NFL
Hall of Fame game canceled by turf problems
Fans boo; Baltimore's Fuller in fight for Redskins spot
An emotional and invigorating Hall of Fame weekend in Canton, Ohio, came to a grinding halt Sunday night when the Green Packers-Indianapolis Colts game was canceled because of poor field conditions.
One day after
“This is a hard decision, but we know it is the right decision,” Baker said. “In some respects a hard decision because of the impact it has. This is an important game to the people in Canton.”
The NFL and NFL Players Association said in a statement: “We are very disappointed for our fans, but player safety is our primary concern, and as a result, we could not play an NFL game on this field tonight.”
Baker noted that the field was new and had been approved when inspected after its first installation. But paint congealed at midfield and in the end zone, hardening those areas. Workers used a variety of equipment to smooth the artificial surface. Rubber pellets used in the turf came loose and were scattered in several spots and needed to be removed, as well.
“We know a lot of you came a long way,” Baker told the crowd, which booed when his name was announced. “Here at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we have the greatest respect for players and for player safety. As a result of some painting on the field today, some questions arose.”
Team physicians also were consulted.
“We thought we would be able to remediate it by delaying the game for as much as an hour,” Baker added. “But in the end, if it's remotely close to unsafe, we conferred with the league, we think the best thing to do is respect the safety of the players. It's the only thing to do.”
This was not the first cancellation of an NFL exhibition game — the Hall of Fame Game was not played in 2011 because of the lockout — but it was the highest-profile preseason match to be called off.
Also inducted were
While the few positions up for grabs aren't appealing to a broad audience, the biggest uncertainty in the secondary heading into Thursday's preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons will be at nickel cornerback. The Redskins have narrowed it down to
Coach
“They're going at it,” Gruden said. “Both are doing some good things, and they're also learning the system. It's a good matchup, really.”
The importance of the position has grown over the years. NFL defenses are in their nickel packages for much of the game in a pass-happy league. It's a different challenge than outside cornerback, as nickel cornerbacks don't have a sideline to help them. Communication and discipline will be crucial for Phillips, who has played six games, and Fuller, a rookie.
Fuller, a Baltimore native who attended Good Counsel, is the latest NFL product from his family. He has three older brothers —
“Throughout the combine process and OTAs, I was just in the back grinding, working to make sure that I was ready for camp,” Fuller said.
He has fully recovered from microfracture surgery and has been moving well on the field. Fuller brings the versatility to play both nickel and outside, and he has been preparing to play at both positions.
This is Phillips's third season in the league, although he didn't crack a 53-man roster until late last year. The Redskins promoted the Tarleton State product off the practice squad for the last six games of the regular season and the playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.