The NFL Players Association expressed concerns about field conditions at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro ahead of Sunday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. Union executive director JC Tretter said Friday the issues are primarily about performance and playability for athletes, not significant injury risk.
Tretter wrote that "growth alone cannot be the goal" as the NFL expands its international schedule, emphasizing player health as the union's priority. The NFLPA's specific concern was that the field would be "loose, patchy, and lead to excessive slipping."
Union field experts on site in Brazil recommended reinforced stitching to help the playing surface hold together and brought equipment to reinforce as much of the field as possible before kickoff. They will continue evaluating conditions through Sunday.
NFL field director Nick Pappas told Front Office Sports on Monday from Brazil that he had "full confidence" his staff would prepare the field. Pappas attributed the problems to heavy recent rainfall. A video posted Thursday by Maracanã Stadium's social media account showed a GrassMaster Stitch Machine performing structural reinforcement on the pitch.
Both the Cowboys and Ravens arrived in Brazil on Friday morning. This contest is the second of nine international games the NFL scheduled for the current season. The collective bargaining agreement allows the league to schedule up to 10 international games annually. Exceeding that number requires negotiation with the NFLPA. The league and team owners have indicated an intent to eventually play 16 international games in a season.
Tretter said he was confident in the players: "Our guys are exceptional at what they do, and I'm confident they'll put on a terrific game in Rio this week. They always do." But he added, "We owe it to them to provide the best possible opportunity to succeed. Players can overcome a lot. But they shouldn't have to overcome the field."
