DeMaurice Smith: FedEx Field condition a 'workplace safety issue'
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said the union will explore how NFL fields are certified as ready for play.
In Seattle's wild-card win at Washington, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons suffered non-contact ACL injuries. Some blamed FedEx Field's chewed up sod, documented here by Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson.
“On occasion, we will take a look at the manner in which fields are certified,” Smith said on WTEM-AM. “Every year, what we are going to do is simply ask for all of the certifications for all of the fields on the last week of regular-season play. But the way that our player leaders and the way that this union now looks at everything, we look at it as a workplace safety issue.”
Smith continued: “If they are in a scenario where that workplace is not as safe as it could be, I can promise you that this union and this leader of players is going to weigh in and we will take whatever steps we think are appropriate in order to ensure that the National Football League is expending the resources to keep the workplace as safe as possible."
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Following the FedEx Field fiasco, the NFL said it would review its entire field policy and that it was likely to expand monitoring and enforcement standards, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reported.
Fields are reviewed 72 hours before every game. The NFLPA has asked to see the certification of FedEx Field before the Jan. 6 playoff game.
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