NFLPA calls for major change at all stadiums after Aaron Rodgers' injury on turf field
The executive director of the National Football League Players Association issued a statement Wednesday morning imploring all the league's owners to make the switch to a natural grass playing surface in their stadiums.
Lloyd Howell made the plea two days after New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his left Achilles against the Buffalo Bills after playing only four snaps. The playing surface at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey is FieldTurf Core system, designed to help prevent lower-body injuries.
But Howell said that is not enough.
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"The players overwhelmingly prefer it and the data is clear that grass is simply safer than artificial turf. It is an issue that has been near the top of the players' list during my team visits and one I have raised with the NFL," he said.
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Howell pointed to the fact when there are international soccer games played at U.S. stadiums the playing surface is grass.
English Premier League's Manchester United and Arsenal played an exhibition match at MetLife Stadium in July, where attendance broke the stadium record. The playing surface was switched to grass for the match.
"It makes no sense that stadiums can flip over to superior grass surfaces when the World Cup comes or soccer clubs come to visits for exhibition games in the summer, but inferior artificial surfaces are acceptable for our own players," Howell said. "This is worth the investment and it simply needs to change now."