New field turf: An injury nightmare just beginning???

[DaBruinz]

I watched the game last night and I have to say that I was surprised at the new field turf and the people who got hurt last night. The major one being Donnie Avery. But Wheatley also hurt his leg in a very similar fashion as did Brandon Gibson.

When I re-watched the game and watched the legs of these players I saw something startling. It seemed to me that in each case the cleats on the foot of the leg that was injured caught and, in turn caused their leg to turn in an irregular fashion. I was quite surprised at this because the cleats catching like they did is supposed to be one of the things that doesn't happen with the new field turf.

I hope that this is not the case, but it seems too much of a coincidence that 3 players had their cleats catch in a similar fashion on the same type of turf...

 

[pork3]

Glad you brought this up, because I saw the same thing.
I know that both the Vikings and Giants aren't happy with their respective field turfs, and some on the Giants are blaming their new field turf for Domenik Hixon's injury...

-Jamman

 

[Deus Irae]

I've always hated playing on turf, no matter what the sport was. It even feels like an injury waiting to happen.

 

[Mack Herron]

I watched the game last night and I have to say that I was surprised at the new field turf and the people who got hurt last night. The major one being Donnie Avery. But Wheatley also hurt his leg in a very similar fashion as did Brandon Gibson.

I hope that this is not the case, but it seems too much of a coincidence that 3 players had their cleats catch in a similar fashion on the same type of turf...

great observation and one to watch closely this season. Injuries are already too common in the NFL.

 

[Big-T]

Having played sport on artificial turf over here, to avoid injury we were all banned from using proper cleats, we used rubber cleats or just normal training shoes and there was 1 injury in 3 years on the turf.

So could that be an option, or would the weather effect it too much to not wear normal cleats?

 

[TheComeback]

I noticed that, too. I'd rather play a sport in mud and water than on turf. It honestly feel like it's much safer.

I don't get what the big deal is about this artificial crap. Lower maintenance costs, right? More exciting games because the players have supposedly better footing in bad weather, right? God, people are so short-sighted sometimes.

Turf just plain sucks, it doesn't give at all like natural grass. One bad angle on a cut when you're playing on turf and you can say goodbye to some of your ligaments. I think that's what Welker and Brady were talking about on the sidelines after Avery was carted off the field.

Bring back the grass.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

i definitely noticed it.

 

[Deus Irae]

Just as a follow up, Avery tore the ACL:

Avery will miss the 2010 with a torn ACL, Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo confirmed on Friday.

Donnie Avery tore his ACL | ProFootballTalk.com

 

[blackglass3]

I don't know if it's directly related, but there is mounting evidence that the turf is a big part of the problem. I miss the painted mud and dirt we used to play on.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I seems that people are finally waking up to the problems with turf.

It was not just this game but last week promising rookie Kerry Meier from ATL blew out a knee on the turf in Atlanta. It was clearly a turf injury. He is lost for the season.

Turf sux but some fans love it because it makes the game antiseptic looking. Those are are the fans who live in a dream world wherein players don't feel it when they hit the green concrete and skin is not ripped from arms when sliding the turf or shoulders/knees are not wrenched when going down.

We should start a turf injury list and present it to the Krafts who are behind the turf decision (so they can run multiple events in Gillette). The turf decision makes me wonder if the Krafts are more interested in making money than winning football games.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Turf Injury List:

Week 2: at Atlanta:
Kerry Meier: Season Ending

Week 3 (at Atlanta):
Donny Avery: Season Ending
Brandon Gibson: ?
Wheatley: ?

 

[Big-T]

Turf Injury List:

Week 2: at Atlanta:
Kerry Meier: Season Ending

Week 3 (at Atlanta):
Donny Avery: Season Ending
Brandon Gibson: ?
Wheatley: ?

Hixon at the new GIANTS Stadium in a practise.

 

[moosekill]

And who could forget Wes Welker last year at Houston.

 

[moosekill]

Oh yea that was on crappy grass. Accidents happen, I assume that the league is studying the fields and the injuries caused very closely to see if there is a correlation. Until we see some hard numbers it is difficult to actually determine if there are more injures on the new turf. These players are multi-million dollar investments, the last thing the teams want to see is injuries.

 

[Run DMC]

The players union needs to protect these guys. This turf is an injury minefield and did I mention the MRSA living on it?

 

[SanAngeloState]

How long would it take them to sod the field with real grass?

I think it would be OK if they didn't have the soccer team tearing it up all the time.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

How long would it take them to sod the field with real grass?

I think it would be OK if they didn't have the soccer team tearing it up all the time.

And rock concerts. I think that is what did in the real grass field at Gillette.

The Krafts put in the turf to make more money; apparently money is more important that the players and championships.

 

[apple strudel]

Wait, so we have new field turf that is different from the stuff we put in a few years ago? Why?

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Oh yea that was on crappy grass. Accidents happen, I assume that the league is studying the fields and the injuries caused very closely to see if there is a correlation. Until we see some hard numbers it is difficult to actually determine if there are more injures on the new turf. These players are multi-million dollar investments, the last thing the teams want to see is injuries.

Hard numbers bah.
All you have to do is watch with your own eyes and see how players land on turf verses grass. Also all the non-contact injuries on turf. And turf-toe; never heard of grass-toe.

 

[bresna]

I noticed this last night and pulled up an old thread that talked about others complaining about the rise in injuries on turf: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/345709-gillette-stadium-turf-company-under-fire.html

If you watch one Hoomanawanui's catches, his ankle gets caught and he limped off the field. Also remember that the Saints lost Lynell Hamilton in a non-contact injury and I believe that was during a Gillette practice.