The threat of Hurricane Irma forced the NFL to convene Tuesday morning, to decide whether the Buccaneers and Dolphins could play their game at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
Though the decision wasn’t reached immediately, the NFL did eventually decide to cancel the game.
Here is the NFL’s statement:
“Due to the potential impact of Hurricane Irma on South Florida, the Miami Dolphins home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, originally scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, will not be played in Miami on Sunday,” the NFL announced today.
“In the interest of public safety in light of the current state of emergency, the NFL, in consultation with state and local officials as well as both clubs, has decided that playing an NFL game in South Florida this week is not appropriate.
“The league will continue to examine other options, including playing the game this Sunday at a neutral site or in Miami later this season, and will provide an update on that decision as soon as possible.”
The Buccaneers and the Dolphins do share the same bye week, Week 11. Which could make rescheduling the game an easy proposition. However, both teams remain passionately opposed to that idea, since it would require them to play the entire season without a bye.