American Needle Is Good News For 2011; A Cold Weather Super Bowl?

by Brandon on May 25, 2010 8:01 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers News

- The NFL was shutout in an unanimous decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the American Needle case. So what? From Doug Farrar quoting ESPN's John Clayton:

"Because, if the NFL wins it, they can really go for the jugular. They can control salaries, and control the system more," Clayton said. "If they lose the case, there may be more of a effort to try and get a [new CBA] deal done."

Andrew Brandt hopes this will "jump start" labor negotiations. The NFL had been making crazy offers like asking the players to take an 18% pay cut (as if the players' union would ever agree to that). Hopefully the crazy goes away and the two sides can get back to negotiating a reasonable deal that won't force a lockout of the 2011 season.

- A cold weather Super Bowl in New Jersey? Since we've never had one it doesn't seem right to me though I've got nothing against cold weather playoff games. It would take away the neutral field, and luck becomes an even larger factor, which would disadvantage the favored team and make the two teams more equal. Of course the Packers are in favor of it.

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I'd be suprised if this happened

Superbowl tickets are really expensive and I doubt many people are going to be as willing to spend that much to sit in New Jersey for three hours in February.

by Charlie Kelly on May 25, 2010 9:47 AM CDT reply actions

The myth of the "neutral site"

There’s no such thing as a neutral site. Every weather condition favors a certain kind of team. Cold weather favors a team that’s mentally tough, hot weather favors a team that’s aerobically well-conditioned, rainy weather favors… yada yada yada, you get the idea.

So, when people make the point that “I just want the game to be fair”, just know in your mind that what they’re really saying is “I want to see a high-scoring game.” The weather is the same for both teams. Show me a team that can’t win in the cold and I’ll show you a team that probably can’t win, period.

And this is not a GB homer thing, btw. I don’t think GB should ever host a SB. We would just not be equipped to handle the party. Not even close, actually. Seriously, think about a million people trying to drive up hwy 41. …yeah.

by Curly Lambeau on May 25, 2010 11:27 AM CDT reply actions

The “neutral site” term is referring to one team being a home team. There will always be arguments that could be made about conditions or other things but the Neutral term is just talking about the players being able to stay home and have all the comforts of home.

by TrevorR on May 25, 2010 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Right, and that’s not the discussion here. We’re discussing weather, not whether or not to have a home team. No weather conditions are “neutral.”

So, again, to spell it out… My point is that all weather conditions favor somebody, whether they’re rainy, hot, windy, cold, whatever. One of the teams is going to gain whatever advantage there is to be had from the weather no matter what the particular weather conditions are. Therefore, the argument “we need to have it in warm weather or in a dome in order to preserve a ‘neutral site’ conditions” is completely bogus.

…and, btw, if weather mattered all that much, then Payton Manning and the Colts (a team geared for speed and precision) should’ve lost to the Bears (a team geared for slowing the game down and playing good defense) because it was raining.

by Curly Lambeau on May 25, 2010 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions

NO Way!!!

NO… Lambeau will never host a SB!!! They are making an exeption for NY just cuz its NY and they just built a new stadium and they have a chance to help the taxpayers pay it off! 500M spent during SB week will do that!!!

GB and the Fox river valley, won’t ever hold a SB, nor should it!! Too cold, Too Small market, has NOTHING to offer a SB and all that goes w/ it!!! Parties, events… All the extraneous things!!! It just won’t ever happen!!!

Get over it… I’m from GB, but it aint happenin!!!

by Strohman on May 25, 2010 12:00 PM CDT reply actions

Get over it?

Nobody has suggested that Green Bay would be a good site.

by Charlie Kelly on May 25, 2010 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions

You don’t think the Sleep Inn would be a great place for all those big buck people to stay?

Of course it won’t happen in GB…though it would be fun to watch everyone playing in the snow of Lambeau in February!!

by TrevorR on May 25, 2010 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Crikey

calm down love. Try reading the piece again, perhaps with your finger off the exclamatioin button…?

by rudi on May 25, 2010 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Classic NFL move...

man they are balsy out there in the NFL. They think they are untouchable. I think this will be a bad thing for the league though, it could really open up a lot of doors (for the NFL and the other leagues) that could really make things crazy!

by TrevorR on May 25, 2010 12:11 PM CDT reply actions

In what way is this decision bad for the NFL

and what doors would it open?

by Dionysus0 on May 25, 2010 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions

In what way is it NOT bad for the NFL?

They went for a homerun and struck out. Here’s a good article from the NFP:
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/An-American-Needle-in-a-haystack.html

by TrevorR on May 25, 2010 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Hrm. I wouldn't say that is going for a home run and striking out.

The author calls it an offside. Basically they haven’t really lost much. They are at the same point they were before American Needle and Reebok.

Looking to buy: General Manager Deputy Badge

by Bush League All Star on May 26, 2010 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions

I like the idea...

Some of the best games in NFL history have been played in the cold. Football is meant to be played through all conditions they are not like the little girls that play baseball that a sprinkle puts them in a delay (huge baseball fan too but trying to prove the point) Its the SB the cold will not stop the fans from going there. So I am all for the idea of it being in NY and hopefully continuing on with other cold weather cities. Not saying GB would ever get one but Chicago would be suitable.. I know it would NEVER happen but wouldnt it be great to see the SB go back to one of its roots in GB

by bizzle4 on May 25, 2010 12:19 PM CDT reply actions

But I don't think the Superbowl is really for the common fan anymore

It’s turned into this giant event where I believe the minimum for a ticket is around $500 and can go all the way up to $5,000 or more. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the NFL would have difficulty selling out the Superbowl, I just think they would make less money.

by Charlie Kelly on May 25, 2010 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions

But the only exception to that is New York/New Jersey.

Money can be made there.

Looking to buy: General Manager Deputy Badge

by Bush League All Star on May 26, 2010 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions

And Boston. And Chicago.

And a dozen other “cold weather” cities like Seattle and Denver as well, all of whom are more than capable of handling the extra traffic and insanity.

by vitaminx on May 26, 2010 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Good points.

I would amend my original post to reflect that I believe there are other outlets that may make money. I was thinking in NFL mode where NY/NJ was up against TB and MIA.

I agree with your post that there are cold weather markets that could make money in this ‘modern’ SB era.

Looking to buy: General Manager Deputy Badge

by Bush League All Star on May 26, 2010 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I dont like the idea

I would rather not watch a snowy SB.

by Yankees10 on May 25, 2010 4:19 PM CDT reply actions

populist take

I’m OK with rich people getting cold for a few hours. Let the Wall St. bankers and their buddies get frostbite. Ha! I think it will be better TV, and really, that’s what the game is all about.

by uglyfatpimplynerd on May 25, 2010 4:45 PM CDT reply actions

I Hate

cold but I can tolerate it. As one who lives in Utah, I have no choice but to tolerate cold weather. Keep up the good work on this blog and good luck to my neighbor, Devin Frishcknecht, who could be a major player for the Pack this season. We’ll see what happens.

Brad James

by the new Bradfather on May 25, 2010 5:05 PM CDT reply actions

I dont mean to break the bad news but

the Pack released Frishcknecht a couple of weeks ago

by Yankees10 on May 25, 2010 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh

I wondered why his dad wouldn’t talk to me. I guess that’s why.

Brad James

by the new Bradfather on May 25, 2010 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions

That is pretty cool though

to live next to a player who has a chance to play in the NFL. I actually have a neighbor that played Major League Baseball in the last 90’s.

by Yankees10 on May 25, 2010 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions

last should say late

by Yankees10 on May 25, 2010 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions

ahhhh a new york superbowl

diner for 3 at the “tavern on the green” with 3 beers and a large soda……103.62 cents
the sounds of standstill traffic and the sights of cabbies getting into fist fights over who was there first and lets not forget how pleasant people are there———

“excuse me, do you know where we are” yes the man replied….“we’re in new york city”—-yes i’m sure the locals will be just as helpfull. finally instead of actually smelling the strong stench of urine in the air during summertime, you would actually get the chance of seeing it in the snow. which is actually a good thing, so you could walk around it instead of walking through it.

ahhhh a new york super bowl——————priceless.

by hermitcrab on May 26, 2010 2:24 AM CDT reply actions

LOL!
what do you mean…NYC is the greatest place on earth. Just ask anyone who lives there. Just make sure you don’t ask ANYONE else in the world! haha I am sure we’ll be hearing tons about it for the next four years until its finally done and gone. I can only imagine the wild hoopla in the NY media right now…

by TrevorR on May 26, 2010 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Have you ever actually BEEN to NYC?

Guiliani cleaned out the hookers and junkies. It’s actually really nice. I mean, sure, there are drawbacks to that many people living that close (after a hot-summer rain once, I accidentally stepped in a puddle while wearing sandals, and you should have seen the effect that the “water” had on the leather! haha! It curled up like Randy Wright facing a pass rush), but the pace and excitement that people talk about is real. Make no mistake, it really is the greatest city in the world as Letterman says.

And, as for stand-still traffic, only suckers ride in cars. The subway is where it’s at! It’s the funnest thing about New York. …and the crime thing is way over-played. I mean, yeah, you don’t take the E train up to Jamaica at night, but that’s mostly it. And as long as you’re with a couple other people, you’re going to be fine 99% of the time. Manhattan, especially, is very safe. I enjoyed walking around at 2:00 in the morning just to smoke cigarettes and people-watch. Nobody’s gonna’ mug you because, even at that time of the morning, there’s still crowds of people all around you.

by Curly Lambeau on May 26, 2010 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions

They want you to THINK they cleaned it up…but just like Vegas the streets aren’t as clean as advertised. In Vegas the streets are LINED with hooker trading cards so you can call them…sure they aren’t on the streets but they are still there!

by TrevorR on May 26, 2010 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions