NFLPA calls B.S. on latest artificial turf vs. grass report: MetLife not off the hook

The NFLPA stance on artificial turf has not changed.(AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

By Manuel Gómez | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The issue over artificial turf in isn’t going anywhere.

On Thursday, a joint committee assembled by the NFL and the NFLPA released its findings that lower-body injuries occurred at about the same rate on turf fields as on grass fields during 2023. Lower-body injuries that occur without contact were virtually the same on turf as it was on grass.

This doesn’t mean that there isn’t a problem, the NFLPA said In a statement released to ESPN. The union says it remains steadfast in pushing for the removal of artificial turf.

“As we have said repeatedly, injury data in a one-year time capsule does not account for what we have known since we started tracking these injuries: that a well-maintained, consistent grass surface is still simply safer for players than any synthetic field,” the statement said.
“The story of last year’s injury data is that, unfortunately, injury rates on grass have increased from last year. The data cannot, however, account for what players have shared with the NFL for years: that we feel much worse after playing on synthetic surfaces and overwhelmingly prefer consistent, high-quality grass fields.

“This year’s injury data also does not explain how quick they are to flip NFL stadium surfaces from bad synthetic to better grass for international soccer friendlies and tournaments.”

Read the article