nfl: Redskins will not go to field turf in 2013

[redskindan07]

I wouldn't send RG3 back on that field until it has been fixed

[PortisBetts]

No turf, but dear god, get some grass and not painted dirt. Figure something out. I love the natural feel of grass and the stains on the jerseys. Makes feel more real if that makes any sense.

[HighOnHendrix]

No turf, but dear god, get some grass and not painted dirt. Figure something out. I love the natural feel of grass and the stains on the jerseys. Makes feel more real if that makes any sense.

I really think one of the hybrid surfaces would be a good fit for us. But yeah, the painted dirt is inexcusable. Especially when our offense is built on guys with speed to burn. But whatever. I'd take field turf at this point, anything but what we saw in December/January. Just not traditional astroturf, that's garbage.

[DeadExField]

Nothing is wrong with REAL grass. As long as it is maintained for on a regular basis.

[lavar1156]

Shanny said they could have re-sodded after the Ravens game but decided not to. Obviously the wrong move. And Bruce Allen basically said the same thing.

[skins2victory]

Still fighting the cap.... Love it!!!! HTTR

[HighOnHendrix]

Nothing is wrong with REAL grass. As long as it is maintained for on a regular basis.

Shanny said they could have re-sodded after the Ravens game but decided not to. Obviously the wrong move. And Bruce Allen basically said the same thing.

The hybrid systems like GrassMaster make maintenance easier and re-sodding unnecessary.

[MartinC]

Good. Nothing wrong with old fashioned turf and even a bit of mud from time to time as the weather dictates. Just get the maintenance right.

[HighOnHendrix]

Good. Nothing wrong with old fashioned turf and even a bit of mud from time to time as the weather dictates. Just get the maintenance right.

I'd like to agree with that but they have never have gotten it just right. We had painted dirt for our last Super Bowl run in 1991. It was ok then b/c we had the Hogs and a different style of play then; giving guys like RGIII, Garcon, and AlMo anything less than optimal footing is hurting our offence for eight games a year.

[MartinC]

I'd like to agree with that but they have never have gotten it just right. We had painted dirt for our last Super Bowl run in 1991. It was ok then b/c we had the Hogs and a different style of play then; giving guys like RGIII, Garcon, and AlMo anything less than optimal footing is hurting our offence for eight games a year.

Places like Green Bay manage to get the turf in pretty good shape with more extreme weather than we have in DC. I see soccer pitches in the UK which are all turf kept in great condition compared with 20 years ago in a pretty damp climate. I assume its the events they have at FedEx which cause the problems but even then its not impossible to keep a normal turf field in good shape. All things being equal I think football should be played on grass - its better for the athletes - but if you are playing on grass you owe it to the players to provide a decent surface.

[Stugein]

I like natural grass. So long as we start maintaining it properly and stop holding concerts and crap on it DURING THE SEASON.

[GatorEye]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...redskins-name/

Allen also said that field turf is not a possible solution to the sometimes poor condition of the playing surface at FedEx Field. But he acknowledged that the Redskins missed an opportunity to re-sod the field just before their Week 10 bye and would not make that mistake again.

The emphasis is mine not theirs. My question is what was his exact wording and meaning. Does he mean field turf is not a possible solution this year or it's not possible ever.

I'm not sure resoding every year during the season is a viable solution. What happens when we get a bye week in week 4 which may be too early to make a difference. I'm really hoping he means that they will just attempt to resod during the season this year while they take time to explore their long term options.

I'm not a sod expert but I do have bermuda in my yard and I don't see how resoding late in the year when it's dormant in colder climates will give it a chance to root and be viable.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Nothing is wrong with REAL grass. As long as it is maintained for on a regular basis.

Exactly.

The Redskins don't have to agree to get artificial turf to fix the field. They simply need to commit to keeping the turf in good condition.

[KDawg]

I love football tradition. I'm beyond excited that the Super Bowl is going to be played outdoors in February in New York City. I think the crowd will be awesome there, because you're going to get some tougher, louder folks at that game due to the weather situation. It's great.

Having said that, slowing the other team down ALSO slows your team down. Furthermore, with all the advances in technology, there's not a whole lot of reason not to switch to field turf. It costs more at the outset, but it pays for itself in terms of maintenence. Furthermore, the Redskins like to have college games played on that field, which beats it up quite a bit when its grass. With all of the use that field gets, having it remain grass is just not a good idea. When grass fields get torn up, injuries occur. Divots can be brutal. I see kids twist their ankles all the time on our fields, and we've had one MCL tear due to the poor field. Foot in a divot, torn.

In professional football, as much as it sucks as a traditionalist to say, you have to product your brand, and the leagues brand. Losing players to injury, ESPECIALLY ones that may have been able to be avoided due to the field conditions is a very poor marketing plan. The NFL is NOT just about football, it's also a business.

[Voice_of_Reason]

I like that part also.

I hope we keep natural grass. I am a traditionalist when it comes to our field.

I agree, but they have to figure out how to make the field better in the cold weather. It doesn't seem like they have the same problem in Green Bay or Chicago, which both have natural grass fields, I believe.

There has to be a way to fix this. Maybe the re-sodding mid-year will do the trick. If not, suggestion: put a greenhouse style retractable roof on the damn thing and grow it indoors. (that was a joke.)