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Mike Ditka calls cold-weather Super Bowl 'stupid'

"First of all, it’s not fair to the players," Ditka says. "It’s not going to be fair to the fans. It’s not going to be that enjoyable."

By Evan Bleier
Former Chicago Bears tight end, head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka watches a tribute video during a halftime ceremony retiring his number 89 during the Chicago Bears Dallas Cowboys game at Soldier Field in Chicago on December 9, 2013. (File/UPI/Brian Kersey)
Former Chicago Bears tight end, head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka watches a tribute video during a halftime ceremony retiring his number 89 during the Chicago Bears Dallas Cowboys game at Soldier Field in Chicago on December 9, 2013. (File/UPI/Brian Kersey) | License Photo

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- When Mike Ditka played tight end for the Bears in the 1960s and then coached Chicago and the New Orleans Saints for 11 seasons, he never minded terrible weather.

Even still, the Hall of Famer doesn’t think playing the Super Bowl outdoors at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., is a good idea.

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“The weather’s going to be a problem,” Ditka told the Detroit Free Press.

“They made a big mistake. The game shouldn’t be there. I mean, it’s stupid. I mean, I understand it’s the Super Bowl and it’s a privilege to play in the Super Bowl. It’d be nice to be playing in Miami or San Diego or New Orleans or somewhere the weather is conducive to guys being able to show their talents.”

The weather predictions for Super Bowl XLVIII call for a 60 percent chance of precipitation with temperatures dropping to 31 degrees during the game.

“First of all, it’s not fair to the players,” Ditka said. “It’s not going to be fair to the fans. It’s not going to be that enjoyable.”

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The Denver Broncos will take on the Seattle Seahawks on Super Sunday.

“I’m just saying, if you get extreme cold or you get snow during the game, then it’s unfair to the fans, to the players, to everybody,” Ditka said. “You’re not going to be able to perform at near the level you’re used to. And the element of luck comes into it, and it shouldn’t happen in that game. That game should be based on the people on the field who make the plays.”

[Detroit Free Press] [CBS Sports]

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