After storm, NFL determined to put fans first

Associated Press

CHICAGO

As powerful as fans and even rival sports leagues believe it to be, even the NFL can’t do anything about the weather.

Yet some 24 hours after the Chicago Bears closed out a dangerous afternoon at Soldier Field in light rain with a 23-20 overtime win against visiting Baltimore, more than a few people were shaking their heads. And not just because of dropping temperatures and still-gusting winds that lingered across the Chicago area Monday — remnants of a late-season storm that spawned tornadoes and slammed the Midwest a day earlier, leaving eight dead and dozens injured.

Instead, many wondered why Sunday’s NFL game kicked off at its scheduled noon start time, with the threat of lightning, high winds and a torrential downpour bearing down.

“Hindsight being 20-20, it’s easy to say they should have waited,” said Steve Woltmann, a freelance photographer. “And honestly, I got a few texts from home long before kickoff, warning some crazy stuff was headed right at us. But ... you never know how the lake will affect a front rolling in.”

This time, the change came so suddenly that Gene Steratore, head of the officiating crew, barely had enough time to put down a cellphone he was using to communicate with NFL officials before informing the crowd of 60,000-plus: “Due to the inclement weather, the game will be temporarily suspended.”

Seconds later, players scrambled for the locker rooms and announcements over the public-address system and on the scoreboard instructed fans to take cover in the nearest concourse area. Then came the deluge.

“Because there’s so many moving pieces, we always try to play games as scheduled. Between our broadcasters and all the other logistics involved, we’re trying to put them on for the widest possible audience,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. “But we’d never endanger our fans or our players, officials or stadium. That’s always concern No. 1. And as soon as the potential for severe lightning became apparent, we took steps to get everybody out of harm’s way.”

The delay began with 4:51 remaining in the opening quarter, after a 52-yard field goal by Justin Tucker that put the Ravens ahead 10-0, and lasted nearly two hours. Players napped, snacked and walked through formations. Fans eventually returned to find sunshine and calm, but the storm returned after halftime, turning the stands into a patchwork quilt of ponchos, and the playing field into a quagmire. The game took nearly five hours to complete.

“The footing was terrible, but it was definitely some ‘old-school football’ out there,” Bears defensive end Julius Peppers said afterward. “It was fun.”

Not everyone was quite so charmed. Both the Bears and the NFL came in for questioning over the decision.

The league reviews game operations after each week and this one will be no exception. It could prove especially useful, since the 2014 Super Bowl is scheduled to be played at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium in February. The NFL has said it could shift the Feb. 2 kickoff a day ahead or behind if weather dictates.