What if I told you that the incompetence of the Hall of Fame grounds keepers would lead to the cancellation of the first preseason game of the 2016 season? “This is an important game to the people in Canton”.
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The unofficial kickoff to the National Football League season got off to a false start Sunday when the Hall of Fame game was canceled due to poor field conditions and nervousness over players’ safety. The painted portions of the field (end zones and center seal) were reportedly like concrete after a painting mishap earlier in the day.
The Hall of Fame said it is not responsible for any tickets sold on resale sites, but the big sites, including StubHub, refunded those who purchased tickets, including all fees, on Sunday night.
Shame on you, NFL!
Surfaces are tested for hardness up to 72 hours before each game.
The field in Canton was highly criticized in last year’s contest as well. “How could they not have the field ready?”
Crews work on the field prior to the NFL Hall of Fame Game.
There are certain things that shouldn’t be done with drying paint.
As was plainly obvious, the heat caused the paint to congeal and harden, and it was clear from the very first time you stepped on it that running on the painted surface was risky, at best. The paint melted, and there was concern players’ cleats would get stuck in the resulting mire. After walking on the surface, it was clear the potential for injury was significant.
But having Steven Morris throw to Daniel Anthrop against a third-string defense made up of guys who won’t even make the Canadian Football League while Joe Callahan warms up on the sideline for his three quarters of play isn’t a competition befitting the stage.
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There is a bounce to the field and it can be fairly forgiving when you fall on it. Not exactly conducive to players running or pushing large men around. Up until 2007, the NFL’s stars would compete in field goal challenges, obstacle courses, and quarterback accuracy events on a plot of grass outside the players’ hotel in Hawaii. Colts owner Jim Irsay was clearly upset, and even though the Hall of Fame isn’t quite under the National Football League umbrella, people will be punished for this failure. Most teams have skills competitions at the end of practices anyway. This also reduces the Packers and Colts’ preseason dockets to four, which stands to limit the risk of injuries to players who will be part of the teams’ regular-season rosters but also prevented fringe players from a crucial audition for those teams or the 30 others.
