Outrage over Steelers’ turf: NFLPA demands improvements

Steelers and Browns Players Express Outrage Over Playing Surface at Acrisure Stadium

Players from the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns expressed their “indignation” and concern to the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) about the “shameful” playing surface at Acrisure Stadium last weekend, according to a union source.

The NFLPA has conveyed its concern to the NFL and will work to ensure that players are not in that situation in the future.

Source from the NFLPA

Some players claimed that the field, which was already scheduled to be reseeded after the game, was “dry.” Broderick Jones, Steelers offensive lineman, was one of several players who said they “lifted up chunks of turf” when making explosive movements. The league spokesman, Brian McCarthy, stated that the NFL has been in contact with both the union and the club, which has taken steps to replace the grass surface.

I thought it was poor [on Sunday]. I’m not worried about the future. I understand that that turf is going to be replaced, but I certainly recognize that it was a concern yesterday.

Mike Tomlin, Steelers Coach

Steelers kicker Chris Boswell slipped on the turf while attempting and missing a field goal in the fourth quarter, and special teams captain Miles Killebrew suffered a “significant” non-contact knee injury while planting his foot on the turf.

Honestly, it was a shitshow. I lost one of my teammates and that makes me sad.

Cameron Heyward, Steelers defensive captain

Heyward commented that he prefers a natural grass playing surface to artificial, which has been the subject of scrutiny in stadiums like MetLife due to high-profile injuries. However, he added that Sunday’s field did not meet the standards. The league has stated that there were no differences in injury rates between synthetic and natural turf surfaces last season. There were also fewer anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries last season on synthetic surfaces than on grass, and there have been no differences so far this year.

I like the grass, but that wasn’t grass to play on.

Cameron Heyward, Steelers defensive captain

An NFLPA source echoed Heyward’s sentiments about the preference for natural grass playing surfaces over artificial ones, but emphasized that the quality of the grass is important.

Players prefer grass fields, but not all grass surfaces are created equal. The conditions at Acrisure Stadium underscore why players have pushed for high-quality grass fields, and why the NFLPA continues to push for improved and shared maintenance practices of grass fields across the league.

Source: NFLPA

The Steelers share a stadium with the University of Pittsburgh, but neither team had played at Acrisure the week before Sunday’s game. Pitt hosted Boston College on October 4, while the Steelers’ only home game before the game against the Browns was against the Seattle Seahawks on September 14. While the Steelers only had one home game in that period, Pitt hosted four of their first five games at Acrisure. Managing field wear and tear between two teams is nothing new on the field, but typically the conditions have worsened much later in the season before a reseeding.

Players deserve to have the safest and highest quality workplaces. The NFLPA is advocating for establishing better standards across the league and pushing the NFL for more specific surface data in order to ensure that our members play on the best possible field surfaces, regardless of whether it is grass or artificial turf.

Source from the NFLPA