday at the NFLs fall meetings, after updating his fellow owners on his desire to relocate to the gambling capital. They came up with nothing.Las Vegas has already done what it is supposed to do and we have to bring it up to the National Football League and get permission to move to Las Vegas.Nevada lawmakers approved a deal last week that increases hotel taxes in the Las Vegas area to raise $750 million for a stadium and more than $400 million to expand and upgrade the Las Vegas Convention Center. Billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson is putting $650 million toward the project, while the Raiders and the NFL will kick in $500 million.Commissioner Roger Goodell also said the NFL is looking into establishing a developmental league; re-examining the rules for on-field player celebrations; and reopening the labor agreement. He said the league is monitoring declining TV ratings, too.Several owners insisted its far too early to reach any conclusions in the Raiders relocation issue, and none of them wanted to touch the relationship an NFL team might have with a casino mogul.Goodell supported Davis assertion there has been no movement toward keeping the franchise in the Bay Area, saying we have been working to see if there are alternatives and we dont have one in Oakland.If Oakland is going to be successful in offering the Raiders and the NFL a viable alternative to moving to Las Vegas, I have to stay clearheaded, said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. I cannot afford for us to be thrown off our game because Nevada lawmakers have deemed it appropriate to put $750 million in public money towards a private sports facility. While Im committed to keeping the Raiders, I will not enter into a bidding war with Nevada using public funds.Any relocation needs approval from three-fourths of the 32 NFL owners. Theres also the potential for the Raiders to join the Rams in Los Angeles, where a new facility is being built; they would have that option should the Chargers, who have the first option, remain in San Diego, a decision that team must make by mid-January.But those scenarios also have the possibility of being put on hold -- the Chargers could request a delay, something the owners also would need to vote on.Davis also said he believes having a new stadium ready in Las Vegas by 2019 would be really quick. He acknowledged the Raiders could play a preseason game as soon as next summer in the existing Sam Boyd Stadium, but that facility isnt anywhere near up to NFL standards for regular-season games.Besides, Davis plans to play the next two years in Oakland because the team has a lease with two one-year options there. He cited stability for the players and front office, insisting he doesnt envision a scorched earth policy from the fans.Houston Texans owner Robert McNair noted he was impressed with all the work done in Las Vegas at this point to get the Raiders.Im pleased theyve made as much progress as they have, he said. Well look at it when it is finally presented in total. These things are still so fluid until they nail everything down we dont know what were looking at. Well wait until we have a full package.Goodell also reaffirmed the leagues longstanding opposition to legalized gambling on sporting events.There clearly has been a society shift as far as how people view gambling, he said. We are still very much opposed to legalized gambling on sports. We think that has an impact on the integrity of our game.Also:- As part of its 2020 Plan, Goodell said hes particularly interested in creating a developmental league. The NFL has not had one since NFL Europe went out of business in 2007, leaving only the CFL and some indoor leagues as places to nurture prospects.Weve talked about it, and ... that is something we might want to do, Goodell said. Teams pick up 300 to 400 players on average from the beginning of the season to the end. Having them ready to play would be helpful.- Recognizing that many fans disagree with the strict rules about player celebrations, Goodell said that the powerful competition committee looks into that topic every year.It comes to balancing a lot of issues and keeping the professional standards we want to hold. Its part of being a professional.- While praising the labor agreement with the union that extends into early 2021, Goodell said the league frequently has spoken with the NFL Players Association about various aspects of the CBA and how to improve it. We believe that ultimately would be a good thing and weve shared ideas with the union.Were seeing what we structured five years ago working very well for all parties. Its leading to a safer game. We think its leading to more long-term investments in the communities and stadiums ... and it has obviously led to increases in compensation, Goodell added.I think we are aware of the basic issues and we look forward to (negotiating) at the appropriate time.- Asked about declining TV ratings, Goodell mentioned that two of the lowest-rated games were up against presidential debates. He also took note of fragmented audiences that are an issue throughout television, and added he doesnt see player protests during the national anthem as a factor in diminished ratings.NFL TV ratings have dropped in every presidential election year since 1996. They are down 15 percent so far in 2016, though not all of that can be attributed to counter-programming. Those ratings went down 6 percent in 1996, 10 percent in 2000, 2 percent in 2004 and in 2008, and 4 percent in 2012, according to NFL Network.I dont think there is a single reason for it, Goodell said. We look at all those factors. 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PHILADELPHIA -- Two nights after blaming himself for a late, game-tying goal in a shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators, Flyers goaltender Steve Mason looks to redeem himself against one of the NHLs most explosive teams.The Winnipeg Jets (9-7-2) carry a five-game points streak (4-0-1) into Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night but Wednesday, Masons thoughts were still on the wraparound goal he surrendered to Kyle Turris with 1:59 remaining in the Flyers 3-2 shootout loss to the Senators.Sometimes you just have to step away and gather your thoughts, Mason told the Philadelphia Inquirier. That goals on me. It put us in a situation where we have to go into overtime and eventually a shootout and we lost a point there.After a rough start in which he went 2-5-1 and owned one of the NHLs worst save percentages, Mason allowed only three goals in five full periods since replacing Michal Neuvirth (lower-body injury) in the second period of Saturdays victory over the Minnesota Wild.Still, Mason has not won consecutive games since the end of the 2015-16 regular season, when his strong play led the Flyers into the playoffs. Mason and Neuvirth are in the final year of their contracts with the Flyers and with Neuvirth sidelined the next 4-to-6 weeks, Mason has an opportunity to lay the groundwork for a new contract.The Jets, meanwhile, have a growing legion of believers around the NHL, thanks to a surprisingly strong start from their top line of center Mark Scheifele (10 goals, league-high 21 points), right winger Patrik Laine (league-high 12 goals, 17 points) and left winger Nikolaj Ehlers (four goals, 16 pooints).dddddddddddd. The trio is a combined plus-20 through 18 games.Laine, a 6-foot-5, 206-pounder, first showed his goal-scoring ability in the World Cup when he played for Team Finland. At 18 years old, he has a real shot at challenging for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.Ive seen a lot of video of him, basically on all the highlights, Mason said. He seems to be on there almost every night. Hes obviously got a shot that can be up with the (Alex) Ovechkins, Brett Hull or whoever you want to call it. Hes the type of guy where you have to beat the pass; you cant be getting there as hes already releasing the puck because his shot is obviously too quick to catch up to. You have to get there with your feet set and get a good line of sight on the puck.As well as the Jets have played offensively, they might be even better defensively. They are coming off a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks and have allowed only seven regulation goals in their last five games.I think were really buying into the D-zone, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck told the Winnipeg Free Press. Were doing the little things correct and theyre getting in front of shots and theyre making my life easier, which is making it easier for them. Once they get in the offensive zone, they have so much talent.The Flyers (7-7-3) have also played sound defensive hockey their past two games, but have blown third-period leads in two of their last three contests and have lost four of their last five (1-3-1). ' ' '