Years of data indicate that serious injuries are more likely to occur on artificial turf than on natural grass playing surfaces. As a result, NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell is making a bold statement demanding that the NFL make a league-wide change to natural grass.
In his first major public comments in his new position, Lloyd Howell made his stance clear on the debate.
“Moving all stadium fields to high quality natural grass surfaces is the easiest decision the NFL can make,” Howell said according to Pro Football Talk.
“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.”
It does not seem likely that the NFL will make this move for several logistical and financial reasons, but it’s clear that it’s safer and it’s what the players want.