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Jets' Aaron Rodgers Defends MetLife Turf: Other Places 'Are S--tholes' in Comparison

Tyler Conway

Opposing players may not like playing at MetLife Stadium, but Aaron Rodgers is pushing back at the notion it's one of the worst in the NFL.

"There's a lot worse places than MetLife, I can promise that. I don't know who was doing the poll, I don't remember if I got asked any of those questions. But I could give you a lot of stadiums that are s--tholes comparatively," Rodgers said Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show.

NFL players ranked MetLife among the worst facilities in the league in a poll conducted by The Athletic.

Rodgers is one of several prominent players recovering from a torn Achilles suffered this season. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins, Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White are also among the prominent names to suffer the injury, which can be catastrophic for players' careers.

Phillips' injury happened Friday while playing the Jets at MetLife Stadium.

"You saw what happened to [Aaron] Rodgers," Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert told reporters. "Very first game in the first series. It just sucks. ... We've got to do something about this turf and this playing surface. Obviously it's still a major problem. ... Something has to change."

MetLife changed its playing surface this offseason to Field Turf, which is purportedly safer for players than older artificial surfaces.

Players have increasingly pushed for natural playing surfaces to be the standard across all stadiums.

"I am a firm believer of grass. In the position I play, I would prefer playing on grass any day," 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel told Sports Seriously in September.

Forbes estimated it would cost NFL teams just $11.9 million to replace artificial surfaces with natural grass to make grass uniform throughout the league.

   

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