Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Are you ready for some Tuesday Night
Football? The NFL moved the Vikings at Eagles game from Sunday night to
Tuesday because of an expected blizzard that could dump more than a
foot of snow on Philadelphia.

      The game - the first on a Tuesday since 1946 - will be played at
8 p.m. EST., and televised nationally by NBC.
      Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter declared a snow emergency as
of 2 p.m. EST Sunday.

      "We are urging all Philadelphians, please be careful, please be
safe," the mayor told reporters in a news conference at City Hall
on Sunday morning.

      The decision to postpone the game came shortly after noon -
before there was any snow accumulation in Philadelphia.

      In announcing the postponement, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said:

      "Due to public safety concerns in light of today's snow
emergency in Philadelphia, tonight's Vikings-Eagles game has been
postponed. Because of the uncertainty of the extent of tonight's
storm and its aftermath, the game will be played on Tuesday night
at 8 p.m. This will allow sufficient time to ensure that roads,
parking lots and the stadium are fully cleared."


      The postponement did not sit well with Gov. Ed Rendell, who told
KYW-TV he did "not at all" agree with the decision.

      "This is football; football's played in bad weather," Rendell
said. "I think the fans would have gotten there, the subways work
and the major arteries are still open, and other fans would have
stayed home - but you play football regardless of the weather."

      The governor, who does football commentaries after Eagles games,
also said the decision would be a "serious handicap" for the
Eagles and was unfair to the team.
      "I, for one, was looking forward to sitting in the stands
throughout the snow and seeing an old-time football game," Rendell
said.
      Asked what Vince Lombardi would say about the decision, Rendell
said "he'd be mocking us."

      Eagles coach Andy Reid agreed with the league's decision.

      "We're OK with it," he said. "We're organized and prepared
for this, and we completely support what the league did from a
safety standpoint for everybody. We got the guys out of the hotel
and home, and they'll come back for a walkthrough tomorrow and then
to the hotel, and it will be just like a Saturday night before a
Sunday game, just a normal Saturday night-Sunday schedule."

      The Vikings already have had two home games affected by the
weather this season. Their game against the Giants on Dec. 12 was
postponed a day after Minneapolis got 15 inches of snow. It was
then moved to Detroit when the Metrodome roof collapsed.
      Their game against Chicago the following week was played at the
University of Minnesota's outdoor stadium because of the damaged
roof.

      "What else can you say? Just add this to the list for the 2010
season," Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said. "But you know
what, we have to remain together as a team and keep a positive mind
frame. It's important to be a professional and be ready to play on
Tuesday night."

      Minnesota (5-9) is out of playoff contention, but the Eagles
(10-4) can clinch the NFC East with a win or if the Giants lose at
Green Bay on Sunday afternoon.

      "We have every reason, because of the season, to say, 'This is
the last straw and I'm checking out,"' Vikings interim coach
Leslie Frazier said. "But this is the NFL and you can't do that.
You have to show up ready to play Tuesday night and that's what
we're trying to get the young guys and everybody to understand."

      NBC will broadcast the regular "Football Night in America"
from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. EST followed by a "Minute to Win It" repeat
from 8:30 to 10 p.m. and then a "Law and Order" repeat until 11
p.m.

      The Eagles went to their practice facility for workouts and film
study and then went home. They'll now have just four days off
before playing Dallas (5-10) next Sunday in a game that could
determine whether they get a first-round bye.

      "I don't think it's a problem," Reid said. "I think we'll be
all right. We've had Monday games, Sunday night games, we had a
Thursday game, so we've been through a lot of this already, and
that will help us. We'll be fine."

      Many players wished the game wasn't moved. They made their
feelings known via Twitter.

      "It's only snow!!!! Let us play... It must b alot of fun... I'm
ready let's get it on!!" wide receiver DeSean Jackson wrote.

      The game originally was supposed to be played at 1 p.m., but was
switched because of the flex scheduling.
      "Thank you flex-scheduling....," guard Todd Herremans wrote.

      Quarterback Michael Vick looked at the positive side.
      "Just a few more days to get ready !" he wrote.

      This will be the 23rd NFL game ever played on a Tuesday. The New
York Giants beat the Boston Yanks 17-0 on Oct. 1, 1946 in the last
one.

      There won't be any conflicts with the Flyers or 76ers because
both teams are on the road. However, a Disney on Ice show Tuesday
night at the Wells Fargo Center was canceled.
      ---

      AP writers Dan Gelston and Ron Todt contributed to this report.
      

Gallery

Sports

Are you ready for some Tuesday Night
Football? The NFL moved the Vikings at Eagles game from Sunday night to
Tuesday because of an expected blizzard that could dump more than a
foot of snow on Philadelphia.


Vikings-Eagles snowed out; moved to Tuesday night

Go Deeper.

Like this?