Rendell slams decision to postpone Eagles game
Add Governor Ed Rendell to the list of people who think the Eagles should have gone ahead and played Sunday night's game against the Vikings as scheduled.
Rendell slams decision to postpone Eagles game
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Add Governor Ed Rendell to the list of people who think the Eagles should have gone ahead and played Sunday night's game against the Vikings as scheduled.
Rendell ripped the decision to postpone the game during an interview with FOX 29 Sunday night.
"I think it's a joke," Rendell said. "I mean, we cancel the game and there's less than 3 inches of snow in Montgomery County, where a lot of our fans come from. There's less than 2 inches in Wilimington where a lot of our fans come from. In Philadelphia, we've got a great subway system. Broad Street is fine. The Parkway is fine. 95 and the Expressway are clear. I think the fans can make their own judgements about their own safety. This is football. Good lord, Vince Lombardi would be spinning in his grave if we cancelled a football game over this amount of snow."
Rendell and John Bolaris actually got in a mini-argument over whether Philadelphia had gotten around 5 inches or 7 inches of snow.
"It's a decision that fans make for themselves," Rendell continued. "I think football is a cold-weather sport. It should be played unless there are blizzard conditions. This is in no way, shape or form a blizzard. As I said, we haven't had one incident on our roads. The roads are all clear. We've got a great subway system. And it's football. Good lord, you schedule a football game for Dec. 26, and you expect that you might have snow."
Ron Fritz of The Baltimore Sun points out in a blog post that the Ravens and Bears played last year in Baltimore after a blizzard hit the region. He argues that Baltimore must just be tougher than Philadelphia when it comes to snow.
Video of the Rendell interview is embedded below.
If you're looking for actual football-related information, I posted updated Eagles playoff scenarios on Sunday evening.
And as you probably know by now, Eagles-Cowboys in Week 17 has been moved to a 4:15 p.m. start. Bears-Packers is also a 4:15 kickoff so the Birds will not know when they take the field next weekend whether their game has meaning or not.
In other words, unless they lose to the Vikings Tuesday, the starters will (and should) play the whole game against Dallas.
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The NFL made the decision in the morning when everyone was predicting 12 inches and high winds - Rendell is like a banging gong - would someone please wipe off the mayonnaise he constantly has in the corners of his mouth - guy makes me gag every time he is on camera— puddin- Kind of like what they predicted in Minnesota for last week's game between the Bears and the Vikings. That game was played.
The reason this game was postponed was money. The Eagles stood to lose parking and concessions money because fewer fans would have gone to the game and more would have not driven. That is why. They don't care if you're safe, just that they get every single dollar they can out of your pocket.— JSaq - Didn't he also say trading DonnieMac was a mistake & the eagles would pay for it....
Not only is FA$T Eddies STEALING money from PA, he's also STEALING money from Comcast!
I sure hope this LOSER isn't back next season!!!— truebluehen - Go get'em Eddie!— lgeagles
- Rendell is an idiot. The trains to the burbs don't run past 11:00 and what about the travel schedules for PATCO? I guess all the fans live in PA and DE!— overtaxed
- You're an idiot overtaxed; what the hell does the game being postponed have to do with public transportation?
FYI, for an 8:20 game, the schedules are the same whether it snows or not.— JBinPA - He brought up public transportation because Rendell did. Did you read the article?
— ej610 - Governor Rendell would be driven to and from the game and would not have to sit on the snowy seats in the snowy stands. The decision had to be made early to prevent people from getting on the dangerous roads and driving distances. A lot of snow did fall and a lot more had been predicted when the decision was made. Mayor Nutter had declared a snow emergency and all but essential traffic was to keep off the roads. A football game is not essential to risk life and limb. The Eagles could have played if they wanted to and given everyone a refund or raincheck. I was appalled when I heard the Governor's comments live on Fox 29!— freedy
- Thank heaven for Rendell, savior of NFL football. The decision was a no-brainer. OF course some people could have made it to the game. Some couldn't. These decisions are about public safety, and school superintendants and such won't have a batting average of much better than .500 on these questions. I feel for the fans that can't come Tuesday. Other than that, this wasn't a ballet or art gallery opening, or something important. It was the NFL. No biggie. I also feel for the players, who will have a short week to prepare for the last game.— tacklinjoe
- Rendell should next run for baloney king— stoky
- what a colossal buffoon.— Jerome99RIP
- So Mr Rendell is politicky for his next job---NFL Commissioner----Goodell could very well be exited since CBA and players do not want him anymore and they are putting pressure on owners to make the change---with Art Rooney and the Steelers leading the way.— Romus
- Rendell made an idiot of himself last night. " I think fans can make judgments about their own safety." It was unbelievable that he said that. Thousands of fans driving to and from the stadium dealing with PennDOT crews that were trying to keep the roads clear. Snow covered parking lots with thousands of fans looking to get home at the end of the game. Some of them even sober. Does it sound like a recipe for disaster? The NFL which sets the standard for greed even showed more common sense than Rendell. Hopefully, Rendell enjoys a long and happy retirement.— syddan26
- You make a great point. Rendell has a private parking space for his police escorted limo so he doesn't know what real fans go through. — ej610
- Goodell prob made a promise (last year) to the eagles brain-trust, if you take vick you'll get a SB...Goodell can't take the chance of vick/jackson getting hurt in the snow, then it would look like a real set up to have a backup QB and suspect D get to the SB
— keepitreal1234
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