COMMISSIONER PAUL TAGLIABUE

PREGAME AND HALFTIME INTERVIEWS

Sunday, September 23, 2001

 CBS with Jim Nance

 JN: “What were the factors in canceling the game last weekend?”

 PT: “It was based on the enormous loss of life and the despicable character of the attacks.  We realized as a nation, neighbors and as friends that we needed to take time to heal and recognize people have tremendous pain.

 JN: “What is the plan for SB and playoffs?”

 PT: ”I think we will be able to move the Super Bowl back, likely but not certain yet, a week. Hopefully we will play in New Orleans.  We are getting strong support from everyone in Louisiana and I think others will be cooperative.

 JN: “What would you tell all the fans about security at the stadiums today?”

 PT: “Some of the security is highly visible and some is invisible.  We have stepped it up through this last decade.  We’ve got outstanding people with great experience in the FBI, Secret Service, state and local law enforcement.  I think the fans can take comfort in that the stadiums will be secure.”

 JN: “Any message for people who are trying to settle in and get back to normal?

 PT: “To me, the message is that we all have been brought much closer together as people the last 10 days because of some tragic and horrible events.  We need to stay together; we need to stay together for the long haul not just this week, this month, this year, but for decades.  I spoke with policemen and firemen in New York on Friday and I told them that my commitment to them, my pledge to them as the Commissioner of the National Football League is that we will stay with them, other public safety officials and the military.  We need to be together as people.  Then we will be successful and be proud.”

ESPN with Chris Berman

CB: “Is the NFL comfortable with stadium security for the teams and for the fans and is this an on-going process as the weeks go on?

PT: “Security is our #1 priority.  I think you just heard some of our people (referring to interviews with Ahlerich, Johnson and Merletti) say that.  We feel very confident that the fans will be safe in the stadiums, coming to the stadiums and that all the measures have been taken that need to be taken.  Since 1991 with the Gulf war, we spent a lot of time on this and we feel confident that we have done what needs to be done.

CB: “Last Sunday, where were you, what did you think about, who did you talk to on an idle Sunday?”

PT: “Well I started after midnight in Manhattan at Union Square where they had set up many people looking for friends, and there were hymns being sung.  People were grieving in New York City and we were part of that both late Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Later in the day, I spoke to some of the members of our competition committee.  I spoke to some owners and we had quite a few things to handle.  I spent time with our security people on Sunday and started to give directions to owners and requests to owners to handle security. We realized that we need to carry on.  We cannot forget, but we need to carry on and remember what has happened and stay close as a nation. Last Sunday was spent preparing to do many of those things.”

CB: “How long can the league wait realistically before figuring out plans for the SB, playoffs, etc.?”

PT: “We hope to have something in place in a week to two weeks.  I think it’s highly likely that we will be able to play the Super Bowl in New Orleans in one way or another—move it back, hopefully, and get our full playoff schedule played this year.  We have been spending a lot of time and perhaps we can wrap it up this week. “

CB: ”When the day is done, what do you hope is the biggest thing that the NFL can accomplish today for everyone?”

PT: ”I hope we can continue to remember what has happened and continue to support our fellow citizens who are grieving and at the same time to instill some optimism and confidence.  As Americans, we have a lot to be optimistic and confident about even as we head for difficult times.  We need to instill confidence and optimism and most of all we need to stay together for the long haul and make sure no one is dealing with these times alone. As a league, teams, owners, players, coaches, commissioners, we can all contribute to a lot to that.”

FOX with Sam Rosen

SR: “Does the positive, overwhelming response to postponing of last weekend’s games reaffirm your decision?”

PT: “It was really not that difficult.  It was just to make certain that we had a consensus and that we were not overreacting.  As a nation, we have gone through something that was without precedent in our lives.  We needed to pause, we needed to grieve and we needed to support our neighbors, families and even strangers.  We did that as a league; the nation did it.  Now we need to carry on and not forget, but we need to carry on and remember and be more resolute then ever.

SR: ”The result is a change in the schedule and postseason.  What can you tell us about how things are going as far as lining up the schedule?”

PT: “We are getting really good support from the mayor of New Orleans and congressional delegates from the state of Louisiana and others who are involved. We are in conversations now. I think it likely that we will play the Super Bowl in New Orleans at a later date and play our whole postseason.

 

HALFTIME QUOTES

New York Giants at Kansas City Chiefs

“As a nation in the last two weeks, we’ve probably said more to each other than maybe we have in the prior two years.  The circumstances called for all of us as American citizens to talk to each other and we think that the president’s speech on Thursday night also captured very well, as he said at the beginning of the address of the joint session of congress, that he didn’t have to report on the state of the union.  People themselves were speaking about the state of the Union, heroes and loved ones of people who had lost their lives.

“I think today our fans are talking about their state of the union and our small part of the world.  We’re hopefully capable of remembering what happened, continuing to support those who need our support, but also resuming football, which is our profession, just as all other Americans have to resume their professions. So, we’re very proud to be back.

“I’m particularly pleased to be here in Kansas City.  To me there is an element of symbolism here with big-city America playing heartland America on the friendly fields of strife.  It says a lot about how unified our people are.”

Q:  How close are you to deciding the timing of the Super Bowl ?

TAGLIABUE:  “I don’t know how close we are but I think it’s very likely it will be February 3 instead of January 27.  In one way or another I believe we will be able to pick up the week that we lost and play the entire post-season schedule.  We’re hopeful of doing that in New Orleans but we have some other alternatives that would enable us to play the Super Bowl if it became necessary in Los Angeles, Miami or Tampa.  But we’ll be working very hard this week with the goal of getting those issues resolved, if it’s possible.  No promises.  We’re working with the Louisiana congressional delegation, the mayor and others to finalize new arrangements.”

Q: How would you compensate New Orleans if they didn’t get the Super Bowl this year ?

TAGLIABUE:  “I think we’ll be able to work it through so that we do play the game in New Orleans. It will involve switching some other events down there.  The one plan we looked at which would have us play it in Los Angeles, Miami or Tampa would be the two conference championship games would be played in New Orleans probably on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.  Needless to say, we would continue to work with the elected officials down there to talk about the future.”

Q:  Is the most likely scenario to move the game back to February 3 and get the car dealers to move their convention ?

TAGLIABUE:  “It’s one of the scenarios until we have some meetings this week.  I don’t know if it’s most likely or not.  The leadership of the dealers association has been supportive and we’re hoping we can make it a win-win and, most importantly, for the fans and New Orleans.  New Orleans is working very hard because their whole economy is so heavily dependent on tourism and travel and the Super Bowl is clearly their most visible event.  So, I think we have the resources to make this a win-win for three or four different parties including New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.”

Q:  Are you optimistic you can keep the 12 team format ?

TAGLIABUE:  “Yes, it’s optimistic and we think it’s likely we’ll get something done.”

Q: How much is a television a factor in keeping all the wild cards ?

TAGLIABUE:  “Television is not a factor.  The biggest factor is the fans and the fact that people want to have those extra four playoff opportunities.  If you’re a Raider fan or a Bronco fan you’re kind of assuming those two teams are going to battle it out for the top of the AFC West and you want to have two opportunities (to play each other) not one. We’ve heard from fans in places like that.  We’ve heard from fans in Philadelphia and New York where the assumption is the Eagles and the Giants are going to be fighting it out.  It’s the fan interest in having a complete set of playoffs more than anything else, and the players too.  They work 12 months a year and they want to have those extra four opportunities to succeed.”