Eagles Should Have Played: I’m With Rendell

Note: After writing this I reconsidered my opinion. I am leaving the original up, but you should read the comments which were important in my decision. – Geoff

The Philadelphia Eagles play the Minnesota Vikings tomorrow night. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday night at 8:30 PM. At game time nearby Philadelphia International reported visibility of 3/4 mile in moderate snow and blowing snow. The wind was out of the northwest at 21 mph. It was 25&#176.

Under anyone’s sense of the word it was cold… brutally cold in Philadelphia. It was unpleasant to be outside. For those improperly prepared it was dangerous!

The game shouldn’t have been postponed!

Speaking on KYW-TV in Philly former Philadelphia Mayor and current Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell said,

This is football; football’s played in bad weather. I think the fans would have gotten there, the subways work and the major arteries are still open, and other fans would have stayed home – but you play football regardless of the weather.

He’s right even though the current Mayor had declared a State of Emergency in the city.

If I was broadcasting in Philadelphia I would have encouraged viewers to stay home. People would have anyway! The game would have still been available on TV staffed by a crew ready for bad winter weather.

I’m an Eagles fan. This delay probably benefits the Eagles. It makes no difference.

It’s unfair to the other NFL teams who’ve had to suffer through pass deflecting winds, frozen fields and limited visibility.

5 thoughts on “Eagles Should Have Played: I’m With Rendell”

  1. I disagree. The city had declared a state of emergency. I believe that includes no non-essential driving. To have the game would be encouraging people to break the law. At least that’s what the prosecuting attorney would say to the jury. If there had been accidents as a result, not even the NFL has enough money to cover them.

    Just guessing but I assume someone at the city told the NFL: if you go ahead with the game you assume all responsibility. Game over.

  2. On this you are dead wrong, as is Rendell and his dumb statement. It’s only a game in the end. It’s all fine and well afterwards to Monday morning quarterback, but if there had been a tragedy involving multiple fatalities, you and Rendell would be singing vastly different tunes. There is clearly a difference between a typical snowstorm and what this storm was bringing. To paint all games ever held with the same broad brush makes no sense. The public safety has to come into play at some point.
    Under Rendell’s and your logic there is no reason to ever cancel a game then. If an oncoming blizzard isn’t good enough to cancel an event, then there is no reason. Under your logic it’s acceptable to ask police and emergency personnel to assume extra responsibility and more burden and risk all in the name of a game that can be played at another time. Surely you have given even a smidge of thought to that part of the equation?
    I have heard you time and again over the years IMPORE people to stay home, to stay off the roads, to not contribute to a tough situation by being on the roads in terrible snowstorms, in hurricane conditions and tropical storm situations. Was that all just talk that the station makes you say or do you mean it?
    Or does a game just matter more?

  3. This is why you deserve my and others respect. It takes a Man to admit He is Wrong and to tell the world. Well Done Geoff

    John

  4. More dangerous than a snowstorm is all the drunk drivers who leave stadiums after NFL games. If the NFL really cared about safety, they would ban alcohol from the premises or at the very least ban sales after halftime. If it’s all about liability, a drunk driver from a game who takes out a family on the highway is even more dangerous and the family has the same legal justification for suing the team, stadium, vendors and NFL for serving alcohol — just like a bar owner or homeowner who serves drunk people.

    In a snowstorm, at least people would be driving more slowly and being more careful on the roads.

    Does this mean that any NFL game in a snowstorm will be canceled? What happens when they go to an 18-game season with the goal to put the Super Bowl on President’s Day weekend in February?

    I think you were right the first time, Geoff.

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