Packers vs. Colts 2016 Hall of Fame Game Canceled Due to Field Conditions

The 2016 Hall of Fame Game between the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts was canceled on Sunday after players expressed concerns about the playing surface at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported the news, and ESPN's Adam Schefter later confirmed the NFL's decision to cancel the game.

Earlier Sunday, Schefter noted the game was in doubt, as players believed the field was "unsafe" and as "hard as concrete" in spots.

The playing surface in the end zones and the middle of the field was the primary concern. Schefter reported the paint began to congeal, noting that it "would be like playing on tar."

NFL.com's Michael Silver provided additional details surrounding the cancellation on Monday:

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According to several sources familiar with the field preparation, things went awry after the subsequent painting of logos in the middle of the field and in the end zones on Sunday. Improper paint may have been used, and when it did not seem to be drying quickly enough, someone apparently made the dubious decision to heat the field in an effort to dry it -- thus melting the rubber pellets inside the FieldTurf and creating a slick, sticky and (in [Pro Football Hall of Fame President David] Baker's words) "congealed" effect.

At one point about 2.5 hours before the game, stadium workers applied a substance that appeared to be paint thinner in an effort to remedy the issue. However, according to a Packers source, one Green Bay employee noticed a label that warned of severe burns when exposed to skin and took a photo of it, showing it to others after the teams later retreated to their respective locker rooms.

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An executive who was in Canton told La Canfora canceling the game was "a no-brainer for player safety. ... The 90th man [on the roster] deserves it as much as the first."

Hall of Fame President David Baker said fans will receive a refund, and there was a ceremony on Sunday with players and new Hall of Fame inductees, per Schefter. Schefter also reported the cancellation will cost the Hall of Fame an estimated $4 million, though Baker called it an "easy, ethical decision" not to play the game. 

On Tuesday, lawyer Michael Avenatti confirmed to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that he "will be filing suit in the coming days for expenses incurred by customers beyond the cost of a ticket."

Potential damages according to Florio, include "travel expenses to Canton (for people who came to town only for the game) and lodging expenses in Canton (for those who stayed in Canton beyond the enshrinement ceremony in order to attend the game)."

As of now, the Hall of Fame "has only offered to pay refunds at face value" for tickets to the game, per Florio.

NFL.com's Steve Wyche, citing a source with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, reported on Monday that the turf will be replaced for next year's game: "All logos will be stitched into the surface so there will not be any issues like there were Sunday, when the field was deemed unfit for the Packers-Colts preseason opener. The change in turf was already planned and was not a reaction to Sunday's game problems."

In the wake of the cancellation, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Joe Scalzo of CantonRep.com that "there has been absolutely no discussions about moving the Hall of Fame Game out of Canton in the future."

This is the second time in the game's 55-year history that it has been canceled. The 2011 contest between the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams was not played because of the lockout. The game has been called off midway through because of inclement weather two other times (2003 and 1980).

The Packers and Colts were scheduled to play five preseason contests this year. They will now instead play a standard four-game preseason slate.

Practically speaking, the cancellation means nothing. Players on the fringes of their respective rosters will still have four games to showcase their talent, and fans weren't likely to see a high-quality product on display Sunday.

The Packers were planning on starting former Wesley College product Joe Callahan instead of Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, according to ESPN.com's Jason Wilde. The stars who were going to suit up likely would have played one or two series at the most.

The cancellation does put a damper on what was otherwise an excellent Hall of Fame weekend. Former Packers quarterback Brett Favre took center stage during Saturday night's induction ceremony for one of the most memorable speeches in recent history.

Joining him in the Hall were former Colts receiver Marvin Harrison and head coach Tony Dungy. Eddie DeBartolo Jr., Kevin Greene, Orlando Pace, Ken Stabler and Dick Stanfel were also inducted.

Canceling the Hall of Fame Game takes away a moment when the newest honorees would have been enshrined in front of fans and players alike. But this was a no-brainer, and the NFL deserves credit for not risking the players' safety.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.