Did The NFL Fumble?
September 7th, 2017
Very poor planning.
Yes, Joe is still getting feedback on social media that the Bucs should have played the Dolphins at a neutral site this weekend rather than postpone the game until Nov. 19. This, despite the players not wanting to play at a neutral site.
Now the NFL lucked out here in that both teams had the same bye week. Yesterday, Joe appeared on the ScuttleBucs podcast with his good friends Jeff Cameron and Tom Lang. If you are not listening or have not subscribed to the pod, you are missing out.
On the podcast, Cameron brought up that the NFL should have had a better contingency plan and it seemed the NFL, Cameron said, got caught with its pants down apparently unaware a week ago a hurricane was likely gunning towards the Sunshine State.
And that got Joe to thinking: How the hell does the NFL not have an exact plan in place months prior to the season? Hurricanes have been ravaging the tropics since man walked the earth. Clearly, NFL cities most likely to be in harm’s way due to a potential hurricane are Houston, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Miami and Jacksonville.
(Atlanta and Charlotte are inland enough to dodge the brunt of a hurricane. Yes, Joe realizes two hurricanes have belted New Jersey in the past six years.)
That’s makes 15 percent of NFL clubs a potential target of a nasty storm each year. And the NFL waits until it is almost too late to drum up options to play a game with a storm just hours off the coast?
Why is it the NFL doesn’t already have plans in place, after the regular season schedule is released, for an inland NFL city to host an NFL game displaced by a hurricane?
True, we cannot predict weather. That doesn’t mean leave loose plans to host an emergency NFL game.
Rotate potential host cities that have ample hotel rooms on a weekly basis to avoid scheduling conflicts. For example, (these are hypothetical, of course), Week 1 would be Chicago, Week 2 Dallas, Week 3 Pittsburgh, Week 4 Philadelphia, Week 5 Atlanta, Week 6 Las Vegas [for future reference], Week 7 Kansas City, Week 8 Indianapolis, etc.
Yesterday, several Bucs players, including winning coach Dirk Koetter, suggested playing at a neutral site was not the best plan. But that was only because playing at a neutral site was an option, not an automatic maneuver ready to be executed.
Yes, players were more concerned with the safety of their families than playing 16 straight games. That’s very noble and, frankly, right-thinking. Throwing together the logistics to host an NFL game with two days’ notice was also a major obstacle.
Again, if the Bucs and Dolphins didn’t by chance have the same bye week, this game would have been played somewhere.
(Hosting an NFL game is not quite as simple as 100 dudes rolling up in buses at a high school field. There are loads of issues that could be managed with sufficient foresight and time to organize.)
Still, it shocks Joe that the NFL does not have contingency plans ready to be activated if a southeastern coastal NFL city is threatened by a storm.
September 7th, 2017 at 7:08 am
@Joe … “Again, if the Bucs and Dolphins didn’t by chance have the same bye week, this game would have been played somewhere.” Both Bucs & Dolphins having a Nov 19th BYE date ‘by chance’ is an assumption. Maybe the NFL schedulers planned it that way so they’d have an option in the event a Sept hurricane came along in south Florida. Not that that ever happens of course. Maybe the NFL didn’t fumble at all, and this was their contingency plan from the beginning.
September 7th, 2017 at 7:16 am
Defense Rules: spot on…..and I do not understand the “family safety angle” I mean these are guys if married or have families that have some coin in their pockets, and I am sure the team or the NFL would help out to get the 2 families to the other cities where the game is being played and be able to get discounted hotel rooms, I am guessing most of the players families attend out of town games anyways, I would think this would be a relief to get their family out of town when a hurricane is bearing down
September 7th, 2017 at 7:42 am
I too am not thrilled about the Bucs playing 16 games in a row…however…It’s what’s gonna happen and a team who is a playoff bound team over comes the odds/adversity and makes it happen no matter what.
September 7th, 2017 at 7:51 am
Not A chance to the NFL plan on them having a bye week together in case the hurricane. That was pure coincidence.
If they could maneuver the schedule that well then they should Of just had them playing in November when there’s no chance of a hurricane.
Jo is right, the NFL should have a contingency plan for every single home game of every team to play an alternate location in case of some unforeseen event.
September 7th, 2017 at 7:52 am
SAFETY FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
………..you’ll always hear that on every job site
BUT!!!
I agree with JOE 100%……..this is an NFL planning fumble
But hey, if the bucs do get to the playoffs with 16 straight games…..then that’ll add character and toughness to the team
Is it grueling….YES….but not impossible.
September 7th, 2017 at 7:52 am
Roger Goodell…..
Nothing is thought out or planned for with this dunderhead in charge. He flys by the seat of his pants on every issue. Protocol and forward thinking doesn’t fit into his master plan.
September 7th, 2017 at 7:58 am
I too am not pleased that our beloved Bucs will be playing 16 games without a bye…..however…..it’s gonna happen… and a playoff bound team makes it happen no matter the circumstance…no matter the adversity!
September 7th, 2017 at 8:02 am
I agree, the league always seems to shoot first and ask questions later.
September 7th, 2017 at 8:08 am
I concur
September 7th, 2017 at 8:13 am
I hardly comment I love to on occasion. Could someone tell me why my comments are always on awaiting moderation?. I also have a new email and screen name Same results. Since I’m a play by the rules kinda guy how can we correct this? Please advise!
September 7th, 2017 at 8:25 am
The players have families. Fxxk the fans who think that football is life.
September 7th, 2017 at 8:48 am
Joe, I think you are way off base here. The national weather service still can’t predict the path of Irma three days before expected landfall; east coast of Florida, west coast of Florida, or even possibly south into the Gulf. I don’t care what they are getting paid, no player is going to leave family behind to deal with preparation and or evacuation to go play a football game out of town period. If the national weather service can’t make an accurate prediction, why would the NFL even try. Look at the news and the logistical nightmare as residents are trying to leave coastal areas. Playing at a neutral site is preposterous. There are just too many unknowns to even try to implement this kind of rolling neutral site idea.
Who’s asking them to try? You can have a detailed plan ready but not pull the trigger based on the current factors. –Joe
September 7th, 2017 at 8:51 am
BoJim, yes the players have families, but if there is a hurricane and you have the means aren’t you going to send your family out of town? Thus a game out of town 900 miles away would be a pretty good place for both a game and safety. Then there are the lesser paid people in the organization that may not have the means if they have a family to afford them to get out
September 7th, 2017 at 8:52 am
Since when hasn’t the NFL had its’ head in the sand…historically whether this, Steroids or HGH, or Traumatic brain injury….it is always about the greenback. And as long as the money keeps flowing, it is all fine. And the teams with the most money and influence….well…. I guess we aren’t a “preferred customer”.
September 7th, 2017 at 9:02 am
A point was made in the podcast that, if this was a hurricane threatening to cancel the Cowbiy’s opener, or a Noreastern threatening to cancel the Pat’s opening game, the league would’ve stepped in the preserve the game. I tend to agree. Can’t have opening day without being able to put a big, bright light on your marquee teams. Unfortunately, our Bucs don’t get preference from the league.
All that said, I have a hard time seeing how the Dolphins players could be expected to play Sunday afternoon while their homes and city was being battered by a devastating hurricane. Even if you get the families to safety, this would be an unfair distraction for any team to face. Given the possibility that this might occur, I do understand the decision not to play Sunday. I have a hard time hnderstanding why another contingency (Thursday night in Jacksonville, for instance) could not be identified, or, as Joe writes, be put in place well in advance.
September 7th, 2017 at 9:04 am
I’ve had chance to cool down… POSITIVE THINKING TIME… Let’s earn the BEST NFL record overall or the NFC at least and we’ll get a 1st round playoff bye to regroup… YAHTZEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
September 7th, 2017 at 9:05 am
Joe, think about it. Pull the trigger on what factors in a pending natural disaster; there are still too many unknowns still on Irma and we are three days from Sunday. You can’t get all the people concerned players, coaches, support staff and all their families to go play a game at a neutral site, which they may not be able to get back to south Florida until late Monday depending on storm direction, You can’t even drive out of South Florida now due to gas shortages – seriously Joe take a deep breath.
September 7th, 2017 at 9:45 am
Never suggested game had to be played on a Sunday. With proper planning, could have been played on a Thursday or Friday afternoon in, say, Pittsburgh or Indianapolis. It’s not like the NFL didn’t know there was a storm brewing prior to the Labor Day Weekend.
Again, very poor planning by the NFL.
September 7th, 2017 at 9:53 am
The very same agency government bodies use to determine when to issue evacuations orders, close businesses, et al.
NOAA.
Of course, Joe understands some (like commenter Rod Munch) believe NOAA to be an evil arm of the federal government used to trick innocents for diabolical and financial reasons. But those folks are the lunatic fringe who rely on hand-readers on Madiera Beach for their weather information.
Nonsense. That’s why you have plans in place well beforehand, which the NFL doesn’t seem to have.
Pretty sure the NFL teams effected in a displaced game won’t be driving cars out of state to get to the game.
September 7th, 2017 at 9:59 am
Cops and firemen and EMTs and other first-responders have families, too. They will be working in the teeth of the storm to help and protect and, yes, save people. Spare Joe the sob stories of NFL players, who have way better means and resources to protect their families than first responders have.
September 7th, 2017 at 10:07 am
“Spare Joe the sob stories of NFL players, who have way better means and resources to protect their families than first responders have.”
Good point…If I made multiple millions a year, I’m sure I would have flown my family out days ago.
That being said, I rest better at night having three police officers living in the neighborhood….two a few houses away.
September 7th, 2017 at 10:15 am
Joe has to be fair, not all NFL players make $1 million a year.
Still, Joe doesn’t know too many first responders who make $100,000 a year. And they will be putting themselves in harm’s way to help folks.
NFL players have much better resources to put their families on a plane and hire help to secure their homes than most citizens.
Not trying to trivialize what NFL players and their families are going through. They breath and bleed just like the rest of us. Just think there are others that will be going through much tougher circumstances in the coming days.
September 7th, 2017 at 10:16 am
Joe…and not like their private schools wouldn’t allow them to miss class a couple days early.
September 7th, 2017 at 10:18 am
admin…Vet minimum zero level…about half a million.
No doubt, they earn it. But they can afford to pay for a few $500 airfares.
September 7th, 2017 at 10:25 am
Everybody is assuming all these “contingency plans” because it happens to be the first game of the year. That did give some flexibility.
But what happens after that? Moving games to Thursdays and off days willy nilly has the same effect as cancelling byes…somewhere..somehow a team(s) will have their schedule mangled and compressed.
AGAIN…the bye week provides a 3% edge…IE bye teams win 53% of their games after the bye but still LOSE 47%!!! If that is so unfair visa vis the rest of the league…playing this first game on Thursday or Friday also changes the competitive advantages/disadvantages in the league.
It’s long past time to stop the freaking whining. My wife is literally in tears because of all her dentist friends who live in the Miami area. Unless we catch a last minute break and Irma veers a little more east…millions of my fellow Floridians will be DEVASTATED!!!! What part of this are we not understanding?
I could care less about NFL contingencies and Roger Goodell because I can guarantee you there are NO contingency plans that would be perfect or satisfy everybody. It’s called a tragedy for a reason…suffering enough to go around…including…wait for it…the HORROR of a less than perfect schedule where the Bucs and Dolphins lose their 3% advantage associated with byes.
September 7th, 2017 at 10:44 am
stpetebucsfan:
So because there are no perfect plans, the NFL should have no plans?
So because you cannot perfectly secure your house in the case of a hurricane, you just throw your hands up in the air and say “ah, the hell with it” and just read a book in your bedroom while a storm blasts your house into Polk County?
September 7th, 2017 at 10:57 am
If Irma hits Miami, how will the players (Dolphin) be expected to play for the next 10 weeks while their city is devastated? It will be interesting to see what Goodell does then. Bet he makes them play next week.
I hope this thing takes a hard right and leaves Florida alone, but it doesn’t look likely. Stay safe everyone, this one is a mother…….!!
September 7th, 2017 at 11:31 am
@Joe
Yes I take your point about having contingency plans. My point is simply they would not have made a difference. Although if they had a plan in advance I do concede there would not have been the 2-3 days of uncertainty.
BTW You probably know far more than me but I understand they do have a plan if a team perishes in a plane crash like Marshall. I can’t even imagine how the league would handle that.
September 7th, 2017 at 12:05 pm
you would think their would be someone smart enough to schedule ALL FLA teams away for week1 and possibly week2….GO BUCS!!!
September 7th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Weatherwise, it would be ideal weather wise to have Wisconsin and Chicago games at home before the end of November, and the games in Florida, Arizona, Texas and such from Nov. to the end of the season. But no team would like that. And the Hurricane season isn’t really over by October 1, so game one and two and beyond are problematic.
September 7th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Commenter rod muncher 😂😂😂
September 7th, 2017 at 4:02 pm
To the first two commenters Defense and Dusty. By your logic what is the game plan if the hurricane in the gulf was headed for Tampa When the Bucs play the Bears Next weekend. Last I checked they don’t share a bye week!