Turf Wars

[Jolly]

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/02/fake-grass-real-injuries-dissecting-the-nfls-artificial-turf-debate/

[LuFins Dad]

Grass, but with much stricter enforcement about the quality levels of the sod. If you can measure the psi pressure of the balls before and during the games, you can insist that there not be painted-over sections and the grass should be fully replaced at the midpoint of the season.

There's a reason players blame the turf for their injury. They can feel the turf not releasing, and that's typically far more damaging than slipping on grass. You can always adjust cleats to the grass conditions..

[Jolly]

Sean Payton is famous for paying cleat bonuses. If you've ever played with screw-on cleats, the long ones can make your feet hurt. On a field like the old Soldier's Field, especially late in the season, not having them on, meant players slipped a lot more.

So Payton would pay the guys $500-$1000 to wear the longer, screw-in cleats.

[Jolly]

Also...I've never played on the new turf with the ground-up tire rubber in it. I do understand it can be tough on the eyes. I have played on the old turf, years ago. Like getting tackled on linoleum...