The most popular explanations are that turf is harsher on the body, particularly the joints, and that grass is easier to move on. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always been a big proponent of playing on grass,\u201d said Patriots safety Kevin Byard<\/a>, who is entering his 11th season. \u201cIt\u2019s just a longer recovery process [after playing on turf]. My joints, mainly my ankles not my knees, take a little longer to recover. On a Tuesday or a Wednesday when you\u2019re practicing, you still feel the soreness.\u201d<\/p>\n Added Patriots special teams captain Brenden Schooler, \u201cI love playing on grass. It doesn\u2019t hurt as bad when you fall. When it\u2019s freezing out, I don\u2019t think it cuts you up as bad as turf does. You don\u2019t have to worry about turf burn. I just think, you know, from doing my own research and looking at data and stuff, on turf you have the unfortunate thing where you get caught up and guys get rolled up on and your knee or your ankle gets stuck. Grass has got a little bit more give.\u201d <\/p>\n The turf vs. grass debate is not new. But the World Cup, and the beautiful grass fields installed for all 78 of the matches<\/a> in the United States, has revived the discussion. <\/p>\n In the leadup to the tournament, NFL players fielded questions about their preferences. Several echoed Byard and Schooler, voicing their desire to play exclusively on natural grass. Some, including Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, also shared their support via social media. <\/p>\n \u201cThis grass looks great on SoFi\u2019s field,\u201d 49ers tight end George Kittle wrote on X. \u201cWonder if we could get that all season.\u201d <\/p>\n Giants coach John Harbaugh elected to stay out of the conversation. Players have panned MetLife Stadium\u2019s notorious field, which received an F- in the player report cards. <\/p>\n \u201c[NFL commissioner Roger Goodell] is going to call me up and he\u2019s going to get mad at me because I\u2019m probably not going to say what he wants me to say,\u201d Harbaugh said with a laugh. <\/p>\n Goodell, though, is not the one who would make the call. <\/p>\n \u201cThis grass and turf stuff has nothing to do with Goodell,\u201d former Patriots captain Devin McCourty explained recently on Pro Football Talk\u2019s podcast<\/a>. \u201cThe owners don\u2019t want to pay for the upkeep of the grass field. They want to be able to, in the offseason, have all of these different events at their stadium because of the turf surface, whether it\u2019s concerts. It\u2019s very cost effective to have the artificial turf. You can place so many different things over it. You can do a rodeo over it, you can do a monster truck show over it, you can do all these things.\u201d <\/p>\n McCourty said he and former Patriots coach Bill Belichick would talk \u201call time time\u201d about how everyone, coaches included, would prefer to hold games on grass. <\/p>\n \u201cEvery team practices usually on grass fields,\u201d McCourty said. \u201cThey have these grass fields they have to take care of because they know you don\u2019t want to practice on that turf day in and day out because of the impact it has on your body.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember [in 2013], Brazil and Portugal played a friendly at Gillette Stadium<\/a>. It\u2019s the most disrespectful thing as a player when you see them pouring all this dirt and putting this grass surface on top of your field because the field\u2019s not adequate enough for these soccer players to get on the field. But you know you\u2019re about to go back and play on this field time and time again, and watch guys get hurt on it.\u201d <\/p>\n The 15 sites with real or hybrid grass playing surfaces<\/a> are State Farm Stadium (Arizona), M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore), Soldier Field (Chicago), Huntington Bank Field (Cleveland), Empower Field at Mile High (Denver), Lambeau Field (Green Bay), EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville), GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City), Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh), Levi\u2019s Stadium (San Francisco), Raymond James Stadium (Tampa Bay), and Northwest Stadium (Washington). <\/p>\n So, what\u2019s it going to take for all 30 NFL stadiums to install natural, high-quality grass? <\/p>\n The league has maintained that there is no statistical difference in injury rate on grass and turf. The league also has pointed to the climate as a limiting factor, saying the changing weather over the duration of the season provides a maintenance challenge. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re operating a league that plays across multiple seasons,\u201d said Nick Pappas, the NFL\u2019s field director for the past three years. \u201cIt starts at the end of summer and operates deep into the winter. The location of our venues is spread out across one of the biggest continents \u2014 North America is massive \u2014 and at any given time the weather is going to be different not only in Seattle, Houston, Pittsburgh, and Miami, but also from what it was when the season started.\u201d<\/p>\n The Patriots, for example, played on a natural grass field when Gillette Stadium opened<\/a> in 2002. By the end of November 2006, the team made what would become a permanent switch to turf as a result of the poor conditions during the middle of the season. <\/p>\n The key is not just installing natural grass, but maintaining a high-quality surface that can consistently meet the weekly demands of football over the course of at least five months. <\/p>\n \u201cAll of our NFL fields can perform at an excellent level for global world-class soccer,\u201d Pappas said. \u201cIt\u2019s not always the same case when you take a soccer pitch and put NFL players on it. The difference in style of play, difference in size of athletes. Sometimes a soccer field can perform well for soccer players, but when you put larger, faster athletes than the standard athletes, they may not have what they need when they go out there. Our athletes are so much bigger, faster, and stronger than they were a decade ago.\u201d <\/p>\n The turf vs. grass discussion will probably intensify when the collective bargaining agreement<\/a> expires at the end of the 2030 season. <\/p>\n If the NFLPA decides to push for all 30 stadiums to feature natural grass, then players will likely have to cede a different issue, such as an 18-game schedule<\/a>, in negotiations. Both topics will likely continue to gain steam in the coming years, especially as the NFL continues to load its schedule with games on nearly every day of the week. <\/p>\n \u201cThe owners know, \u2018All right if they want grass, and we\u2019re going to give them grass, how do we ultimately get something that we know we could have never gotten?\u2019 \u201d McCourty said. \u201cEven though it is proven, the statistics show it, the World Cup<\/a> is there, like everyone knows it\u2019s better.\u201d<\/p>\n In the meantime, the NFL announced last December that every stadium will have to meet \u201cnew enhanced standards\u201d for playing surfaces by the start of the 2028 season. The standards were developed by two tools, one that replicates the movements of NFL players and another that determines the field\u2019s firmness. <\/p>\n \u201cLargely speaking, our NFL surfaces are some of the best playing surfaces that you can turn your TV<\/a> on and see,\u201d Pappas said. <\/p>\n DENIED ENTRY<\/p>\n No supplemental draft means no Sorsby<\/p>\n The NFL announced it would not be holding a supplemental draft this year, meaning quarterback Brendan Sorsby will not be going pro in 2026. <\/p>\n The decision was an attempt to take a stand against Sorsby\u2019s gambling violations, which included thousands of bets totaling approximately $90,000 \u2014 all made during his time as an NCAA student-athlete<\/a>. Sorsby made at least 40 bets on Indiana in 2022, when he was the Hoosiers\u2019 backup QB. <\/p>\n In his letter informing Sorsby and his representation of the league\u2019s decision, Larry Ferazani, general counsel for the NFL, called out a lack of accountability. <\/p>\n \u201cThe sole reasons identified in your Petition for seeking entry into the Supplemental Draft are that you have been \u2018declared ineligible\u2019 by the NCAA, have \u2018exhausted all of [your] avenues to continue in the NCAA,\u2019 and \u2018want to now play in the NFL,\u2019 \u201d Ferazani wrote to Sorsby. \u201cThe Petition provides no information regarding the basis for, or timing of, the NCAA\u2019s decision. Public sources, however, indicate that in May 2026 the NCAA issued a determination declaring you permanently ineligible from participation in college athletics, based on a sustained pattern of improper gambling activity during your collegiate career at three different universities.\u201d <\/p>\n Sorsby had applied for the supplemental draft<\/a> after the NCAA stripped him of his eligibility. For a brief moment, it looked as though Sorsby would still have a chance to return to college after a Texas judge, Ken Curry, granted him a temporary injunction against the NCAA. But Sorsby ultimately will not suit up for Texas Tech, where he transferred after playing the past two seasons at Cincinnati, following significant backlash against Curry\u2019s decision, including Big 12 opponents threatening to cancel games in all sports. <\/p>\n With no remaining avenues to play in college, Sorsby turned to the NFL \u2014 only to be denied. The CBA does not require the league to hold the supplemental draft, let alone grant every applicant eligibility. <\/p>\n \u201cThe League does not have the complete record of the NCAA\u2019s investigation, and you did not provide any such materials with your Petition,\u201d Ferazani wrote. \u201cAvailable information nonetheless indicates that, over the course of your collegiate career, you knowingly engaged in repeated and significant violations of NCAA rules designed to preserve the integrity of athletic competition. Reported conduct includes placing wagers on your own team and teammates and, to avoid detection, establishing or funding accounts in the names of intermediaries who placed bets on your behalf. There are also reports that you may have violated state criminal law. Your Petition does not address these matters.\u201d <\/p>\n The strongly worded letter does its best to send a message, that the NFL wants to maintain the integrity of its league. Although the league is intertwined with sports betting, previously having sponsorship deals with FanDuel, DraftKings<\/a>, and Caesars, it recognized the gravity of Sorbsy\u2019s infractions and the impact of disregarding them. <\/p>\n So, what\u2019s next for Sorsby? The NFL left the door open for him to declare for the 2027 draft. Sorsby\u2019s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, indicated, though, that they plan to pursue legal action. The saga is likely far from over. <\/p>\n ETC.<\/p>\n Patriots did well to end Aiyuk pursuit<\/p>\n Two years ago, the Patriots wanted to trade for Brandon Aiyuk<\/a> before abandoning their pursuit once it became clear the 49ers wide receiver wasn\u2019t interested<\/a> in playing in New England. <\/p>\n That decision has aged well, as Aiyuk\u2019s odd behavior of late has consistently made headlines. Based on his social media activity, it appears Aiyuk is trying to force his way to the Commanders in order to play with former college teammate Jayden Daniels, Washington\u2019s quarterback<\/p>\n This past Monday, Aiyuk posted a video on Instagram of him saying repeatedly, \u201cGo Commanders! Go Commanders!\u201d Then, on Wednesday, he posted a video of him holding a football with the Commanders logo and captioned it, \u201cThe best sport in the world, the best league in the world, [and] the best team in the world.\u201d <\/p>\n It remains to be seen whether the tactics will work. <\/p>\n \u201cI think every time he opens his mouth, he damages his standing with other teams and he scares other teams from bringing him into the organization,\u201d ESPN insider Adam Schefter said on his podcast<\/a>. \u201cI just think he doesn\u2019t realize that. He thinks he\u2019s helping the situation. I don\u2019t believe that to be the case. You speak to teams, everybody is saying, \u2018What\u2019s wrong with this guy right now?\u2019 It\u2019s unsettling to watch him. It\u2019s scary to see how he\u2019s handling himself.\u201d <\/p>\n Aiyuk, who didn\u2019t play last season after suffering a torn ACL in October 2024, still has three years remaining on the four-year, $120 million extension he signed two months before the injury. San Francisco general manager John Lynch said in January it\u2019s \u201csafe to say\u201d Aiyuk has played his last snap with the organization. <\/p>\n The NFL announced the training camp sites and reporting dates for all 32 teams. Because the Patriots and Seahawks<\/a> will play in the kickoff game Wednesday, Sept. 9, they will open camp July 24, four days earlier than most teams. The Cardinals and Panthers will start the earliest, July 22, because they are scheduled to play in the annual Hall of Fame preseason game (Aug. 6) \u2026 Patriots left tackle Will Campbell<\/a> worked out in Oklahoma with a small group of other offensive linemen, including Dion Dawkins, Creed Humphrey, Lane Johnson, and Tristan Wirfs. (In the leadup to Super Bowl LX, Campbell listed Wirfs as one of his favorite left tackles in the league.) Mitchell Hopper, who won the World\u2019s Strongest Man title in 2023 and \u203226, was present, as well \u2026 England striker (and massive Tom Brady fan<\/a>) Harry Kane recently reaffirmed his interest in a foray into American football. Kane, who turns 33 in July, would like to eventually try his luck at becoming a kicker. The Cowboys\u2019 Brandon Aubrey, the NFL\u2019s highest-paid kicker, also has a soccer background, albeit far less prestigious \u2026 The league started releasing its \u201cTop 100\u201d this past week, beginning with Nos. 91-100. The list, as voted on by players, could feature several Patriots after multiple years of sparing representation. Possible names include A.J. Brown, Kevin Byard, Christian Gonzalez<\/a>, and Drake Maye. Last year, Gonzalez (No. 84) was the only Patriot included. In 2024, the Patriots were one of two teams to not have a player on the list. <\/p>\n Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com<\/a>. Follow her on X @nicolecyang<\/a>. <\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/54Q4CCOS7BATBBBZ3A47ENEB6Y.jpg\")
The Patriots practice on hybrid grass fields outside of Gillette Stadium.Jaiden Tripi\/Getty<\/p>\n![\"Brendan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/EDDAC74LEQAI42HSFXFPBBCTRI.jpg\")
Brendan Sorsby wore Texas Tech gear at a basketball game in Lubbock, but the quarterback never saw game action in a Red Raiders uniform.Annie Rice\/AP Photo\/Annie Rice<\/p>\n![\"Wide](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HMF2PWMHL7HWPXRIHZZFVMKGHI.jpg\")
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk hasn’t played for the 49ers since suffering a knee injury in October 2024.Ben VanHouten\/AP Photo\/Ben VanHouten<\/p>\n![\"Will](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/3QHPC6U6TRNR5VR7BGG526TYVI.JPG\")
Will Campbell headed to Oklahoma to work out after attending Patriots minicamp.Danielle Parhizkaran\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n