The NFL would like you to believe that there is a real debate among players regarding the question of whether they prefer grass or turf.
not exist.
This is an artificial concept intended to justify a cheaper approach to equipping the field. Lawn owners don’t want to pay for their lawns, but the commissioner, who gets paid by all the owners, is happy to interfere.
On the other hand, while certain players continue to claim turf problems, not a single active player praises the fakes.
“The grass is hard on you and hard to be on,” Dolphins safety Jevon Holland told #PFTPM about the grass at MetLife Stadium in particular. “Two of my friends got hurt because of that. To be honest, I think it should be done. They should seriously consider it and do more for their team and teams across the league. I think we need to invest in a good playing environment.”
It is certainly so. Most recently, Dolphins edge rusher Jalen Phillips tore his Achilles tendon while pushing out of a two-point stance at the start of play last Friday.
“Grass is a hard surface,” Holland added. “It doesn’t give away. Like grass, it has power and it works. When you cut, you can feel the cleat sinking into the ground. Turf is like playing on asphalt So, you’re not playing on asphalt, but in a sense you are. You’re putting stress on your joints, your knees, your ankles, and when you hit the ground, there’s no shock absorption on the ground. That’s not the case. But it’s on the grass. When you fall on the ground, you can roll and it feels like the earth isn’t as hard. To be honest, that’s the biggest thing for me. Grass is so hard on the joints. , I think the effects are cumulative and long-lasting, like after practice or after a game. For me, playing on grass always feels good.”
That’s a common refrain from players. Even if they complete a game on grass without injury, they feel the effects of playing on grass without pain on their entire body.
If you’ve ever played even two-handed touch on an old green cement artificial surface, you know the feeling you get when you get out of bed the next day. Not being given one, even if it’s a fake that looks more like grass than patio carpet, means the bodies are beaten even worse.
But the league will continue to hide that fact. Simply because turf owners don’t want to invest in better, safer playing fields.