There is, as you likely know if you're in Chicago, a major snowstorm bearing down on the city. This same storm is right now causing a major blizzard in Minneapolis, thus preventing the New York Giants, who are scheduled to play the Vikings at noon Sunday, from arriving in Minneapolis today. Here's coverage from SB Nation New York, including the rules that the league follows for games that can't start on time. Our SB Nation Chiefs site says the Giants are spending the night in Kansas City, where their flight was diverted.
↵↵At this writing the Minneapolis airport is closed, but they hope to open tomorrow -- as usual, having to clear up a huge backlog of flights and passengers.
↵↵Has that stopped the NFL? No, about two hours ago, spokesman Greg Aiello tweeted this:
↵↵To be clear, there is no decision on KO time in Minny Sunday if Giants can't make it there tonight. Stay tuned to @giantspathanlon
Greg Aiello
gregaiello
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Seriously? "No decision"? You'd actually think about making the Giants get up at the crack of dawn, maybe making it to Minneapolis in time for game time -- when there's not even any certainty that the streets will be clear enough for people there to get to the game -- workers, fans and players. Moments ago, after that rather insensitive tweet, Aiello sent this update:
↵↵We will pay close attention to local conditions and be mindful of issues of fan safety and convenience in making ... http://tmi.me/45LSmGreg Aiello
gregaiello
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Better, but the right decision would have been to simply postpone the game and play it Monday night. Two years ago when damage to Reliant Stadium in Houston prevented a Ravens/Texans game from being played there, the league didn't hesitate to postpone the game for safety reasons.
↵↵They should do the same for this game. Incidentally, as you know, the bad weather is headed to Chicago and that may make arriving at Soldier Field problematic for Bears fans and players and stadium workers tomorrow, not to mention making playing conditions pretty bad. Nevertheless, assuming the Patriots are already in Chicago, the game will go on. It's different for the Giants, who haven't even arrived in Minnesota. Do the right thing, NFL. Postpone the game and play it Monday night.