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It’s time to talk grass.
Football is best played on grass. It is also best viewed on grass, best smelled on grass and just better when the sport’s playing surface can be eaten by cows, leaves stains, evokes the term “blade runner” and therefore visions of Gale Sayers and John Jefferson.
Grass connects football lovers to the sport’s roots. Plus, it gives folks something to mow.
Alas, the NFL grass football field is becoming an endangered species.
Fake-grass “fields,” like a gnarly weed, have begun to edge out the real stuff.
A counterstrike came four weeks ago. Workers at the Denver Broncos’ stadium offloaded 36 rolls of Kentucky bluegrass and installed a new field.
Grass-football lovers themselves, the stunningly wealthy folks who bought the Broncos in 2022 insist that every one of the team’s home games will be played on a grass field that’s in top shape. They’ve replaced the field within each of the last three seasons. The first time it happened, only one home game remained. That’s how serious the Broncos’ big shots are about grass.
It’s about benefiting the players, said Broncos CEO and part-owner Greg Penner.
Indeed, studies endorsed by the NFL players’ union have shown that a grass field is less hazardous than a synthetic-turf field. Also, many NFL players say their bodies ache more after playing on the carpeted surface.
Crucially, the Broncos’ owners understand it’s foolish to cheap out.
The health benefits of a grass field accrue only if the field meets a high standard, a fact pointed out in this column years ago by Dr. David Chao, a former NFL team physician who saw many a treacherous grass field.
A grass field that was excellent in September can become a hazardous mess by December.
The Broncos refuse to let that happen. They pony up $250,000 to $400,000 to change out the field. True, the wealth of Broncos ownership is staggering. But right is right.
Unfortunately, several other NFL ownership groups in recent years have opted for carpeted fields, despite preferring grass.
The Spanoses were among them. Chargers official Fred Maas said in this space several years ago that despite ownership’s desire to stay on grass, a synthetic-turf field would’ve been used at the team’s proposed stadium for downtown San Diego. The cost-benefit findings were just too strong, he said.
When the Chargers and Rams relocated to the Kroenke Dome, they left behind grass fields.
The Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers also switched to fake grass, a move that can be jarring for players and fans alike.
“It’s a travesty the Panthers got rid of their grass field for turf,” former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz said Sunday on social media. “Had the best grass field in the league.”
If you prefer watching NFL games on a top-quality grass field, a piece of friendly advice: Enjoy it while you can.
The number of grass-field teams will shrink in years ahead. The Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears are angling for domes, all but ensuring they’ll move from grass to carpet.
Sounding off
Anthony Richardson would’ve been better off returning to the Florida Gators instead of entering the NFL after having started only 13 games. His extreme inexperience has exposed him to too many hits, contributing to a pair of severe injuries. His inaccuracy has persisted.
Though the contract he landed as the fifth draftee overall was worth big money, he would’ve commanded a similar contract or perhaps a bigger one by maturing his game in college.
Richardson is so talented, the NFL would’ve drafted him even if he suffered a severe injury.
• A big reason the Chiefs are 10-1 is because Patrick Mahomes has overcome frequent subpar play at left tackle, where a rookie has been overmatched and the replacement the rookie beat out last summer has struggled often, too. No wonder the Chiefs last week signed former Cardinals tackle D.J. Humphries, who had reconstructive knee surgery in December.
• The Packers’ grounds crew deserves autographed footballs. Lambeau Field’s excellent grass surface added to the appeal of Sunday’s game against the 49ers. It’ll be interesting to see how it looks on Thanksgiving night when the Packers face the Dolphins.
• Smashmouth football is enjoying a resurgence this season. The Eagles with Saquon Barkley and the “Tush Push” are battering opponents. Under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have gone from an underachieving finesse team to AFC bullies. Staying true to their rugged style, the one-loss Lions have thrived despite being unaccustomed to the role of heavy favorite.
Originally Published:
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