Speaking at a forum for European NFL fans Saturday in London—the day before the 49ers-Jaguars game at Wembley Stadium—the NFL commissioner was asked how the league was prioritizing a return to L.A. vs. placing a franchise in London.

“It doesn’t matter,” Goodell said via ESPN. “I’d love to be back in Los Angeles. But it has to be done the right way. We have to do it successfully.

“I want both (London and L.A.), but it doesn’t matter which one is first.”

One of the top goals of the Goodell regime is to accelerate the globalization of the NFL, and putting a team overseas is apparently viewed as important to that plan.

To continue to raise its presence in the U.K., the league is playing two regular-season games in London this season and will play three games there next year. The Jaguars have committed to a game in London for four consecutive years, beginning with Sunday’s contest.

"We don't have a timetable for (a London franchise),” Goodell said. “We want to continue building interest, and if it continues to go well we believe a franchise could be here.

"Right now, our focus is on the U.K. since the European fans can get here. We want to build on our success here, and whether it leads to a permanent franchise or not, then we can see. What happens here will dictate that."

There clearly appears to be momentum building toward that. “You are proving you are worthy of a franchise," Goodell told NFL fans in London via ESPN.

However, Goodell said London won't be considered for a Super Bowl unless a franchise is placed there.


BUSH CONCERNS JERRY


The Cowboys seem to be doing their very best to motivate Calvin Johnson in advance of Sunday’s matchup in Detroit.

After Dez Bryant said he compared favorably with Megatron (“I believe I can do whatever he can do”) early in the week, owner Jerry Jones has gone on record as saying he is more concerned about Reggie Bush than Johnson.

Asked Friday on KRLD-FM whether he’s more worried about his defense facing Johnson or Bush, Jones chose the running back.

“Well, I think Bush,” he said via the Dallas Morning News. “When I look at where we seem to have some some vulnerability using the passes out of the backfield, I look at what San Diego did, I look at times what Philadelphia did, if they were able to do anything at all, coming out of that backfield. That seems defensively to be a rough area for us. We’ve worked on it a lot this week.”



The last time the teams met, Johnson had two fourth quarter touchdown receptions to rally the Lions past Dallas 34-30.

“Now, Johnson, he wins most every match when they compete for the ball, if the ball is up there and he’s got a chance to get it, he wins it,” Jones said. “He’s got the size and got the skill to make it, and again, that’s my point. They got a guy who can really, really deliver the ball, so having said that, I think Bush would be the one to leave home if we could get him left home.”

Although Bush missed Friday’s practice with a leg injury, he says he’s going to play. Megatron is most definitely going to play—and he has every reason to be motivated.


MCCOY TO FANS: EASE UP 


With the season and his second-year regime collapsing around him, Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano finally found a little support.

Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy came forward to say Bucs fans should let up on the beleaguered coach. McCoy thought fans crossed the line with their behavior toward Schiano after Thursday night’s 31-13 loss to Carolina. McCoy didn’t offer specifics, so we can only imagine.

“If you want to be angry about the game or what’s going on, be angry because we’re angry, too. But don’t disrespect him as a man,” McCoy said, via ESPN.com. “That man has a wife. He has kids at home. We have wives and kids. Just keep it to football. Don’t take it outside of that.

“If you want to be whatever in football, that’s OK. Be angry. We expect you to be angry. Nobody wants to be 0-7. But just leave everything else alone. Just keep it to the game. It’s still just a game. We’ve got lives outside of football. When you disrespect a man as a person, then you’re taking it too far.”

Safety Dashon Goldson also stepped up for Schiano, saying the coach "hasn't lost the locker room."

"I have high respect for this coach," Goldson, a defensive captain, said via the Tampa Bay Times. "He's taken a lot of scrutiny off the field. These are tough times. We understand that. He has a job to do, and we do as players. We just try to do the best we can to prepare every week and win a football game. He hasn't lost the locker room."


HARVIN’S DEBUT DELAYED


Percy Harvin's debut with the Seahawks will have to wait at least another week.

The receiver won't play against the Rams on Monday night, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Saturday. Harvin practiced this week for the first time since having hip surgery to repair a torn labrum in early August.

"We worked him hard, then we rested him," Carroll said. "We'll continue to do that until his conditioning is caught up and he's ready to go."

Harvin was traded from Minnesota to Seattle in the offseason. He's been on the physically unable to perform list since the start of training camp.

Harvin hasn't appeared in a game in nearly a full calendar year. Carroll said when Harvin is ready to play, he won't hesitate to put him on the field.

"He's a hard-charger," Carroll said. "He's not going to sit back. When he goes, he goes. So we've got to make sure to manage that really well.

"We're totally pleased with how he's worked to get back. As soon as we can do it, we will, but when it's right."

Linebacker Bobby Wagner is expected to play against the Rams after missing the last two games because of a high-ankle sprain. He returned to full practice on Thursday and Friday for the Seahawks, who are leading the NFC with a 6-1 record.

"He's maybe two or three weeks ahead of what you would think would happen," Carroll said. "I don't know how he did it. The trainers don't know either, but they did a great job in getting him back."


WILLIAMS TEARS HAMSTRING


Just when it seemed like the Buccaneers' season could not get any worse, it did.

Wide receiver Mike Williams has a torn hamstring, the Tampa Tribune reported. He reportedly began having trouble with the hamstring during a Week 4 loss to the Cardinals, then apparently tore it in the loss to the Panthers Thursday night. 

Williams' playing status moving forward is unknown, but the receiver is expected to miss significant time.

During the offseason, Williams signed a six-year, $40.25 million contract extension designed to keep him with the team through 2018.

He has 22 receptions this season, totaling 216 yards and two touchdowns — second-best on the team behind Vincent Jackson.


BOWE QUESTIONABLE


Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns after straining his groin in practice.

Coach Andy Reid said Friday that Bowe hurt the groin near the end of Thursday's practice. The former Pro Bowl wide receiver did not participate in Friday's workout.

Bowe, who signed, a five-year, $56 million contract in the offseason, has struggled to get involved in the Chiefs' unbeaten start. He's second on the team with 25 catches, but he has just 295 yards receiving and two touchdown catches in his first seven games.

Reid and Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson have been quizzed for weeks about why that's the case, and both of them insist that Bowe has been doing other things to get involved.

On several occasions, he's delivered devastating blocks for running back Jamaal Charles.

If he's unable to go on Sunday, the Chiefs will have to rely even more on a bunch of untested players. Donnie Avery has 21 catches for 343 yards, and Dexter McCluster has 16 receptions for 186 yards, but no other wide receivers on the roster have more than four catches. 

Contributors: Tadd Haislop, Carl Moritz, The Associated Press