Posted on 01/14/2005 10:17:08 AM PST by gopwinsin04
The New England Patriots have their coverage plans in place-- for the Gillette Stadium field that is.
After raising eyebrows by keeping the field uncovered in recent days, the team put the tarp down on the field last night.
Todays weather forecast in Foxboro, Mass. calls for wind swept rain, followed by rapidly falling temperatures.
The Patriots have refused all comment on the field situation, but an NFL spokesman said a league representative found the field to be dry and the footing excellent.
There have been theories that the New England team had wanted a slick playing surface for Sunday's NFL Divisional Playoff game as part of a strategy to slow down Peyton Manning and the high powered Colts offense.
The tarp is expected to remain on the field tonight and on the eve of the game.
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Excellent idea. :) Let's hope for temps in the low 20's, snow and gusting winds as well.
Per NFL rules.
Need any and all help to beat the COLTS. Good luck this time around Peyton and company remember well. GO COLTS
Mark Henderson - out on weekend furlough!
This is going to be the best game of the entire playoffs. I still think Pittsburgh wins the AFC, but this game has all the makings of a classic.
Yup. Pretty much NE's only hope is to take Manning out of the game early -- whether by injury, or by shutting down his receivers. I don't see the latter happening....
Luckily Peyton Manning is a choke artist.
Then it'll thaw out just enough for the game...perfect for the pats.
Story of his life.
GO PATS! Stuff Manning yet again!!!
Stir it up!!!
Sunday GAME DAY in Foxboro Mass.
Partly cloudy in the morning...then mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries in the afternoon. Highs around 30. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Detail
Seems to be that by virtue of the Pats winning home field advantage in the regular season would dicatate that they could prepare the field how they saw fit.
Manning is the Donavan McNabb of the AFC
Go Pats!!!!
There's no way that "Bubble Boy" can produce a playoff-winning performance against a good team outdoors.
As John Wayne might say, "I'm not going to intercept you. I'm not going to intercept you. The hell I'm not ..."
**BAM**
On Dec. 12, 1982, a frigid day at Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., the Patriots and the Dolphins were tied 0-0 with 4:45 left when the Pats called time before attempting a 33-yard field goal.
Suddenly a tractor with a broom attached (though it has gone into NFL lore as a "plow" the appendage was actually a sweeper, which was effective on artificial turf) chugged onto the snow-covered field and cleared a four-foot-wide swath leading up to where Matt Cavanaugh was to hold for kicker John Smith. (The tractor was driven by Mark Henderson, a convicted burglar out of prison on a work-release program and working on the Pats' grounds crew.)
Smith drilled the ball just over the crossbar, and New England won 3-0 over the protests of Dolphins coach Don Shula, who was on the NFL's competition committee. The next spring the league ruled that refs could not let groundskeepers clear snow before a kick.
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