LONDON — The NFL is considering a plan to have a few teams play regularly in Britain to build an overseas following — part of the league’s evaluation about whether a franchise could be permanently based in London.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said Saturday the league is looking into whether such a scenario would “advance our cause here by growing the fan base quicker.”
He is talking to several teams about becoming regulars in the British capital, a development he thinks would be “very powerful and lead us to what we ultimately would like to do — have a franchise here in London.”
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made their second trip in three years to Wembley Stadium to play the Chicago Bears today. It is the fifth regular-season game held in London since 2007.
• The St. Louis Rams ruled out quarterback Sam Bradford (high left ankle sprain) for today’s game at Dallas.
• Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook was arrested on domestic battery charges, and the team said Cook, who has started the past three games, will not play today against the Green Bay Packers.
• The Oakland Raiders signed kicker Dave Rayner in case Sebastian Janikowski‘s hamstring injury keeps him from playing today against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Leonard, Chappell share Disney lead
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Justin Leonard chipped in three times in a span of five holes to salvage a scrappy day at Disney with a 2-under-par 70 that gave him a share of the lead with PGA Tour rookie Kevin Chappell at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic.
Chappell was more consistent in a round of 66. He and Leonard were at 14-under 202, one shot ahead of 21-year-old Bio Kim, who needs at least a two-way tie for second to secure his tour card for next year.
• Top-ranked Yani Tseng shot a 5-under 67 for a two-shot lead going into the final round of the LPGA Taiwan Championship in Yang Mei.
Tseng has a 10-under 206 total. The Taiwanese player moved to the top of the leaderboard ahead of Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, who had a 71.
• Sergio Garcia shot a 7-under 64 to extend his lead to a commanding eight shots after the third round of the Castello (Spain) Masters.
U.S. skaters win ice dance title
ONTARIO, Calif. — Meryl Davis and Charlie White picked up where they left off — atop the medals podium wearing gold — as the Americans skated an elegant routine to win the ice dancing title at Skate America, following up the world championship they claimed in April.
In the men’s competition, Michal Brezina of the Czech Republic hung on to win despite a slew of mistakes in his free program. The pairs and ladies short programs were Saturday night.
Footnotes.
The Vancouver Canucks acquired left wing David Booth, center Steve Reinprecht and a third-round draft pick in 2013 from the Florida Panthers for veteran forwards Marco Sturm and Mikael Samuelsson.
• Top-ranked New Zealand will face France today in Auckland in the final of the Rugby World Cup.
