NFLPA president JC Tretter calls for all teams to use grass fields – ESPN

NFL Players Association president JC Tretter is calling for NFL teams to change all field surface areas to natural grass to minimize the risk of injury to gamers.
Tretter, the beginning center for the Cleveland Browns, wrote in a newsletter that gamers have a 28% higher rate of noncontact lower extremity injuries when using synthetic grass as compared to yard. Tretter, pointing out NFL injury information gathered from 2012 to 2018, added that those rates are even higher for noncontact knee injuries (32%) and noncontact foot and ankle injuries (69%) on turf as compared to grass.
” The information stands out,” Tretter stated Wednesday throughout a videoconference with media. “Those numbers are staggering, the distinction in injury rate between turf and natural turf. Its possible to get yard in every area, and its about pushing for that. All of us need to be pursuing the most safe style of play. We understand the dangers of using grass. Thats not good for any person. Its not good for gamers. Its bad for the GMs and the head coaches. Its not excellent for the owners. Its not excellent for the fans. Increased injuries isnt great for anyone.

1 Related” Until we can discover a way to get artificial grass to react and respond like natural turf, its excessive of a threat to continue to play on and anticipate various results.”
Presently, 13 NFL arenas use synthetic grass.
San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and his players had revealed concern about the turf at MetLife Stadium, where the Niners just recently lost a number of gamers, including quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and protective end Nick Bosa, to injuries. MetLife is the home of the Jets and Giants.
Tretter stated a “committee of engineers” has actually been tasked with analyzing field surface areas. Tretter also advocated for a much better program for surface area testing, noting that the Clegg Impact Tester currently utilized by the league determines hardness of a surface, “but not for efficiency and safety.”
He stated groups shouldnt use environment or indoor arenas as a reason not to carry out lawn, offered that a number of cold-weather teams, including the Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, utilize yard, and the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders have natural grass despite playing inside.
” Players safety will constantly be a top priority for us and for the union,” Tretter said. “… Its something from here on out we need to make a concern.”

” The data stands out,” Tretter said Wednesday throughout a videoconference with media. “Those numbers are staggering, the distinction in injury rate between turf and natural turf. Its possible to get grass in every place, and its about pressing for that. Increased injuries isnt great for anybody.