NFL players are questioning why they can’t play on natural grass fields like the ones used in the World Cup. The United States men’s national team will play on newly installed grass at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which is typically the home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
NFL Players Prefer Grass
A recent survey of over 1,700 NFL players found that 92% prefer playing on grass rather than synthetic turf. New York Giants offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor said, ‘I’m going into year 10, and I can say wholeheartedly that grass feels way better than turf.’ Eluemunor plays his home games at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, which is being converted to grass for the World Cup.
The NFL has been reluctant to pay for grass fields, leaving the decision up to individual teams. However, some teams have shown a commitment to natural grass. The Miami Dolphins owner, Stephen Ross, bought 80 acres of land to create his own sod farm, and the Las Vegas Raiders invested in a sliding grass field that can be moved in and out of Allegiant Stadium.
The NFL Players Association believes that the World Cup provides proof of concept for the NFL to use natural grass fields. An NFLPA spokesperson said, ‘NFL players deserve the same commitment to quality grass fields.’ The spokesperson added that players feel like the grass installations at NFL stadiums with turf are a ‘slap in the face.’
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
