Despite all of the above, the NFL is determined to bring its product to London. This is the third year the league has played a regular-season game here and there is talk of expanding to two games (“fixtures’’ they call them here) soon. Patriots owner Bob Kraft yesterday said he believes there will be an NFL franchise in London within 10 years.
Are you kidding me? Would the Brits bring a major cricket match to Fenway Park? Or Gillette Stadium? Would the Bruins and Canadiens throw down a sheet of ice in Rio and treat the locals to something they’ve never played nor understand? Would the NHL talk about putting a franchise on a continent that doesn’t know a hockey puck from a Big Mac?
Playing NFL games in London is just a bad idea. It’s not necessary. Patriots fans know I am right. Tomorrow’s joust is a “home’’ game for the Bucs. Imagine how you’d feel if this Wembley whim cost the team one of their precious eight dates at Gillette? Imagine how much Bill Belichick likes flying six hours across the ocean and getting his team into town around 5:30 a.m. two days before a game that counts.
Armed with all this skepticism and negativity, I had a chance to talk to Roger Goodell. The Commish got into town Thursday, went to Winston Churchill’s war museum with Kraft Thursday night, and spoke with a handful of reporters in his downtown London digs yesterday.
“This is a way to expand our game on a global basis and to broaden the interest in our game,’’ Goodell started. “Every time we’ve played or brought our game, they take to it in a very positive way. They find it exciting. They’re intrigued by the strategy and certain aspects of the game and the pageantry. Every time we’ve done it, it’s created more excitement.’’
Sorry. Not buying. This is the league’s worst idea since somebody decided it would be great to play a Super Bowl in Jacksonville.
Who exactly is going to the game? Logan Airport has delivered several plane-loads of thirsty Patriots fans in recent days. Can there really be 85,000 New Englanders here?
