Ink on Indy
Fansided

Indianapolis Colts: HoF Game Cancellation Latest Embarrassment for NFL

By Garrett Hagan

Aug 7, 2016; Canton, OH, USA; A detailed view of the remains of the Hall of Fame logo on the field after the 2016 Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The game was cancelled due to safety concerns with the condition of the playing surface. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2016; Canton, OH, USA; A detailed view of the remains of the Hall of Fame logo on the field after the 2016 Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The game was cancelled due to safety concerns with the condition of the playing surface. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Indianapolis Colts‘ preseason game against the Green Bay Packers was cancelled Sunday night due to unsafe turf conditions in the middle of the field and both end zones. The mishap is the latest embarrassment for the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay didn’t shy away from his clear displeasure with how things were handled on Sunday night.

His Colts were scheduled to take on the Green Bay Packers in the annual Hall of Fame game that takes place the Sunday following the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. For the star players of both teams, it was just an extra meaningless exhibition game. Aaron Rodgers wasn’t likely to play at all — and would have been in the game for one-to-two series at best.

For the rookies and un-drafted free agents finding themselves on the bubble of the roster, the game meant everything as they attempt to impress their coaches and peers.

"“Obviously, we’re disappointed that the field is not in condition to be played today, Irsay said. We’re going to thoroughly look at what occurred to make this not happen. Earlier in the day, both the league and Players Association looked at the field and viewed it playable, and it was fine. Then there was some painting that occurred that was [a] very unusual situation. So we’re going to vet it through, and we certainly going to look [at it].”"

As kickoff for the game neared, word started to spread on social media that the game may be in jeopardy.

The game was eventually cancelled due to serious concerns over player safety. Rather than playing the scheduled game, players from both teams participated in a ‘fan-fest’ and signed autographs for fans amongst various activities.

While there was a quick fix for the early exhibition game, this is an embarrassment for a league that has had a black eye on its image as of late.

This isn’t the first time that the field conditions at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium have been in question. In last year’s Hall of Fame game between the Pittsburgh steelers and Minnesota Vikings, Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham tore his ACL during the exhibition game — he would go on to miss the entire 2015 season.

Next: Colts: Reactions to Hall of Fame Game Cancellation

At the end of the day, player safety is the No. 1 priority for the NFL and while some fans may be upset with how the way things were handled by the league on Sunday night, they can be thankful that none of their players risked any sort of injury by playing.

The series of events last night is not a good start to the season, nor a good look for Roger Goodell and the NFL.

More from Ink on Indy

Home/Indianapolis Colts