Jets Logo Displayed at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey - Image from Twitter/@nyjets.
The new boss of the NFL Players Association wants all NFL fields to be covered with natural grass. This request comes after Aaron Rodgers got hurt and can’t play for the rest of the season.
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Rodgers’ Injury Sparks Concerns
Rodgers hurt his leg during a game with the Jets. People are now talking about whether the fields in NFL stadiums are safe. One stadium, MetLife Stadium, where the Jets and Giants play, changed its field to something called FieldTurf this year. It’s softer and feels nicer to play on compared to the old artificial turf.
But because of what happened to Rodgers, many people want real grass fields in all NFL stadiums. Lloyd Howell, who’s in charge of the NFL Players Association, also thinks this is a good idea. He said, “All the fields should be real grass. Players like it more, and it’s safer than artificial turf. I’ve talked to the NFL about this before.”
Roger Goodell’s Consideration
The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, said that they care about keeping players safe, but it’s not an easy decision. Some players like artificial turf because it’s faster, while others prefer natural grass. Goodell wants to use science and data to make the right choice.
Rodgers’ Injury Details
Rodgers got hurt when Leonard Floyd tackled him from the Bills. His leg got stuck in the turf, and his Achilles tendon tore. It was a painful injury.
Jets coach Robert Saleh doesn’t think the field caused Rodgers’ injury. He said, “It was a tough tackle, not a slip or anything.”
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Debate Over Turf-Related Injuries
The NFL Players Association showed data that said more injuries happen on turf than on natural grass. However, the NFL had different data that showed injuries were about the same on both types of fields.
Lloyd Howell thinks it’s worth spending money to change the fields to real grass. He said, “It’s strange that they’re changing to better grass for the World Cup, but not for our players. We can’t afford to lose our best players to injuries.”
Roger Goodell and the NFL Players Association will look at more data before deciding what to do.
Players’ Voices
Many players don’t like artificial turf. David Bakhtiari, a friend of Rodgers and his former teammate, said, “So many players get hurt on artificial turf. The NFL needs to care about us like soccer players. They’re changing fields for the World Cup, so they can do it for us too.”
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay also said the field at MetLife Stadium is bad and they should have real grass to keep players safe.
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