Turf vs Grass: NFLPA challenges Jerry Jones’ interpretation of injury statistics
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
With players so determined to raise awareness about safety concerns on artificial turf, the NFL will at some point have to respond.
They will need to address the new data that shows non-contact injury rates are about 37% higher on synthetic turf as compared to natural grass.
They will also have to address the account in Tretter’s article of at least one game played on a field that did not even pass the Clegg test. The Clegg test measures a field’s hardness to determine safety for players.
On Christmas Eve, Carolina’s field had reached the maximum level of hardness that can be measured by the instrument used for Clegg tests. The game still began as scheduled, and players reached out to the NFLPA later telling them that the field felt like concrete.
When stories like that are made public, it becomes difficult for players and fans to believe that the NFL places proper emphasis on player safety.
Based on the transcript from their most recent health and safety briefing, it seems that the NFL is at least still discussing options for improving playing surface conditions. They are examining characteristics besides hardness and considering other tests of field safety.
CHANGES AT IQVIA
As for IQVIA, it should be noted that although they are an independent organization, they are retained by the NFL.
The issues that led to the criticism of IQVIA previously mentioned seem to have de-escalated. IQVIA also adopted new corporate governance guidelines in February. There has been no public mention of whether or not the new guidelines impacted previously mentioned issues or if they affect any work the IQVIA does for or with the NFL.
Additionally, Christina Mack was promoted to the position of Chief Scientific Officer of IQVIA. Even in her previous role as Vice President of Epidemiology and Clinical Evidence of IQVIA, she was always the company’s representative during End-of-Season Health and Safety Briefings, not the previous Chief Scientific Officer.
It will be interesting to see if her new role leads to any new developments in how the NFL handles player safety or collects related data.
WHAT THE NFLPA SHOULD CONSIDER
Finally, while the NFLPA is working to increase awareness, they should also look into the aspects of this debate that directly impact decision makers: the financial bottom line and the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
In December, Forbes published an article estimating that the NFL could save approximately $1 billion by switching to natural grass. The article even quoted the revered future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in support of natural grass surfaces.
While the scope of that article was limited to cost of laying grass and the price of CTE and concussions, it should be considered at least the start of a conversation around the actual cost of mandating natural grass playing surfaces.
Ultimately, the financial impact of such a change will have to be addressed directly. There’s nothing wrong with collection the necessary information to get ahead of that issue.
Guidelines and Procedures According to the CBA
Then, there’s the issue of language in the CBA. In their recent article, the NFLPA criticized the NFL for allowing a game to commence on a field that failed the Clegg test.
In the CBA, however, there is no language saying that a game must be cancelled or delayed in such an event. The CBA establishes the formation of a Field Surface Safety and Performance Committee. It also ensures that playing surfaces will be tested.
The CBA, however, does not ensure that a game will be cancelled or delayed if the playing surface is out of compliance on game day. The CBA says that the field manager will initiate remedial measures and that the NFLPA may file a non-injury grievance.
A non-injury grievance must be filed by certified mail, fax, or electronically via pdf. And even if the NFLPA did manage to get a pdf to the correct person before the start of a game, according to the CBA, “The party to whom a Non-Injury Grievance has been presented will answer in writing by certified mail, fax, or electronically via .pdf within ten (10) days of receipt of the grievance.”
In other words, the field manager does not have to resolve the issue, they just need to take the beginning steps towards doing something. And even if a grievance is filed, it may be over a week before a response is received.
If the NFLPA wants immediate action to be taken in such situations, they will need to collect data to justify potential schedule changes. They will also have to negotiate the changes into the next CBA. Neither of these actions is a small task.
