this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2023
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NFL just posted a job opening for a Senior Director of Field Research and Stadium Projects.

Job Description

The Sr. Director of Fields, Field Research and Stadium Projects will lead and be on-site for all neutral site games to oversee all field-related planning and will liaise with member clubs to maintain high standards of excellence of field surface. This individual will lead all surface research, whether natural or synthetic, manage consultant experts as well as direct engagement with manufacturers, other sports leagues and the 32 clubs. In addition, this individual will collaborate on internal processes, project management, stadium and game day preparations, and issue tracking/reporting.

Responsibilities:

Field Research Workstreams and Committees

  • Liaise with Health & Safety, as well as 3rd party consultants, on improved testing/tracking options and protocols
  • Oversee NFL-NFLPA Joint Mandatory Practices for fields/playing surfaces and liaise with Management Council on updates/modifications
  • Joint Surface Committee research and support
  • Lead team responsible for overseeing and executing field maintenance plans during Halftime rehearsals at Super Bowl

International & Neutral Site Games

  • Lead field surface project plans for practice and game fields for all Neutral Site Games (International Series, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl, etc.) to ensure consistency across all games.
  • Procure and facilitate storage of all necessary equipment and tools for field preparation (e.g., paint machines, blowers, mowers, grow lights, field and bench area tarps, grow blankets, etc.)
  • Maintain and manage field equipment warehouse inventory and shipping for all neutral site and international games
  • Oversee League-hired grounds crew for all Neutral Site Games including scheduling, communications, onboarding paperwork, travel, housing, etc.
  • Oversee budget for all field projects
  • Identify, source and oversee any ancillary support required (e.g., fertilizer, sand, specialty equipment).
  • Lead efforts with Sod Farms for all neutral site games

Stadium Operations & Game Day Support

  • Primary responsibility for sharing turf/field research with clubs to aid them in field selection, replacement, preparation etc. This includes practice surfaces as well
  • Part of a team that Liaises with 32 Club Field mangers to ensure day-to-day compliance with field policies & best practices
  • Visit and review all new field installs, field issues/concerns, oversee compliance with NFL-NFLPA CBA/Joint Mandatory Practices
  • Advise Clubs that have new stadium projects and/or renovation plans on field surfaces, best practices, field dimensions, etc. and conduct on-site walkthroughs during construction phases to ensure construction details comply with the renderings
  • Review and edit relevant sections of the Game Ops manual.
  • Attend periodic in-person meetings, including the Combine, Field Managers meeting, etc.
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[–] Much-Consequence8648@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

1/4 of the starting QBs have had serious injuries so its worth the money.

[–] Hashashiyyin@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

That's also assuming the same injury wouldn't happen on grass. Rodgers was likely injured due to being a 40 year old and having a 240lb+ DE land on him. I'm all for doing whatever is safest/makes the most sense, but we can't pretend like there aren't plenty of injuries on grass too.

[–] SiphenPrax@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can they burn MetLife Stadium to the ground too?

[–] aaaaahahahaha@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

No but you can do your part.

[–] _HGCenty@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (5 children)

r/NFL won't like this but there is no good answer here.

Grass is not a cure all - it reduces certain types of injuries but it increases the chance of other types of injuries. And the condition of the grass also matters.

Maybe I'm also biased as a Seahawks fan, who knows the graveyard for our players is Glendale, a grass stadium.

[–] colin_7@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

It’s not but it’s a fact that artificial turf is worse than grass

https://apnews.com/article/79212f5443cd2a0d30fe8c9d981b13c0

[–] Sdog1981@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It rains all the time up here. A grass field would be a mud pit half the season.

Also let’s not get into the grass getting killed by all the other events these stadiums host.

[–] Polar_Reflection@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Bro think about how much it rains in the UK (hint, the entire country averages more rain than Seattle). It's a piss poor excuse.

[–] Jammer_Kenneth@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah, 160 pound track runners jogging after a ball is the exact same amount of wear and tear as 100 snaps of OL vs DL 600 pound collisions in the middle of the field. Exact same scenarios.

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[–] Sammmyy97@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] Gyakudo@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We tried this with the Kingdome, arguably shorten the career of one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Ken Griffey Jr.

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[–] TigerXXVII@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

St. Louis had concrete around the field for a long time when Rams were there.

Reggie Bush slipped on it, hurt his knee and sued.

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[–] RandoRumpRipper@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Maybe they should take a good look at betting lines vs. refs.

[–] TheFlyingWriter@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I mow my lawn occasionally. I’m totally qualified and I applied.

[–] callmeJudge767@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Did Ed Mangan quit? He’s the Director responsible for the ice rink at last year’s SB in Phoenix. George Toma put him on blast after the game.

[–] SoKrat3s@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sodfather George Toma Sets the Record Straight on Superbowl Scandal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nP5r5xFnJs

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[–] SoKrat3s@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I nominate Nick Bosa.

"Grass good, use grass."

[–] fieryscribe@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

If they don't issue a report entitled "The grass isn't always greener", I'm going to be so mad

[–] SockVonPuppet@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I want Goodell Honey-I-Shrunk-the-Kids'd, thrown onto a turf-and-grass checkerboard field, and made to find his way home.

I would watch that show.

[–] Tashre@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

They should just have reddit scientists do the study.

[–] el_monstruo@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

And then not do shit

[–] cuntyminx@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

What did we find? CTE

[–] boomosaur@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Oh god the ruling is gonna stand because not enough evidence to reverse the call.

[–] cake_piss_can@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

That’ll be about as exciting as watching grass grow.

[–] machuitzil@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

And I will be taking a deep swipe through my ass crack to compare clean hand vs paper.

Grass is expensive. Hard to have grass game-worthy the morning after a Ke$ha concert. Player safety is a secondary concern.

And let's be honest, a stadium purely devoted to one sport that has 8, maybe 9 events per year unless maybe your team doesn't suck and then you get one or two more, is going to have trouble turning a profit.

I understand the cost-saving efforts that a responsible business owner must undergo -but it also clearly demonstrates a clear and total lack of respect or priority for player safety.

[–] abs0lutelypathetic@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago
[–] GMFPs_sweat_towel@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think people will be disappointed by this study unless it provides definitive results. Injuries have such a wide scope a a playing surface that is better for lower leg injuries might be worse for something like head injuries.

[–] Myke190@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Shit is a farce bro. Why do they need to hire some expert when you can ask literally every player and coach what their opinion is, and there be a unanimous decision for grass, if not for the league to try and tell us the players are wrong?

[–] JiveChicken00@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

And it only took 30 years after Wendell Davis.

[–] bwburke94@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There is no reason to ban artificial turf. We aren't playing on the OG glorified carpet anymore.

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[–] NeckPourConnoisseur@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

What about referees influencing second half betting lines?

[–] NorthDakotaFat@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Doesn't everyone already play on turf?

The bears I thought were the last ones to play on pure grass not the genetically altered hybrid that's basically turf

[–] UniqueNobo@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

give me that job, it’ll be open and shut.

metlife turf is garbage, force everybody to change to grass. oh no, it costs too much?

you fuckers are multi millionaires, some of you are billionaires. cry me a river about how it costs too much.

[–] Dorkamundo@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Yea, but HOW?

Are they going to offer grants for NFL stadiums that are indoors to do what they do in AZ? Lighting etc?

[–] colin_7@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Better late than never, but something should’ve been done years ago. Players have been complaining about FedEx Field and MetLife for a very long time

There needs to be some sort of standard when it comes to playing surfaces. Way too many career altering injuries have been caused by issues with turf

[–] KULawHawk@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Big turf says no

[–] BearManUnicorn@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Usually you can tell by touching it

[–] kopecs@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I mean, the long term data is already there so

[–] curgl@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

“Yep that’s grass! Oh my god that’s turf! Check complete”

[–] temp1211241@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

For financial reasons they'll find the same "the cheaper for the owners result is fine" they have in the past, regardless of what other external researchers show.

[–] Robusto923@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Damn that honestly sounds like a lot of responsibility for one person

[–] getridofwires@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Hopeful that this will lead to improved surfaces and fewer injuries.

[–] DigOlBick99@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Gee thanks!

[–] ReflectionItchy2701@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

There's a reason nobody has turf in Football, sorry Soccer.

[–] AutographedSnorkel@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Nobody seemed to bring up the turf vs grass argument when players were suffering season injuries on grass fields this year.

Turf field = more opportunities for non NFL related events. That's pretty much what it boils down too

[–] ComicsEtAl@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

“Commissioner, I’ve finalized my report.”

“And?”

“Turns out, converting to grass fields will…”

“Yes? Out with it man!”

“Well, sir, it will cost money.”

“WHAT?!”

“Yessir. But we do believe simple threats to relocate teams will result in the appropriate 100% city and state funding for the conversions so we believe we should get started.”

“Oh, right, of course. Good work. Carry on.”

[–] Swordswoman@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

The NFL has already funded studies that showed the following two results:

  1. In terms of only quantity, injuries are vaguely equal when playing on turf vs. grass.
  2. In terms of types of injuries, grass sees more "football type" injuries (e.g. contusions, bruises, sprains, fractures, etc.), while turf sees significantly more "ACL-type" injuries with torn or ruptured ligaments.

The safety of turf is real - it's not too different from grass in many areas. But even the NFL has determined that ligament injuries are WAAAAAAAY more likely to happen on turf. That is also a major downside with turf, it's not a perceived weakness of the terrain, it's a REAL weakness of the terrain.

[–] SteveMidnight@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Anecdotal but I tore my ACL three different times on grass. Played two seasons of football on primarily turf and never had an issue. I don’t blame grass, though. I think there were many other factors.

[–] imrickjamesbioch@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I played (jc) football on turf and can say I absolutely hated it. Especially during the summer during two a days where the field added like 10-15 degrees in an area where temps would reach triple digits. An I play during a time where there wasn’t all these safety protocols and water breaks were more of a reward than mandatory.

Anyway, for me it just felt like playing on concrete with a rubbery carpet on top. Nothing was worst on the football field than a fat man hitting you and then you hitting concrete with a fat man landing on top of you… I can’t imagine what it must feel like to get hit by these monsters in the NFL that weigh 280-300#’s and can run a 4.5-4.8 40-yard dash.

[–] Alarmed-Flan-1346@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Seriously! At my high school (not even a football school) the turf was so much better than ford fields. Not even close. I know this from doing marching band and marching on both.

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