Roger Goodell: NFL Commissioner Says 34 Teams a Possibility

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says that an expansion to 34 teams is possible if the league puts a team in Los Angeles, according to the Associated Press.

Goodell hinted at the possibility in an interview with Bob Costas on the NBC Sports Network, which can be seen on Pro Football Talk.

Los Angeles has been without an NFL franchise since the mid 1990s. The league last expanded in 2002 with the introduction of the Houston Texans.

What Does It Mean?

Unless the team successfully puts a team in LA, this will mean nothing.

If the league does put a team in LA, though, this makes total sense. The league has 32 teams now, so adding one more and stopping at an odd number would be strange for everyone. Adding another team would allow the league to balance things out, and it would also allow the league to further cement its grasp on the American sports landscape.

As for where that second team would go, finding a home for a brand new NFL team wouldn't be difficult. The AP report even notes that having two teams in LA is not out of the question.

What Happens Next?

Once again, all of this is a moot point if the NFL can't successfully install a team in LA. This is an eventuality that is at least a couple years off, and it may not even happen.

If a deal is struck, though, you'll see the league scramble to find a home for a 34th team right away. The league will no doubt explore putting a second team in LA, but other U.S. cities would be explored as well.

Inevitably, somebody would propose putting a team in London.

Back in October, Goodell admitted that expanding to London was a legit possibility.

"The ultimate goal is to continue to expand our game," he said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "You see from the fans reaction today, they understand the game. They understand football, and they want more of it. So our job is to find more football and find more fans. If we're successful with that, then maybe a franchise is part of that."

So it could be LA first, London second.

Wouldn't that be remarkable.