NFL executive Troy Vincent takes blame for Hall of Fame Game mishap
NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent took the blame for the circumstances that led to the Hall of Fame Game between the Packers and Colts being canceled, according to ESPN.
In a memo addressed to all 32 NFL teams, Vincent said that final responsibility for a mistake made by a third party falls on him.
“While the HOF field situation underscored the challenges in working with third parties, ultimately I am accountable for ensuring the field is of the highest standard,” Vincent said.
He also made clear that the NFL's football operations department "must demand and expect an extra level of detail in adhering to NFL standards ... for non-club fields."
The game was canceled after players from both teams and league officials found the field conditions to be unsafe.
The issues started when the non-NFL crew prepping the field for the game used a heavier than usual paint, resulting in the artificial field becoming sticky. Mistakes were also made in the attempt to rinse the paint from the playing surface.
League officials ultimately advised players not to warm up on the field.
