If the weather is right, Dan Rooney plans to climb into the cockpit of his single-engine Bonanza today and take off from Allegheny County airport for a solo flight around Western Pennsylvania.
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Dan Rooney said the NFL calling off its Week 2 schedule was "a real good decision." (Darrell Sapp, Post-Gazette) |
It will be not out of defiance, bravado or symbolism in which the Steelers' president makes his airborne journey five days after four hijacked passenger jets slammed into their targets or the ground in the worst attack on U.S. soil in history.
It is for something to do. With no pro football being played this late in the season on Sunday for the first time in 14 years, Rooney and others who work in the sport will find an eerie stillness today.
This was a day Rooney had anticipated for the past two years -- the grand opening of Heinz Field, a celebration that was to be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Instead, Rooney had a large hand in the NFL's decision to cancel games today as the nation continues to mourn. It was the first time NFL games were canceled for reasons other than strikes in 1982 and 1987.
It comes as no surprise that Rooney, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in part for his league activism the past 40 years, served as a top advisor to Commissioner Paul Tagliabue the past week regarding his decision to play or cancel games.
As Rooney gathered information for Tagliabue, the feelings of the Steelers president about whether to play or not swayed to and fro. Ultimately, "I think it was a real good decision. It was the right decision," Rooney said.
He vehemently opposed playing games Nov. 24, 1963, two days after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Even though Rooney was closer to NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, he went ahead with a full slate of games that were not televised because the networks remained on wall-to-wall coverage with the Kennedy news.
Good solider that he is, Rooney supported the decision to play once Rozelle made it, and he did find a few benefits.
"It did provide an uplift for the people who were at the game, and for the players too. It was like a release."
This time, it was different. Rooney and Tagliabue realized what the country's mood would be like, once thousands of bodies started to be recovered. The country would not turn to football for relief, particularly in New York, where the Giants were scheduled to play, and in Washington, where the Redskins were scheduled to play.
"The New York situation was really what made it," Rooney said.
The decision will cost the NFL plenty of money, one way or another. Multiply 15 games with an average of 50,000 people a game times an average of $40 per ticket. That's $30 million. If this weekend's games are added to the end of the season and the first week of wild-card playoff games are canceled, that too will cost them money through ticket and broadcast revenue.
"It changes just the way you operate," Rooney said. "You go for a full season. Now you either cut the games or cut the wild card. It changes it.'
Nothing, however, like those lives that were changed Tuesday, which is why Rooney wasn't complaining. The NFL can get through those a lot quicker than many will get over the events of the past week, including football players.
"I think it's going to take some time," Rooney said. "I think the players next week will get back to playing and get themselves focused."
Many of them will use today to spend time with their families, time to worship, time to reflect, to play or do something to take their mind off football and terrorism.
"I can find something to do, get outdoors, get away from things," guard Rich Tylski said. "I'll probably spend time with my family. If you're going to take anything positive out of this situation, you have time to be with your family and time to heal."
No one other than Rooney had plans to take to the air. Receiver Plaxico Burress planned to drive to Virginia to be with his family. Receiver Bobby Shaw, calling it "unfortunate down time," might play golf today. Receiver Hines Ward talked about playing pool or something else competitive with some teammates.
Tackle Wayne Gandy planned to attend church services, then scoop up movies at Blockbuster.
"I'm going to spend time with my family," cornerback Chad Scott said. "That's what this represents, family and the most important things in life. This gives everyone a chance to reflect on that, spend time with family and loved ones and pay respect to people who had such a great loss."
Many of those who supported playing football today talked about the need for the country to have a distraction from the death, destruction and demoralization. Halfback Jerome Bettis thought the opposite was needed.
"Instead of us being a distraction, maybe it gives the whole country an opportunity to deal with it and get through it as opposed to just putting it off."
Rooney, Steelers players welcome their time off to reflect 
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