MetLife Stadium? How about First Responders Field

New Meadowlands Stadium may soon be renamed MetLife Stadium.

New Meadowlands Stadium, the state of the art home of the New York Giants and Jets, is perhaps the preeminent venue in the NFL. With four massive high definition video screens, high tech LED lights throughout and over 82,000 seats, the year-old stadium has it all. 

Well almost.

The facility, which will host Super Bowl XLVIII, lacks one crucial feature: a permanent name. That is until now -- or at least soon.

The insurance company MetLife may be drawing close to gaining full naming rights of New Meadowlands Stadium, as reported by the Sports Business Journal.

The potential deal could be worth between $17 million and $18 million annually. That sure is a load of cash and I completely understand why the business of lucrative naming rights is now a permanent fixture in the sports industry.

Of course I realize that there's no way two hugely successful businesses, like the Jets and Giants, could pass up nearly $20 million a year in sponsorship funds. But the teams missed a golden opportunity to pay tribute to a seminal event in American history and the brave men and women who answered the call on September 11th.

MetLife Stadium? No thank you. How about First Responders Field?

While Chicago has Soldier Field, New York could have a stadium dedicated to the many fire fighters, police officers and rescue workers who risked and gave their lives at Ground Zero on September 11th.

Or how about September 11th Memorial Stadium? No it's not flashy or catchy, but naming the building after the first responders and/or 9/11 victims would be the ultimate form of respect.

This season (assuming there is one) opens with the Jets hosting the Cowboys on Sunday night on the 10th anniversary of September 11th. There's no doubt it will be an emotionally charged day across the NFL, but here in the New York/New Jersey area it will be even more poignant.

September 11th was one of the darkest days in the country's history, but for those here in the New York area, it cut deep and hit home.

Sure, I know my proposal will never take hold, because it's all about money. But I can't help feeling that such a decision shouldn't be about how many zeros are at the end of a check.

It should be about doing the right thing.