The Chiefs will play a "home" game next year in London against the Lions, and team Chair & CEO Clark Hunt "chose politics over fans" by agreeing to the move, according to Sam Mellinger of the K.C. STAR. Hunt, who is the Chair of the NFL's Int'l Committee, became "more popular with league officials and owners of other teams happy that he jumped on the grenade." By "guilt or obligation, or desire to win favor with the men running teams the Chiefs are competing against, Hunt has put his team and fans at a disadvantage." In an example of "how tone-deaf and out of touch they are with their fans, the Chiefs announced the elimination of a home game with a short and woefully insufficient news release that they originally planned to be the extent of their comments Thursday." After hearing what "should’ve been an entirely predictable reaction from fans," Chiefs President Mark Donovan "addressed reporters for 10 minutes after practice." Hunt, though, "remained silent." Mellinger writes Donovan "has to know he is trying to spin the unspinnable here." Hunt "should've been the one answering questions about why a home game ... is being exported to a place where they cheer every kickoff like a touchdown." Donovan is "better in front of cameras ... so he was doing Hunt’s work Thursday." By hosting a game in London, Hunt is "being a model NFL citizen, a sharp businessman -- and a rotten custodian for fans" (K.C. STAR, 11/7).
LION'S SHARE: Lions President Tom Lewand said that the NFL approached the club about playing in the U.K. in back-to-back seasons "while the team was in London" preparing to face the Falcons two weeks ago. In Michigan, Justin Rogers noted the conversations "picked up steam following the Lions' 22-21 win." Lewand said that the Lions "would have dismissed overtures from the league had they been asked to surrender a game at Ford Field." Lewand said that many factors "play into teams' decision to forfeit a home game." He added that the team's lease agreement with Ford Field "is a factor for the Lions." And while "many see disadvantages in a London trip, Lewand is happy the Lions will avoid notoriously raucous Arrowhead Stadium, one of the league's loudest venues" (MLIVE.com, 11/6). In Detroit, Josh Katzenstein notes the NFL "pays travel expenses for teams that travel to London, so besides the months of logistical planning, the trip is no cost to the Lions." Making the voyage this year "could also make the Lions better prepared for next year" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/7).
PACK YOUR BAGS? In Milwaukee, Tom Silverstein notes the NFL "hasn't had trouble selling out the London games, but the possibility of having an internationally-followed team like the Packers would seem like a good way to promote the series and the league's ultimate goal of establishing a team there." Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy said that Packers fans would "probably come in force as well if a game were played in London." The Packers have yet to participate in one of the games played in the U.K., but Murphy said, "We would be interested. I think it would be good for the organization and it would be good for the league" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/7).
