9/11 remembered, Paul Tagliabue's decision to postpone games

[Spesh]

Wasn't sure where to post this, decided it couldn't hurt on the main page(obviously edit post if its moved).

"[Upshaw's] whole focus was on the people who worked for the league – did they have family members or friends who might be trapped in the buildings?" Tagliabue recalled Tuesday. "The same went for employees of the players' association. Our thoughts were with the people who were in harm's way. Football was secondary. But when Gene and I talked later that day, it was pretty clear he viewed the situation the same way that I did."

The situation concerned the immediate business of America's preeminent sports league amid a national atmosphere of fear, rage, grief, paranoia and confusion. Specifically, with a slate of regular-season games scheduled to take place five days after the attacks, there were logistical, psychological, financial and moral issues to consider, and very little time to contemplate them.

On Sept. 13, Tagliabue announced that no games would be played that weekend, a decision fully supported by Upshaw and fueled by the passionate convictions of numerous NFL players. A decade later, as the former commissioner prepares to participate in the league's commemoration of the anniversary – he'll spend Sunday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., watching the New York Jets host the Dallas Cowboys as a guest of his successor, Roger Goodell – few would argue that Tagliabue made the wrong call.
At the time, however, many voices, including a vocal faction of the owners who employed Tagliabue, were calling for the schedule to continue uninterrupted as a sign that terrorism couldn't derail the nation's business.

"There was some feeling that carrying on was what was called for," Tagliabue says. "But in my mind you couldn't continue with business as usual, because this was not business as usual. This was a cosmic, unprecedented event, and playing football games that weekend was not appropriate."

As one prominent owner recalls, "Most of the owners thought we should play the games, and when Paul made the decision to wait a week, internally it was not a popular one. He took a risk, but he did what he felt was right. And I think, looking back, we'd all agree it was the respectful and appropriate move."

http://news.yahoo.com/911-forced-ex-nfl-commish-to-make-decision-of-lifetime.html

 

[sharp]

Rodger Goodell can only hope to be 1/2 the commish Tag was. I agree with it and it was the right decision. But, I think today, 10 years later, its appropriate to play and remember/respect those that gave their lives and show that we are a patriotic nation. We should have every game played on 9/11 have some kind of moment of silence and remembrance of those lost though.

 

[Vertical Limit]

Rodger Goodell can only hope to be 1/2 the commish Tag was. I agree with it and it was the right decision. But, I think today, 10 years later, its appropriate to play and remember/respect those that gave their lives and show that we are a patriotic nation. We should have every game played on 9/11 have some kind of moment of silence and remembrance of those lost though.

Goodell is not that bad of a commissioner honestly. Sure, the rule changes suck, they're pussifying the league, but at the same time he's doing it for the safety of the players and their futures as well (past football). But he gained major points this offseason IMO. Players demanding no salary cap, no rookie scale and no draft and they lost; not only did they lose he got them to accept a lowered the salary cap, installed a rookie scale and kept the draft. He guaranteed our league to stay competitive (or atleast give every team an equal chance to be competitive) instead of letting the Cowboys and the Redskins become the Yankees of the NFL.

In the NBA or MLB you can't get anyone worth a damn to play for teams that aren't big markets. In the NFL, Green Bay IS a great town (even though it's in the middle of ****ing nowhere), and many other areas around the country is attractive as long as that team is competitive. That's why I love the NFL.

 

[Spesh]

Goodell is not that bad of a commissioner honestly. Sure, the rule changes suck, they're pussifying the league, but at the same time he's doing it for the safety of the players and their futures as well (past football). But he gained major points this offseason IMO. Players demanding no salary cap, no rookie scale and no draft and they lost; not only did they lose he got them to accept a lowered the salary cap, installed a rookie scale and kept the draft. He guaranteed our league to stay competitive (or atleast give every team an equal chance to be competitive) instead of letting the Cowboys and the Redskins become the Yankees of the NFL.

In the NBA or MLB you can't get anyone worth a damn to play for teams that aren't big markets. In the NFL, Green Bay IS a great town (even though it's in the middle of ****ing nowhere), and many other areas around the country is attractive as long as that team is competitive. That's why I love the NFL.

While i dont want this thread to desolve into a Bashing Goodell debate, its important to keep in mind that Tag went against many of the owners to postpone the games...and they later respectfully admit it was the right move. Pete Rozelle stood up to the owners more then once, even going to court against Al Davis.
Goodell destroyed the evidence against the Patriots and has folded whenever the owners make a request.

In many cases, it takes the commissioner to stand up against the pressure and doing what is right. Paul Tagliabue did that 10 years ago this weekend. It wasn't popular, it didnt have precendent, it went against many of the practices of the NFL and what the President of the United States was urging...but it was the right call. If we get another commissioner that can make the right call in a extremely difficult decision between balancing ethics and business, it will only be to soon.

 

[nosleep]

At the time, it was the right move. Today, I think it's fine to play games on 9/11.

Also, Goodell is doing fine, he's only putting more rules in place because they players are suing the NFL for injuries. Blame the former players for the "pussification" of the league. If former players weren't suing the league, these rules probably would never develop. You can't sue the NFL and then complain about more stringent rules put in place to protect players...

 

[Kdawg954]

It's not even the injuries precautions from Goodell. It's the absurd fines, the lack of endzone celebrations, attempting to eliminate kickoffs, players are scared to make normal hits because they are worried a flag will be thrown or a piece of mail from the league office will be in the mailbox.

This if football, he would be better served commishing a flag football league.

 

[Daytona Fin]

i went to first dolphins game after 9/11 vs the raiders. one of my most memorable games ive been to.

 

[MarshallFin1]

It's not even the injuries precautions from Goodell. It's the absurd fines, the lack of endzone celebrations, attempting to eliminate kickoffs, players are scared to make normal hits because they are worried a flag will be thrown or a piece of mail from the league office will be in the mailbox.

This if football, he would be better served commishing a flag football league.

u wanna watch football or grown man dance in the endzone? just asking....

 

[Kdawg954]

u wanna watch football or grown man dance in the endzone? just asking....

That's besides the point, some of the great NFL moments include celebrations after scoring TD's. It is part of the culture and evolution of the game. It makes the league more fun . . . it doesn't always have to be suit and tie on the football field.

 

[uga3406]

tagliabue did the right thing. i couldnt imagine watching sports what had happened after that day. the country needed to heal for a week and needed a grace period. by doing this he gave us what we needed. best move he ever did imo.

 

[joeharley666]

It had to be postponed!!! Can you imagine being at Giants stadium,sitting there drinking a beer, cheering for your team, and then watching the smoke billowing in the background from Ground Zero????? Those fires were billowing for a couple of weeks before the smoke finally cleared.

 

[Hayden Fox]

I had tickets that week to see the Fins and Buffalo. Of course the game got moved until the end of the year.

I was to fly out of Logan in Boston to Miami. Many of the terrorists board flights out of Boston. Felt very strange after details emerged.

God Bless this nation.

 

[dolphone]

That's besides the point, some of the great NFL moments include celebrations after scoring TD's. It is part of the culture and evolution of the game. It makes the league more fun . . . it doesn't always have to be suit and tie on the football field.

Ironically, you get fined for wearing a tie and suit on the sidelines.

He's done some good, but the rule changes are hurting the game and his arbitrary tantrums on fines are ridiculous. On players he doesn't adjust to salary differences or legal facts; on teams and coaches he focuses in "bad" publicity even in detriment of truth (Pats' tapes being destroyed come to mind).

He hides behind his mantras "player safety" and "integrity of the game" without really addressing either.

If he cared about the first, chop blocks in the LOS would've been outlawed long ago, weight and height caps for players would've been instituted (a 400 pounder is *anything* but healthy) and revolution helmets would be mandatory. Instead we get crappy and subjective RTP calls, and 15 yards for shoving a Guy OB.

If he cared for the second, he would realize *integrity* involves conserving the spirit of things. Football is a competition sport, but also an entertainment and, most of all, a game. A source of fun. If you're constantly thinking about what socks you can wear and wether or not you can spike the ball to celebrate, you're not having fun. And it sure as hell kills the spirit of watching football too.

Bur more on topic... As a non-US citizen, 9-11 is a horrible event but nothing else. I don't take it personally and I don't cry over the victims just as I don't about the Holocaust's or Guantanamo's, but I do understand people's emotional involvement on the thing. I hope the victims and rescue personnel lost get honored properly, and I hope families as all involved get the closure they might still not have.

It should be a memorable weekend.

 

[MarshallFin1]

That's besides the point, some of the great NFL moments include celebrations after scoring TD's. It is part of the culture and evolution of the game. It makes the league more fun . . . it doesn't always have to be suit and tie on the football field.

Its a football field to play football, u want dancing? go to a ballarina class.

 

[Kdawg954]

Its a football field to play football, u want dancing? go to a ballarina class.

Football is a game, people celebrate when they win games or score points in games. Whether its dancing, or picture snapping, or whatever, it has been apart of the sport forever and that shouldn't change. You are the one stressing the "dance" aspect of it . . . not me.