With every tweet, synopsis, and video that argued, re-argued, and refuted the question of whether officials should be celebrating the defensive hold that definitely took place at the end of Super Bowl LVII, those running the NFL had to smile. .
They were smiling, not because they were enjoying yet another refereeing argument, but because the overblown hype about whether a delay should have been called when a delay actually occurred served as the perfect cover for the reality that the field was an embarrassment to the Big Shield and everyone who associated with him.
How did this not become the main topic of discussion after the release of the game? For Pete Rozelle, this is the Super Bowl. America’s premier sporting event. A game that is becoming more and more relevant every year around the world.
And the field was bad. Whatever the exact reason, the players constantly slipped from start to finish.
The NFL, as it always does when there are problems with the field, denied that there were problems with the field.
“State Farm Stadium’s turf met the required standards of natural turf maintenance under NFL policy,” the league said earlier in the week, dusting off the same old, spinning van, it’s okay, two The “plus two equals five” statement, which issued whenever our deceitful eyes begin to act up. “The natural grass surface was tested throughout Super Bowl week and complied with all mandatory NFL rules.”
By Monday afternoon Alma mater Andy Bernard sent out an email from Frank Rossi, assistant professor and grass care expert, who explained that surface characteristics are not determined by the type of grass, but by “the environment – an indoor, low-light stadium, mostly indoors.” . . on the grass, which usually moves from the outside and then returns to the inside.” Rossi added that “this environment can lead to more moisture at field level, and with minimal air movement, the surface can become smooth.”
To be honest, I don’t care if it was the grass, the environment, or whatever. It’s not for me to decide. None of us can handle this. The NFL needs to handle this, and the NFL needs to handle it well.
This is a pass-fail offer. Either grass works well or it doesn’t. It didn’t happen on Sunday. Despite all the corporate PR outings from 345 Park Avenue, the league failed.
To his credit, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman repeatedly said on Thursday that conditions are the same for both teams. But this overlooks the fact that, to the extent that the slippery surface neutralized the corresponding passes, it hurt the Eagles more than the Chiefs.
This is a real problem. The playing surface counterbalanced what should have been an advantage for the Eagles, who ended up bagless after repeatedly swarming quarterbacks throughout the year.
The broader problem is that we all know the pitch wasn’t good enough. Not even close. Another problem is that if you don’t give it much thought, there is a chance that it will happen again.
If we don’t all make it clear that the outcome was unacceptable, it may be acceptable again. Why not? If the league isn’t properly penalized for hosting the Super Bowl on a shitty field, where’s the incentive to keep it from happening at the next Super Bowl? Or next? Or next?
Source: profootballtalk.nbcsports.com
