Roger Goodell on calls for NFL to switch to grass fields: 'You've got mixed opinions'
Roger Goodell is weighing in on the calls for the NFL to switch all fields to natural grass surfaces.
Over the last few years, calls for the league to rid themselves of artificial turf have grown. That’s been exasperated by injuries to high-profile players, such as Aaron Rodgers, who suffered an Achilles injury that’ll keep him out for the season during his first drive with the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
While Goodell is hearing the concern from players, fans and media members alike, the NFL Commissioner explained his point of view on the matter during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take on Wednesday.
“You have other players who like playing on the turf field, because it’s faster. So you’ve got mixed opinions,” Goodell said, via First Take. “What we want to go on is science, we want to go on what’s the best from an injury standpoint.”
While there’s been some gnarly injuries on artificial turf, Goodell isn’t trusting the eye test completely, and stated that the NFL will trust the science on the matter.
“That’s how we make decisions, not because I see an injury that I don’t like,” Goodell added. “Ultimately, I want our experts to come back and give it to us.”
Continuing, the loudest voice pushing for a change to natural grass fields is NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell. Prior to Goodell’s television appearance on Wednesday, Howell released an emphatic statement, believing natural grass fields are “worth the investment.”
“Moving all stadium fields to high quality natural grass surfaces is the easiest decision the NFL can make,” Howell’s statement read, via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. “The players overwhelmingly prefer it and the data is clear that grass is simply safer than artificial turf. It is an issue that has been near the top of the players’ list during my team visits and one I have raised with the NFL.
“While we know there is an investment to making this change, there is a bigger cost to everyone in our business if we keep losing our best players to unnecessary injuries. It makes no sense that stadiums can flip over to superior grass surfaces when the World Cup comes, or soccer clubs come to visit for exhibition games in the summer, but inferior artificial surfaces are acceptable for our own players.
“This is worth the investment and it simply needs to change now.”
While Rodgers suffered an injury on artificial turf, Ravens running back JK Dobbins also tore his Achilles in Week 1, but it happened on a natural grass field at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. So while the players do seem to prefer natural grass, it’s not a foolproof solution, as many believe.
Nevertheless, it’ll be fascinating to see what the science tells Roger Goodell and the NFL, and if a switch from artificial turf to natural grass becomes the standard in the league moving forward.