Do we really want Field Turf?

[Iron Shiek]

Maybe this will change some minds...?

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/01/06/big-ben-credits-heinz-field-turf-for-quick-recovery/


BIG BEN CREDITS HEINZ FIELD TURF FOR QUICK RECOVERY
Posted by Josh Alper on January 6, 2009, 2:08 p.m. EST
The Pittsburgh Steelers should be thankful that they aren’t playing on FieldTurf this weekend. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is giving credit to the giving grass at Heinz Field for his recovery from a concussion in Week 17.

“I’m glad we weren’t on FieldTurf,” Roethlisberger said yesterday, speaking publicly for the first time since his injury. “That grass — you know, the soft Heinz Field — might’ve helped a little bit. That whiplash is always a pain. If you ask any position player, when they hit that ground with the whiplash, it’s going to hurt like crazy.”

Heinz Field has a DDGrassmaster system of natural grass reinforced with artificial grass fibers. There were questions about replacing that field with an artificial surface after the field deteriorated badly during a 3-0 win over the Dolphins in November, 2007. They chose to reinstall the natural field after the season, and installed grass sod after this November’s game against the Bengals.

[Oviedo]

I prefer they keep the grass. They just need to solve the overuse caused by Pitt and HS football games. This only becomes a November-December problem.

[mshifko]

to tell you the truth, i had the opportunity to walk on the heinz field turf before the pitt-wvu game and i was shocked at how soft it was...the sand underneath gave it the turf like feel because field turf has that rubber based applicant underneath...it seemed like a smooth surface and granted they just put the sod down a few days before, but i was impressed with how it looked and how much it gave when you walked on it...it is surpisingly soft

i think heinz field sod is good to go and it will stay...the players prefer it and if you have noticed, this year it seems to be holding up much better than in years prior...

[Iron Shiek]

A hurricane didn't come through and drop 3 days worth of rain on it right before High School playoffs this year...that's why. The turf is still susceptible to those same issues in the future...but I definitely want the grass to stay.

Shif...I like your location choice. I can see/hear Tomlin saying that in my mind... :D

[feltdizz]

Keep the grass but I swear...

When people at the sportsbar asked about Ben's injury I laughed it off as more Ben drama...

how the hell does this concussion in a meaningless game get twisted into loving the turf at Heinz field? Ben is a trip... and why did they unscrew his helmet cage like that? I was just thinking about it the other day and bust out laughing...

I almost think he bet a few players if he ever went out on a stretcher he would look like the old FG kicker game where you banged the head to make it kick FG's... or the old Gary Anderson FG bobble heads

anyone remember those?

[feltdizz]

to tell you the truth, i had the opportunity to walk on the heinz field turf before the pitt-wvu game and i was shocked at how soft it was...the sand underneath gave it the turf like feel because field turf has that rubber based applicant underneath...it seemed like a smooth surface and granted they just put the sod down a few days before, but i was impressed with how it looked and how much it gave when you walked on it...it is surpisingly soft

i think heinz field sod is good to go and it will stay...the players prefer it and if you have noticed, this year it seems to be holding up much better than in years prior...

when I saw the Pitt WVU game I was pleasantly surprised at how good the field looked. Especially since it was after the HS games and that was the last home game for Pitt.

[flippy]

Keep the grass but I swear...

When people at the sportsbar asked about Ben's injury I laughed it off as more Ben drama...

how the hell does this concussion in a meaningless game get twisted into loving the turf at Heinz field? Ben is a trip... and why did they unscrew his helmet cage like that? I was just thinking about it the other day and bust out laughing...

I almost think he bet a few players if he ever went out on a stretcher he would look like the old FG kicker game where you banged the head to make it kick FG's... or the old Gary Anderson FG bobble heads

anyone remember those?

it's kinda goofy how much drama is around every Ben bump and bruise. although this one is a concussion. somehow i expect we'll be playing this up one day as one of Ben's heroic comebacks :tt1

[stlrz d]

Keep the grass but I swear...

When people at the sportsbar asked about Ben's injury I laughed it off as more Ben drama...

how the hell does this concussion in a meaningless game get twisted into loving the turf at Heinz field? Ben is a trip... and why did they unscrew his helmet cage like that? I was just thinking about it the other day and bust out laughing...

I almost think he bet a few players if he ever went out on a stretcher he would look like the old FG kicker game where you banged the head to make it kick FG's... or the old Gary Anderson FG bobble heads

anyone remember those?

Serious question for you...just what is your major malfunction?

[BigLebowski]

...somehow i expect we'll be playing this up one day as one of Ben's heroic comebacks :tt1


Flippy,
I hope you are right, and it doesn't turn out to be another excuse. :wink:

[feltdizz]

Keep the grass but I swear...

When people at the sportsbar asked about Ben's injury I laughed it off as more Ben drama...

how the hell does this concussion in a meaningless game get twisted into loving the turf at Heinz field? Ben is a trip... and why did they unscrew his helmet cage like that? I was just thinking about it the other day and bust out laughing...

I almost think he bet a few players if he ever went out on a stretcher he would look like the old FG kicker game where you banged the head to make it kick FG's... or the old Gary Anderson FG bobble heads

anyone remember those?

Serious question for you...just what is your major malfunction?

I'm left handed...

seriously though... I'm po'ed that Ben got a concussion before our playoff game and also for wondering if and when Ben is really hurt?

his concussion being woven into a blessing for the grass that most of the fans seemed to hate is funny to me.

[feltdizz]

it's kinda goofy how much drama is around every Ben bump and bruise. although this one is a concussion. somehow i expect we'll be playing this up one day as one of Ben's heroic comebacks :tt1

yep.. my first thought was this will be great for the bye week... now the sports writers have something to write about...

I called my cousin and she was like.. nothing serious, just Ben being Ben...

[mshifko]

A hurricane didn't come through and drop 3 days worth of rain on it right before High School playoffs this year...that's why. The turf is still susceptible to those same issues in the future...but I definitely want the grass to stay.

Shif...I like your location choice. I can see/hear Tomlin saying that in my mind... :D

:lol: got to love tomlinisms haha

[SteelerNation1]

Field turf is gay

[agdci981]

to tell you the truth, i had the opportunity to walk on the heinz field turf before the pitt-wvu game and i was shocked at how soft it was...the sand underneath gave it the turf like feel because field turf has that rubber based applicant underneath...it seemed like a smooth surface and granted they just put the sod down a few days before, but i was impressed with how it looked and how much it gave when you walked on it...it is surpisingly soft

i think heinz field sod is good to go and it will stay...the players prefer it and if you have noticed, this year it seems to be holding up much better than in years prior...

when I saw the Pitt WVU game I was pleasantly surprised at how good the field looked. Especially since it was after the HS games and that was the last home game for Pitt.
Didnt they put down a new surface for that game? I am pretty sure the grass for the PITT-WVU game was a completely new surface that had replaced the old one.

[agdci981]

Field turf is gay
Field turf would sure help this offense. An offense that is built on speed but having its home field neutalize it is silly.

[Chachi]

Keep the grass but I swear...

When people at the sportsbar asked about Ben's injury I laughed it off as more Ben drama...

how the hell does this concussion in a meaningless game get twisted into loving the turf at Heinz field? Ben is a trip... and why did they unscrew his helmet cage like that? I was just thinking about it the other day and bust out laughing...

I almost think he bet a few players if he ever went out on a stretcher he would look like the old FG kicker game where you banged the head to make it kick FG's... or the old Gary Anderson FG bobble heads

anyone remember those?

I know what you mean.

The team doctors and trainers looked like idiots for overreacting and putting Ben on a stretcher.

I mean, god, it's not like he is a 100 million dollar investment or anything like that......

[NJ-STEELER]

anquan boldin is a drama queen

[Jooser]

to tell you the truth, i had the opportunity to walk on the heinz field turf before the pitt-wvu game and i was shocked at how soft it was...the sand underneath gave it the turf like feel because field turf has that rubber based applicant underneath...it seemed like a smooth surface and granted they just put the sod down a few days before, but i was impressed with how it looked and how much it gave when you walked on it...it is surpisingly soft

i think heinz field sod is good to go and it will stay...the players prefer it and if you have noticed, this year it seems to be holding up much better than in years prior...

when I saw the Pitt WVU game I was pleasantly surprised at how good the field looked. Especially since it was after the HS games and that was the last home game for Pitt.
Didnt they put down a new surface for that game? I am pretty sure the grass for the PITT-WVU game was a completely new surface that had replaced the old one.

Yes they did. My question is this: would Ben have felt the same way if it were 20 degrees and the field was frozen solid? That'd be harder than field turf IMHO. Also, Heinz has dodged the bad weather that we've seen in years past so that's helped the situation. I am for the field turf, the stuff is nothing like the old hard astro turf stuff of old.

[feltdizz]

Lets see what this field looks like this weekend. It has looked great so far but after a rain and a freeze will it crumble like in the past?

[SteelBucks]

to tell you the truth, i had the opportunity to walk on the heinz field turf before the pitt-wvu game and i was shocked at how soft it was...the sand underneath gave it the turf like feel because field turf has that rubber based applicant underneath...it seemed like a smooth surface and granted they just put the sod down a few days before, but i was impressed with how it looked and how much it gave when you walked on it...it is surpisingly soft

i think heinz field sod is good to go and it will stay...the players prefer it and if you have noticed, this year it seems to be holding up much better than in years prior...

I agree with both points. I was on Ohio State's field after the Michigan game this year and was also surprised how soft it was. But if they are able to keep the grass at Heinz Field in good shape (like this year), then keep it....I'll always prefer grass over the fake stuff.

[feltdizz]

I know what you mean.

The team doctors and trainers looked like idiots for overreacting and putting Ben on a stretcher.

I mean, god, it's not like he is a 100 million dollar investment or anything like that......

Serious question for people out there....
why did they unscrew his face mask? I've never seen that before....

[stlrz d]

I know what you mean.

The team doctors and trainers looked like idiots for overreacting and putting Ben on a stretcher.

I mean, god, it's not like he is a 100 million dollar investment or anything like that......

Serious question for people out there....
why did they unscrew his face mask? I've never seen that before....

Maybe so they could see into his eyes better? They're not going to remove the helmet so taking off his facemask is the next best thing.