Still, it’s a major embarrassment for the game that annually kicks off the exhibition season. Young players at other positions would have benefitted, too, including at running back, with Eddie Lacy most likely out due to an ankle injury that sidelined him for most of Wednesday’s practice and all of Thursday’s.
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The kickoff to the National Football League season, a preseason game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Green Bay Packers was called off due to player safety concerns.
Are you ready for some football? “We’re going to make sure it doesn’t happen again”. That transition alone should have heightened the NFL’s sensitivities in the days leading up to Sunday night’s game. It often sells out in Canton, Ohio.
The stadium, which was built in 1938, has a new, temporary turf after Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham tore the ACL in his plant leg in last year’s Hall of Fame game.
Even a meaningless preseason game draws solid viewership for the football.
In a way, this is a blessing in disguise for the team; none of the veteran players nor the coaches were excited about having a fifth preseason game anyway. “We did the right thing in line with player safety”.
Before the official word was announced, stadium staff had been telling fans the game was canceled.
Poor field conditions at Tom Benson Stadium prompted the cancellation of the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame Game. “A refund policy will be announced tomorrow [Monday]”, said Hall of Fame president David Baker. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is hallowed ground. The fans continued to boo throughout Baker’s announcement.
Tyler Miller of Worcester, Massachusetts, said he spent more than $1,000 on the weekend trip that also included attending the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.
In a joint statement, the NFL and NFL Players Association said that while they were “disappointed for our fans”, player safety “is our primary concern”.
Both teams met several hours before the scheduled kickoff to discuss the turf. “A definite hazard to player safety”. “It’s a hard decision because of the impact it has, but it’s an easy ethical decision”. The NFL has said that a permanent surface will be installed to replace it.
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In the stadium, the Hall of Famers were introduced to the crowd, singer Lee Greenwood went on with a show that was meant for halftime, and players milled around for a while, seemingly unsure what to do without a game to play. Others left early because that’s not what they came to see.
