(Nashville) The NFL Players Association wants all league fields to be natural turf, adding that it’s “the simplest decision the league could make.”
AJNFL general manager Lloyd Howell released a statement Wednesday morning saying that NFL players “have overwhelmingly expressed that they prefer this surface, and the data clearly demonstrates that natural turf is more safer than synthetic turf. This issue was among the players’ priorities during my team tour, and this is what I indicated to the NFL. »
The players’ union is pushing for the change less than 48 hours after star quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury. The 2011 Super Bowl champion torn the Achilles tendon in his left leg in his first game with the New York Jets on Monday night.
Howell added that he is aware that such a change will require significant investment. But he believes it will cost the NFL much more if the league continues to lose its star players to “unnecessary injuries.” He also stressed that the NFL will replace its playing surfaces with natural grass in anticipation of the Soccer World Cup or preparatory matches for it.
“But artificial turf is tolerated for our own players,” Howell said. It’s a worthwhile investment, and it needs to change now. »
