Reiss: Pats installing latest version of FieldTurf in Gillette

[Armchair Quarterback]

I liked the makeup of this team a lot better when this team played in the mud and $9 million dollar a year primadonna wide receivers didn't whine about being underpaid.

 

[Patspsycho]

It's called protecting your investment. When all of your multi-million dollar players (investments) are running around on your turf, wouldn't you want the one that leaves them the least likely to suffer catastrophic injury? It's common sense, and I really, really doubt that it has anything to do with public opinion. Fail.

I'm willing to wager that Kraft wants to hold the MLS championship cup at the Razor, and upping the quality field increases the odds of that happening.

 

[smyoung]

I'm willing to wager that Kraft wants to hold the MLS championship cup at the Razor, and upping the quality field increases the odds of that happening.

You're on the right track...Bob Kraft is on the committee that's trying to get the World Cup in the US in 2018 or 2022. If I were a betting woman, I'd wager that has quite a bit to do with this move - especially when you consider that the field they put down in '06 has a 10+ year life span.

Just thought I'd chime in...smy

 

[zoostation]

What? I've been to every single home game since the building opened and always thought the video screens were great. What do you think is wrong with them? At least the Pats have two; some stadiums only have one (Buffalo).

Too small....crap quality.

Comparing anything to Buffalo is laughable. Have you been to Philly, Washington or Dallas? Those stadiums have larger than life HD video boards. I'd love to see the Kraft family step up and upgrade the boards and bring them up to the level and quality of the rest of the stadium.

 

[captain stone]

I remember when the original FieldTurf was installed in 2006, after the Pats lost back-to-back home games, incl. to the jesters in the slop. What normally took 30 days to install took only 12. I expressed concern that maybe things were moving too quickly in quick-twitch response to an embarrassing fortnight of losses. But the field was ready for the Sunday night game vs. da Bears 2 weeks later, and things seemed to have gone smoothly ever since then. I also haven't heard anyone speculate that the severity of Brady's knee injury might hve been lessened if the game had been played on grass.

There were a couple of posters who were well-informed about the new surface and didn't seem quite as concerned as I was that the haste of the new installation might compromise the safety features inherent in the system. Perhaps they could chime in here and give us their opinions on the advantages of this new Duraspine Pro system, too.

As much as I love grass - both kinds - I also love seeing the players on the Pats playing on the safest surface possible. FieldTurf also looks a helluva lot better and more closely resembles the look & feel of grass than the old, ugly, unsafe PhonyAstroTurf ever did. I haven't heard of any complaints from the players, either; just about money, from some of them.

 

[captain stone]

You're on the right track...Bob Kraft is on the committee that's trying to get the World Cup in the US in 2018 or 2022. If I were a betting woman, I'd wager that has quite a bit to do with this move - especially when you consider that the field they put down in '06 has a 10+ year life span.

Just thought I'd chime in...smy

Thanks for the chime. I wonder if there will be any noticeable difference observed by those of us who have to settle for watching the games on TV - both HD & non-HD.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Five SBs...

"in the past decade"...

 

[Patjew]

Too small....crap quality.

Comparing anything to Buffalo is laughable. Have you been to Philly, Washington or Dallas? Those stadiums have larger than life HD video boards. I'd love to see the Kraft family step up and upgrade the boards and bring them up to the level and quality of the rest of the stadium.

I'd like to see them knock down the lighthouse while they're at it. Maybe it's sacrilege, but I hate that thing.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Check out Asomugha...He broke the bank a couple of years ago.

wow he is makeing all most 12 million a year.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

I'd like to see them knock down the lighthouse while they're at it. Maybe it's sacrilege, but I hate that thing.

now you've gone too far chinaboy

 

[Tunescribe]

I'd like to see them knock down the lighthouse while they're at it. Maybe it's sacrilege, but I hate that thing.

What?! That's our eternal beacon of hope! (Actually, I'm surprised they never put a rotating spotlight atop the thing. It would look cool at night games.)

 

[Patjew]

What?! That's our eternal beacon of hope! (Actually, I'm surprised they never put a rotating spotlight atop the thing. It would look cool at night games.)

Ot at least turn it into a cell tower so mobile reception is better in the stadium.

 

[signbabybrady]

Too small....crap quality.

Comparing anything to Buffalo is laughable. Have you been to Philly, Washington or Dallas? Those stadiums have larger than life HD video boards. I'd love to see the Kraft family step up and upgrade the boards and bring them up to the level and quality of the rest of the stadium.

One is slightly bigger than the other and the bigger one (which is on the light house side) sucks. The one on the other end is a little smaller but gives a really good picture.

I would imagine these wont be replaced until needed. By needed I mean if the team goes in a down slide this could be used as a PR thing to try to keep fans happy you know the old the team isn't as good as it was last decade so here is a shiny new toy to distract you. Hopefully this still a decade away from being needed.


Oh Yeah: Comparing our Jumbo to Dallas' is as laughable as comparing it to Buffalo.

 

[Patspsycho]

You're on the right track...Bob Kraft is on the committee that's trying to get the World Cup in the US in 2018 or 2022. If I were a betting woman, I'd wager that has quite a bit to do with this move - especially when you consider that the field they put down in '06 has a 10+ year life span.

Just thought I'd chime in...smy

Thanks for the clarification; please feel free to chime in anytime you want especially when it comes to juicy tidbits of inside info.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I also haven't heard anyone speculate that the severity of Brady's knee injury might hve been lessened if the game had been played on grass.
.

Well I have again and again.

The Gillette Field Turf SUCKED! It caused one injury after another. The surface was as hard as a bowling alley; watch the last game carefully--three guys were knocked unconscious on that green asphalt. One player after another got injured by it. Mayo is one example. Fred Taylor also got beat up by it. Randy Moss had ice packs on both knees because of it. The Patriots were so beat up at the end of last season that it was painful to watch them.

That turf had to go if the Patriots had an chance of another of title. Grass would be ideal but the Krafts are determined to squeeze as much money as possible out of Gillette.

 

[Patsrock]

You're on the right track...Bob Kraft is on the committee that's trying to get the World Cup in the US in 2018 or 2022. If I were a betting woman, I'd wager that has quite a bit to do with this move - especially when you consider that the field they put down in '06 has a 10+ year life span.

Just thought I'd chime in...smy

World Cup games will never be played on field turf. Even though FIFA had approved it for games, they have never and 99.9% positive it will not be played on field turf. When ever international soccer games are played they bring in grass trays and lay it over the field.

 

[Patsrock]

I'm willing to wager that Kraft wants to hold the MLS championship cup at the Razor, and upping the quality field increases the odds of that happening.

Will not get another MLS Cup for years especially with all the new Soccer only stadiums being built in NJ, Philly KC and the ones now in Chicago, Denver and Toronto.

 

[jbb9s]

Well I have again and again.

The Gillette Field Turf SUCKED! It caused one injury after another. The surface was as hard as a bowling alley; watch the last game carefully--three guys were knocked unconscious on that green asphalt. One player after another got injured by it. Mayo is one example. Fred Taylor also got beat up by it. Randy Moss had ice packs on both knees because of it. The Patriots were so beat up at the end of last season that it was painful to watch them.

That turf had to go if the Patriots had an chance of another of title. Grass would be ideal but the Krafts are determined to squeeze as much money as possible out of Gillette.

Wow - this is a completely baseless post. First of all, the field is engineered to be 10X safer than grass. It is certified by FieldTurf themselves before an athlete ever walks on the damn field. It is also re probed on a semi annual basis if not more often to satisfy . They add or comb out the pellets to adjust the impact probe (GMAX) to the engineered setting.

If the Patriots are worried about injuries, they should quit signing 30 year old running backs. Kraft is protecting his investment by installing this field.

do you really have any basis for any of the claims you are publishing?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Wow - this is a completely baseless post. First of all, the field is engineered to be 10X safer than grass. It is certified by FieldTurf themselves before an athlete ever walks on the damn field. It is also re probed on a semi annual basis if not more often to satisfy . They add or comb out the pellets to adjust the impact probe (GMAX) to the engineered setting.

If the Patriots are worried about injuries, they should quit signing 30 year old running backs. Kraft is protecting his investment by installing this field.

do you really have any basis for any of the claims you are publishing?

Yes, but the bad trip flashbacks haven't encouraged the majority here to accept his findings.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Wow - this is a completely baseless post. First of all, the field is engineered to be 10X safer than grass.

10X eh? That seems like a bit of hyperbole, and I am sure you meant it as such. Anyway if this was the case the Patriots would have had a lot less injuries than the grass teams but I just do not see that.

I don't know where to start about the problems with turf. How about rug burns? I have rarely heard of grass burns. How about turf toe? I have never heard of grass-toe. How about staph infections from turf; does not happen on grass. MRSA is great; just ask Brady.

But the worst problem is that turf does not give like grass; once the knee is planted it stays planted even if the knee is hit by a 240 pound linebacker. This is why turf will NEVER be as safe as grass. Never ever.

The advantage of turf is that the fans like its faux green color and the jerseys do not get muddy; it has made the game antiseptic (except for the staph infections) and the white bread fans seem to love it this judging from the fanatical responses I have gotten when criticizing turf. Seriously though, the advantage of turf is that the playing field is consistent and does not develop divots, soft spots, etc., but is this enough to offset the joint problems it causes? I tend to doubt it.

Check out the Mayo injury; it would appear to be a turf injury all the way.

The best we can hope for this time is that the field is more yielding and thus avoid some of the impact injuries.