Keyword
NFL
Scores
Schedules
Standings
Statistics
Transactions
Injuries
Players
Message Board
NFL en español
CLUBHOUSE


SHOP@ESPN.COM
NikeTown
TeamStore
SPORT SECTIONS
Wednesday, September 12
 
Testaverde says NFL shouldn't play

Associated Press

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The New York Jets don't want to travel to Oakland for their weekend game with the Raiders in the aftermath of terrorist attacks.

Testeverde
Testeverde

Almost to a man, Jets players said Wednesday they believe the NFL should cancel or postpone this weekend's games.

"I don't understand why we're here today," said quarterback Vinny Testaverde. "I think all the games should be canceled this week.

"It's unconscionable to think this could happen. We're all speechless on what happened, but we'll try to get through it and try to help people who suffered losses and have been hurt."

Testaverde echoed the sentiments of many teammates about traveling cross-country on Friday for Sunday's game against the Raiders.

Bills don't want to play, either
Elsewhere in New York state, Bills defensive end Phil Hansen said he is prepared to relinquish his paycheck and not play Sunday to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks.

"If we do play Sunday, it looks like: 'Those damn football players. All they care about is their money,"' Hansen said Wednesday. "But we don't have a choice in the matter. The NFL's going to decide.

"But you know what? I'll forego my weekly paycheck. This is serious."

While league officials are still considering whether to play this weekend's schedule of games, Hansen said there are more important things on his mind.

"Doesn't football seem pretty trivial after yesterday?" he said. "It's a wake-up call. Go home. Hug your wife. Count your blessings."

Hansen, the Bills NFL Players' Association representative, took a poll of his teammates' opinions on whether they wanted to play Sunday's game at Miami. While he wouldn't release the results of that poll, which he submitted to the NFLPA, it's quite clear what the mood was among the team's veterans.

"I'd vote, out of respect of families and people that died, not to do it," quarterback Rob Johnson said. "When something like this happens, it puts everything into perspective.

-- The Associated Press

"The last thing we want to do is get on a plane and go to California for a game when all four of those planes that were hijacked were going to California," he said. "My suggestion is if they want to play these games, each owner has to travel with his team to the game.

"Even if everything goes accordingly, by the time we get off the plane we will all be shot from the stress and nerves of not knowing ... we'll be exhausted getting off that plane. I don't think anyone wants to play."

The Raiders sympathized with the Jets' concerns.

"Coming out here after what happened? That's tough," Oakland safety Johnnie Harris responded.

"If the same thing happened in San Francisco I wouldn't want to go, either," left tackle Barry Sims said. "I'd want to stay with my family."

Oakland defensive end Trace Armstrong, president of the NFL Players' Association, said he had been in contact with numerous player representatives as well as league officials.

"I am very concerned about playing a football game when we still have loved ones missing," Armstrong said. "I'm leaning toward us not playing and doing what we can -- even if it's just a prayer -- to help the people who are suffering."

The Jets made their sentiments clear to NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw. Player rep Kevin Mawae spoke with Upshaw on Wednesday.

"It's not hard to read the team," Mawae said. "Everything we've talked about in here is not the Raiders. It's `Who saw what?' `Who did it?' That's the main focus.

"They've already canceled college football and pushed back the start of the golf tournament and maybe they won't play that. Baseball's called off games. For us to be the only league playing? I don't know."

Without knowing if the NFL would make a decision Wednesday -- the league said a decision will be made Thursday morning -- the Jets conducted a full practice. But it hardly was a focused one.

"It's a lot to have on your mind," safety Victor Green said. "We have to prepare like we'll have to play, so for two or 2½ hours on the field you try to forget about it and focus on what you have to do.

"I think everybody feels the same way, that it will be canceled. We'll all try to find a way to play and be professionals, but all the games should be canceled, across the board."

Coach Herman Edwards wanted to have the players give blood, but the team's doctors said the recuperation period for playing football would be too long. Edwards said the Jets plan to do something for the families of victims at some point.

Asked if the nation needed something such as football to help in the healing process, Edwards said, "I think sports can (be a relief), but then this is not like a plane fell out of the sky. This is a little different, more devastating to me than Pearl Harbor.

"These people attacked us, it wasn't an accident. It was thought out and they did it. There are going to be thousands of people that are going to be dead.

"What everyone has to think about in America is you need some closure. Is it over? No one probably knows. ... Everyone is hoping it is over and everyone is safe. But I don't know if anyone can answer that.

"That is where you get into the point where we have to move on, but where is that point. When is it time for this country to heal?"




 More from ESPN...
Question of the Week: To play or not to play
ESPN's experts talk about ...

Mort: NFL leaning toward playing games
The NFL is leaning toward ...

Refs offer to work, donate pay to relief effort
The NFL Referees Association ...

Pasquarelli: NFL should cancel this week's games
Paul Tagliabue should learn ...


AUDIO/VIDEO
audio
 The last thing that Vinny Testaverde wants to do is get on a plane to California to play a game.(Courtesy:WLNY)
wav: 593 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

 Mark Bruener gives an athlete's view of playing an NFL game after a tragedy.
wav: 2940 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

video
 ESPN's Chris Mortensen discusses how the NFL plans to react to Tuesday's tragedies.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
Cable Modem

 ESPN Tools
Email story
 
Most sent
 
Print story