Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has blamed FieldTurf for rookie guard David DeCastro's injury during the team's 38-7 victory over the Buffalo Bills Saturday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

"This is a great field, but it's FieldTurf, and it's just killing guys because they can't get their feet out of the ground, and it's just another reason we should get rid of FieldTurf," Roethlisberger said, referring to the NFL'S recent artificial surface.

According to NFL.com, an MRI determined that DeCastro's medial collateral ligament in his right knee has been torn and it is unknown if he will be able to return this season.

DeCastro suffered the injury on the team's second drive of the game against Bills after he tangled up with Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus on a pass play when his teammate tackle Marcus Gilbert landed on the back of DeCastro's right leg.

"Well, I just saw him, (and his) spirits are high," Roethlisberger said. "We don't obviously know -- well, I don't know what the official word is."

Roethlisberger has a basis for his claim as the NFL's Injury and Safety Panel released a study in 2010, claiming that anterior cruciate ligament injuries were 88 percent more likely to occur on FieldTurf surfaces than on natural grass fields.

"The paper is designed to stimulate further discussion, inquiry, and improvements in playing surfaces," league spokesman Greg Aiello said of the study. "It does not draw any conclusions about the cause of the injuries analyzed."

New York Jets defensive lineman Kris Jenkins echoed Roethlisberger's sentiment, saying FieldTurf is not his preference.

"I'd be interested if [the Jets] had grass on the stadium field but right now, that's the big thing and they don't," Jenkins said during the 2011 lockout. "FieldTurf, it ain't my friend. Just as far as my health is concerned, I need to think about that and how my body can and will respond. New York would be a major possibility, we'll have to see, but at this point in time, I want to take care of me, too."

In the 2010 poll, the field at the New Meadowlands used by the Jets was rated as the second-safest artificial surface in the NFLPA poll, behind the surface at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Presently, 21 NFL teams either play or practice on FieldTurf.

 

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