Snow, wind, ice, rain: December in the NFL.
Weather played havoc with the NFL’s Week 14 schedule, with the Giants’ game at Minnesota postponed from Sunday to tonight and moved to Detroit. New England’s game at Chicago’s Soldier Field was threatened by whiteout conditions, and the field constantly needed shoveling.
The Giants never made it to Minneapolis, stranded in Kansas City after a blizzard hit the Twin Cities, causing the Metrodome roof to collapse for the fourth time, but the first time since 1983. Heavy snows also caused the previous failures.
“There were no injuries, which we’re thankful for,” said Bill Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.
With the switch of the game to Ford Field, where the Lions upset the Packers 7-3 on Sunday afternoon, the NFL said fans with tickets to that game could use their ticket for a free admission to Giants-Vikings, with no reserved seating.
• The Vikings say Brett Favre is still a game- time decision for their postponed matchup. Favre told USA Today on Sunday that he doubted that he would play “but it does buy a little time” as he tries to keep his NFL record of 297 straight regular-season starts alive.
Jets trainer tripped Miami’s Nolan Carroll.
Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll was tripped by the New York Jets’ strength and conditioning coach on the sideline while covering a punt in the third quarter of Miami’s 10-6 victory.
The rookie fell to the turf while running down the sideline, and the Jets’ Sal Alosi later admitted he interfered with Carroll.
“I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment,” Alosi said in a statement released by the Jets about 2 1/2 hours after the game. “My conduct was inexcusable and unsportsmanlike and does not reflect what this organization stands for.”
Carroll, who had an interception in the first quarter to set up a field goal, lay on the field for several minutes before walking off. He got back into the game in the fourth period.
Alosi could face discipline from the Jets and from the NFL.
Footnotes.
Seattle Seahawks receiver Deon Butler broke his right leg in the closing minutes of their 40-21 loss at San Francisco after being hit while scoring a touchdown.
Butler was injured moments after he caught a 2-yard TD pass from Matt Hasselbeck, hit from each direction by defenders. He was carted off the field wearing a vacuum splint.
• Bills receiver Lee Evans is out indefinitely — and could miss the final three games of the season — after hurting his ankle in a 13-6 win over the Cleveland Browns.
The Associated Press
