Pro Football Hall of Fame 2016: Game Cancelled
The start of the 2016 NFL regular season is still 32 days away. And it’s pretty safe to say that most of us are ready for some football. But that won’t be the case in Canton on Hall of Fame weekend.
In 2014, both the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts found themselves in their respective conference title games, both falling short of making a trip to Super Bowl XLIX.
Last season, Mike McCarthy’s team and Chuck Pagano’s club both failed to win their divisions – the Colts falling to 8-8 and out of the playoff picture.
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So as the 2016 NFL preseason was set to begin in Canton, Ohio, at the annual Hall of Fame Game, many were wondering what to expect from either club this fall…or this evening.
Oh well.
Because of field conditions (via NFL Network and ESPN’s Rob Demovsky and Mike Wells), the contest would not be played. Hall of Fame President/Executive Director David Baker told ESPN’s Lisa Salters that some events would be held involving both team’s players, the introduction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2016 and some musical entertainment from halftime performer Lee Greenwood. Baker eventually announced the bad news to the stadium crowd and it drew mixed reactions.
This statement from the NFL-NFLPA: Due to safety concerns with the condition of the playing surface in Canton, tonight’s game between the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers has been cancelled. 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.
Via ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Baker called the cancellation “an easy, ethical decision.”
It was supposed to be the first of five summertime outings for both the Pack and the Colts. But let’s be honest. You were not going to see a lot or any of Rodgers, Luck, wide receiver Randall Cobb, linebacker Clay Matthews, veteran running back Frank Gore, wideouts Donte Moncrief and T.Y. Hilton, etc., etc.
It’s too bad, even though there is still plenty of curiosity surrounding these franchise’s chances in 2016.
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When you talk about these franchises, it’s hard to ignore the quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers managed to throw 31 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions this past season without wide receiver Jordy Nelson and with an erratic performance from running back Eddie Lacy. Andrew Luck only started seven games in 2015 and missed games for the first time in his brief four-year career.
Both clubs need to get better on defense, especially when it comes to stopping the run. The Colts also need to do a better job of protecting their quarterback and they will get somewhat of a test against a Green Bay pass rush that did produce 43 sacks one year ago. General manager Ryan Grigson made eight selections in April’s draft – four on offensive linemen (including first-round center Ryan Kelly) and four on defensive help.
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The Packers used their draft to fortify the trenches, utilizing a pair of picks each on the offensive and defensive lines. General manager Ted Thompson grabbed UCLA defensive tackle Kenny Clark in the first round, hoping he can aid a unit that surrendered 119.1 yards per game rushing and 13 touchdowns on the ground in 2015.
Unfortunately, all of this guesswork and instant analysis on the Packers and Colts have to wait a bit longer. As will the start of the ’16 preseason.