DAY 2 OF THE FLORIDA OWNERS MEETINGS

The owners me at this time every year in a rotating city. This year it's in Orlando, Florida. The Owners and Head Coaches emerge together to address issues that need to be addressed before the draft and season begins. Here is a picture of the coaches in Orlando.

The owners voted on some items and one of them was voted down. The 49ERS, Chargers and Cardinals positioned for no more than 3 early games on the east coast per year. The vote failed by east coast owners voting no. It would limit the TV selections and we all know how important TV and the networks are to the NFL.

They did manage to make 10 rule changes, changed 12 Bylaws and changed 5 resolutions. The owners also get to submit schedule changes as a request for special circumstances. The owners know the preliminary schedule which will be released to the public officially in mid April. Here a link of the topics voted on by Profootballtalk.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/03/22/owners-to-vote-on-10-rule-changes-12-bylaw-changes-5-resolution-changes/

Last year I can confirm it was chaos for the upper management of the team. Saying goodbye to long term employees in the front office, looking for houses and rearranging family routines, moving the complex from mission valley to Costa Mesa. Dean spent about 9n million on the move and buying land. The $650 million relocation fee begins at the end of the 2019 season.

A big difference a year makes as now Lynn wants total focus on football. As the draft and roster decisions await the coach soon. Antonio Gates, Tre Boston and who to restructure to create more cap space. Signs have pointed there will be no more major decisions until after the draft. They have $4.5 million and the draft picks will take $6.2 million. More cap space is needed and will be done. Overthecap website has the team at 12.7 million but hasn't subtracted Pouncey numbers of 2 years $15 million and $10 guaranteed. Currently, they are at around $4.5 million.

Luiget 4 game suspension awaits but the coach stated they were looking to upgrade the position anyhow so Corey suspension does not change much for their plans.

The cap space will get figured out. Here some potential changes after the draft around June 1st when teams can make more roster moves to save money.

Restructuring is changing their base salary into signing bonuses and prorating the money over the rest of the years on their contract. The players who's contracts can help the team by restructure is Russell Okung (savings) $7 million, Rivers $6 million,  Corey Luiget $5 million and Keenan Allen at a saving of $4 million.

Players subject to a cap space release are...
Travis Benjamin  https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BenjTr00.htm
Damion Square https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SquaDa00.htm Joseph Barksdale https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarkJo00.htm Brandon Mebane https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MebaBr99.htm

 I expect the players to be approached along with their agents soon. June 1st is a day a lot of players will be a cap casualty as the money saved becomes more valuable to the production of that player. Decisions on Antonio Gates and Tre Boston will be handled after the draft I expect. I've been told by my people that Boston and his new agent Drew Rosenhaus have been chatting back and forth but no numbers discussed.The market is starting to settle for safeties and Boston might not get what he was expecting. The team has not talked to Gates as of yet.

 They have not talked to Melvin Gordon yet about adding his 5th year option However that is expected to happen at some point. The front office and the coaching staff want to build the team around Gordon more. The last 5 games he had 407 yards, caught 20 passes for another 203 yards. Coach Lynn said "When he's well, he's hell!" Gordon had over a 1,000 yards in 2017 and with Ekeler as a RB 3 they will be looking to draft a change of pace RB as their depth chart RB2. Oliver was let go as a unrestricted free agent.

 The draft will add 7 new players and they will go through about 2 more waves of free agency before training camp begins at the end of July. Telesco made another huge signing in Pouncey and resigning Casey Hayward. I would expect mid to low term signing after that so the roster will stay the same for the most part for the 2018 season. The 2017 season the team won 9 of their last 12 games. Coach Lynn mentioned he was concerned about the offense as well and wants to maximize Gordon more. Virgil Green a above average run blocker and pass protector was signed a couple of weeks ago who was with the Denver Broncos in 2017.

 The Chargers kept all 3 main coordinators and signed their top corner in Casey Hayward. With  the team winning 9 of 12 to end the season they see the holes on the roster. They spoke about upgrading the defensive line and the linebacker positions, kicker and finding an answer for the RT tackle spot going forward.  They have spent a ton of time with most of the QB's in this draft. They will have a general idea of their man and where they want him soon as scouts report back to Tom Telesco.

I will provide a list of players the team met with provided by Paul Alan a Chargers correspondent for Gridiron experts.  I double checked what he provided with what I had and he was right on with his accuracy. A link to the site Paul works for is here..https://gridironexperts.com/author/boltup208.