The New York Giants have been ravaged by injury this season and it’s not entirely unlike seasons past. The numbers are a bit more bloated, but it’s been a common theme for Big Blue since MetLife Stadium opened in 2010.
Following the loss of Jabrill Peppers and Blake Martinez — each of whom suffered torn ACLs — Logan Ryan is speaking up.
As the last defensive captain remaining, Ryan says it’s time for MetLife Stadium to change their turf field. In fact, he believes it’s time for the NFL to do away with them entirely.
“We’ve really got to talk about these turf fields, man. It’s just not best for a player’s safety. It’s too many lower body injuries and it’s unfortunate,” Ryan told reporters on Thursday when asked about Peppers. “The discrepancy is way too high and it’s taking guys earnings away, their earning ability away, when you miss a season because your ankle can’t get out of the turf or your knee can’t get out of the turf. So, it’s unfortunate.”
Ryan is not the first player or coach to criticize turf field, including that of MetLife Stadium. Just last year, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan ranted about back-to-back games against the Giants and Jets for precisely that reason.
Even the NFLPA called for the Giants and Jets to replace the MetLife Stadium field with natural grass.
“Our turf is like any other turf. I think a lot of the turfs are bad. I don’t think they’re bad, I just think they’re not as good as grass. They’re turf. They are what they are,” Peppers added. “But we practice on grass every day. The English Premier League, those players play on grass and we play on turf.
“I get it and a lot of guys get high-ankle sprains and tear their knees every year on turf. If it happens on grass, it happens on grass. Grass has the ability to move a little bit move than turf. Our turf to anybody else’s, players don’t like playing on turf. If you had a poll, the players don’t like playing on it. It is what it is. We play on it, but it’s just unfortunate when you see that stuff happen.”
Data provided by the NFLPA supports Ryan’s claims. It showed that non-contact lower extremity injuries occur at a 28 percent higher rate on turf than natural grass.
MetLife Stadium is one of 17 turf fields across the NFL. This season, the Giants will play 11 of their 17 games on turf, including eight home games. On Monday night however, they get a reprieve and will play on natural grass at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
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