Sour grapes? Bad field?

[THUMPER]

Did anyone else see this?

Tough turf leaves Giants sore, sour after win

By Adam Schefter
Special to NFL.com


Adam Schefter's "Around the League" reports and commentaries can be seen regularly on NFL Total Access.

(Oct. 24, 2006) -- After an uplifting NFC East road win, the Giants should have been in great spirits.

Only they weren't. Multiple players and members of the organization expressed anger Tuesday with the condition of the field at Texas Stadium, the hard-to-believe hardness of the Texas Stadium Sportfield Realgrass.

The Giants believe, though it would be hard to prove, that the field's condition contributed to LaVar Arrington 's torn Achilles, Osi Umenyiora's hip flexor strain, Justin Tuck's sprained foot, cornerbacks Sam Madison 's and Frank Walker's strained hamstring, and the multiple aches and pains that the team returned with to New Jersey.

"That turf was horrendous," one Giant said Tuesday, shortly after the team returned home from Dallas. "It was from the moment we stepped on it. And then as our leg problems started to mount, it made you wonder if there was a connection between the field and our injuries. I really think there was."

Now the Giants are left to deal with it. Arrington is out for the season, a disappointing blow considering that the linebacker made his first significant contributions in New York on Monday night.

Umenyiora underwent an MRI on Tuesday, and the Giants said they will not know his condition for a couple of days. But the Giants do believe that, at the very least, Umenyiora's hip injury will nag him for much of the season. Also, Tuck underwent an MRI on his foot, the results of which were not available.

But the worst part is the Giants don't believe much of this was necessary. The Cowboys have their own problems -- namely, a quarterback controversy.

Cowboys officials expect Tony Romo to start Sunday at Carolina, which will not make Dallas veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe feel any better.

When local reporters followed him to his car Monday night to ask him about his benching, Bledsoe told them, "Very bad decision."

It also should be noted that, during the summer, Bledsoe said he would rather retire than be a backup. With it now looking as if Bledsoe will be the backup, the soap opera in Dallas may be kicking off a new chapter. It's enough to actually take the focus off Terrell Owens -- for now.

The turf didn't seem to bother the Cowboys players as I don't recall any of our guys getting hurt (except Bledsoe's feelings of course).

 

[sbark]

I remember TO slipping and falling down as he tried to come back for a mid to long pass along left sideline....

almost contributed to another Pik

 

[THUMPER]

I remember TO slipping and falling down as he tried to come back for a mid to long pass along left sideline....

almost contributed to another Pik

True, I do remember that.

 

[SultanOfSix]

I think they're just taking out their frustration of having players injured on the turf. Many teams last year said the 'Boys played the most physical football of any team they played. Perhaps that is also a reason why they are griping even though they won.

 

[THUMPER]

I think they're just taking out their frustration of having players injured on the turf. Many teams last year said the 'Boys played the most physical football of any team they played. Perhaps that is also a reason why they are griping even though they won.

I'm not sure how the field can be blamed for Arrington's injury. It looked like he just tried to push off and blew out his achilles the same way Marino and Testeverde did.

I think it is just sour grapes for the most part that so many of their guys got hurt but I hope Jerry does have the field looked at and repaired if it is bad. I don't want any of our guys going down out there because of our own field.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Let's go ROMO!

 

[trickblue]

True, I do remember that.

That is one of the drawbacks of that turf... it has to be broken in. It seems that it should be by now, but one of the characteristics of that turf, when new, is a slippery surface. Perhaps they replaced some sections of it this year...

 

[joseephuss]

That is one of the drawbacks of that turf... it has to be broken in. It seems that it should be by now, but one of the characteristics of that turf, when new, is a slippery surface. Perhaps they replaced some sections of it this year...

During pre-game, they were showing the Giants skill guys running routes between the numbers and sidelines. Several of them slipped and fell just like T.O. has done the last couple of weeks. I don't think it has to do with the turf not being broken in unless they do have newer sections. I don't see any of the turf spray up like it did when it was new.

Perhaps there is too much moisture on the field. Texas Stadium has always been a poor draining field. The old Astroturf used to always have wet spots on the field. The field gets used so much and hardly ever gets covered up by tarps or anything.

I don't think the turf contributed to the Giants injuries, either. I could tell right away that Arrington blew his Achilles out. Achilles injuries are always look like a fluke. Kevin Smith wasn't even touched when he blew his out in New York.

 

[percyhoward]

Kinda funny how the Cowboys have played five games on the same turf so far this year, and haven't said anything.

But any field not covered by a dome should be natural grass anyway. I hate plastic.

 

[sharph20]

I was at the game on Monday and I was very close to the field and throughout warmups and the game (with the exception of TO) I didn't see the field being much of a problem.

 

[LandryFan]

During pre-game, they were showing the Giants skill guys running routes between the numbers and sidelines. Several of them slipped and fell just like T.O. has done the last couple of weeks. I don't think it has to do with the turf not being broken in unless they do have newer sections. I don't see any of the turf spray up like it did when it was new.

Perhaps there is too much moisture on the field. Texas Stadium has always been a poor draining field. The old Astroturf used to always have wet spots on the field. The field gets used so much and hardly ever gets covered up by tarps or anything.

I don't think the turf contributed to the Giants injuries, either. I could tell right away that Arrington blew his Achilles out. Achilles injuries are always look like a fluke. Kevin Smith wasn't even touched when he blew his out in New York.

I believe it was during the Washington game that the announcers were saying that the crown of the field cases water to collect on the field outside the numbers. I know the crown is quite a bit less pronounced than it used to be (before the new turf installation), but it is still crowned enough to cause the water to run down to the sides of the field.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Kinda funny how the Cowboys have played five games on the same turf so far this year, and haven't said anything.

But any field not covered by a dome should be natural grass anyway. I hate plastic.

Agree 100% on grass vs. turf...

But like you say, funny that it's our home field and we have probably the smallest injury list in the league.

And Arrington has been hurt seemingly every year of his career... Pretty weak to blame our turf for this one.