Julian Edelman blasts NFL for prioritizing revenue over participant security with turf fields

Depend Julian Edelman as the most recent in a protracted line of NFL gamers taking the league to job for failing to prioritize security on the sphere.

Throughout an upcoming look on the “No Chill with Gilbert Arenas” present on Fubo Sports activities, Edelman ripped the NFL for its use of turf fields over pure grass, even with the added danger it poses for gamers.

“I tore my ACL on a [expletive] turf in Detroit which was completely ridiculous,” Edelman stated, as transcribed by Mike Florio of Professional Soccer Discuss. “I broke my foot on a [expletive] turf discipline in New York. This can be a multi-billion greenback company and we will’t get grass?”

For Edelman, the distinction between pure grass and synthetic turf is night time and day.

“With turf there’s nowhere for the vitality to disperse,” Edelman stated. “So, once you minimize, every little thing goes straight into your knee and ankle. If you’re a youthful participant it’s superior as a result of you possibly can cheat a minimize. You may minimize off your inside foot and nonetheless make the minimize, whereas on grass you’ll slip. However there isn’t any give.

If you get to about 27 or 28, you exit and you need to observe on a turf discipline and your again locks up, your knees get damage for the following three days, your ankles are sore for 3 days. There’s simply nowhere for the vitality to go, however by your physique. And these are full-grown males who’re reducing on this.”

Given the disadvantages that include synthetic turf, why hasn’t the NFL issued a mandate to put in pure grass in all stadiums?

“It’s cash,” Edelman stated. “You may put a turf discipline in that $1.5 million for the 12 months. When you have grass, you need to water it, maintenance it, redo it. There may be a variety of upkeep. It’s a must to have a discipline crew that’s all the time on.”

In the course of the begin of the Patriots’ organized staff actions (OTAs), Matthew Slater blasted the NFL for its rule adjustments concerning kickoffs for the 2023 season. 

Per the brand new rule, all truthful catches and touchbacks will come out to the 25-yard line on kickoffs, with the league reportedly citing participant security because the driving pressure behind the change.

“It’s my understanding that the powers that be suppose that that is going to enhance participant security and well being, and I’m simply not satisfied that our league is all the time going to do what’s in one of the best curiosity of our gamers,” Slater stated. “I perceive that we wish to cut back head accidents and issues of that nature, however we don’t all the time act as if participant well being and security is paramount.”