Players' union calls field condtion a workplace safety issue
NFL Players' Association executive director DeMaurice Smith wants to look at the league's process to determine whether NFL fields are safe for play.
The condition of FedEx Field's grass turf in Washington's wild-card playoff game against Seattle was called into question after Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III reinjured a knee that required reconstructive surgery. Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons also sustained a non-contact ACL injury in the game.
The NFLPA has requested the certification report of FedEx Field, which was done 72 hours before the Jan. 6 game.
"On occasion, we will take a look at the manner in which fields are certified," Smith told WTEM-AM. "Every year what we are going to do is simply ask for all of the certifications for all of the fields on the last week of regular-season play. But the way that our player leaders and the way that this union now looks at everything, we look at it as a workplace safety issue."
The NFL said it plans to review its police on field readiness and may intensify its monitoring standards, CBSSports.com reported.
"If they are in a scenario where that workplace is not as safe as it could be, I can promise you that this union and this leader of players is gonna weigh in and we will take whatever steps we think are appropriate in order to ensure that the National Football League is expending the resources to keep the workplace as safe as possible," Smith said.
