Ex-NFL star Darius Butler rips Super Bowl LVII field conditions - "Can't have that on the biggest stage"
The NFL Super Bowl was played last night and resulted in a 38-35 victory for the Kansas City Chiefs.
While the game lived up to expectations despite some controversial calls, one of the biggest complaints about the Super Bowl was the pitch.
This playing surface is just a mess. These players deserve so much better.
According to SportsIllustrated.com, the league spent over $800,000 preparing for the field, all for it to be a complete disaster. Via SI:
"The playing surface itself is grass that was grown locally at a sod farm in Phoenix. It was installed two weeks ago and was over $800,000, according to Joe Pompliano. Additionally, the grass has been carefully manicured and rolled out each morning for the last two weeks to daily sunshine."
The NFL has spent two years preparing the grass for tonight's field at the Super Bowl.
The grass was grown at a local sod farm in Phoenix.
It was installed two weeks ago, and the field has been rolled out each morning for daily sunshine.
Total cost = $800,000 https://t.co/Um8zZala2O
Former NFL defensive back Darius Butler joined the "Up & Adams" show with Kay Adams and criticized the field conditions:
"You can't have it. It definitely impacts the game. You heard guys talking about a feeling like an ice rink almost out there. And then you see everybody talking about $800,000 and they did all this special thing.
"It was just as bad. The middle of the field, the paint. Even the regular grass, it was just bad to see. You can't have that on the biggest stage in the biggest games. And it's been a lot of conversation obviously, as well about field conditions with players player safety, etc, etc. So that was again, not an excuse that you can really use."
: @FanDuelTV | @heykayadams“You can’t have that on the biggest stage, in the biggest games…”
@DariusJButler on #SBLVII field conditions
📺: @FanDuelTV | @heykayadams https://t.co/6DYXWLtGTw
Both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs complained about the Super Bowl's field conditions
The NFL was criticized by many for the conditions. Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata explained the feeling as playing on a slippery water park.
“It was like playing on a water park."
Update: #Eagles LT Jordan Mailata says the field in Arizona was “terrible” via @JimmyKempski
“It was like playing on a water park.” https://t.co/ymzJaskvPh
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid blamed the field conditions for Harrison Butker and Trent McDuffie's injuries:
"The turf picked up, and I would tell you that did have something to do with it."
Asked Andy Reid about the turf situation in Arizona:"It was part of the Butker injury and the McDuffie injury. Unfortunately, that was part of it. The turf picked up. I would tell you that did have something to do with it. If it didn’t, I’d tell you that too."
Many players were slipping, falling, and placing wrongly, due to the way the grass was on the field.
We will see if the NFL takes a different approach going forward, especially for the biggest game in all of football.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Up and Adams, Sports Illustrated and H/T Sportskeeda.