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NFLPA head says fields much better, still can be improved

The ground crew at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium check the turf after scraping the painted logo off the center of the field before an NFL preseason football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
The ground crew at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium check the turf after scraping the painted logo off the center of the field before an NFL preseason football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) The ground crew at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium check the turf after scraping the painted logo off the center of the field before an NFL preseason football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

By Associated Press 4 min read

CINCINNATI (AP) – NFL fields have come a long way from the days of lumpy artificial surfaces, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement, the head of the players’ union said Tuesday.

Bengals offensive lineman Eric Winston said the league and the NFL Players Association need to identify trouble spots in advance. He noted that running back Reggie Bush tore a knee ligament after slipping on concrete alongside the playing field in St. Louis last season.

The annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio was called off Sunday night because paint had congealed on the field, making it hard and slippery.

“I think there’s a ton of improvement still to be made,” Winston said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Obviously there are technological advancements. I think they should apply to fields as well.”

The NFLPA and the league have formed a committee to evaluate field conditions overall. The league already has standards for game-day field conditions.