Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott called it spray-painted dirt. Teammate Ray Lewis simply said it was terrible.
Even though it opened justfive years ago, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and its grass turf (and some say to use that term loosely) have been widely criticized as a glorified playground lot, with a smattering of green.
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As the Ravens head to Heinz Field to face the Steelers Sunday, they seem keenly aware of the less-than-comfy nature of the turf.
“They feel very good about their surface being in the condition that it?s in,” Ravens head coach Brian Billick said. “They feel like that?s an advantage, and they play to that advantage. So [you face] the great crowd and the field and having to be on the road late in the year and all the things.”
Heinz Field also is the home of the University of Pittsburgh?s football team, as well as state high school championships. In short, it takes a pounding and the Steelers don?t seem worried about.
The sharpest critic of the field this week was Lewis. When talking about Heinz, the middle linebacker even expressed his frustrations with the synthetic Momentum Turf at the Ravens? M&T Bank Stadium.
“It?s not a good field,” the 11-year veteran said of Heinz. “That?s no secret. Everybody knows that. It?s just a terrible field. The grass is always up. You?re playing on dirt ? you are playing on dirt, bottom line. You?ve got to deal with it.”
Switching his thoughts to M&T Bank Stadium?s turf, Lewis said a grass surface is superior.
“When you start getting away from natural grass,” Lewis said, “you?re always going to have a problem ? definitely with today?s athletes coming up, because you?ve got too much speed and too much power, trying to slow down and trying to control themselves.”
One tough playoff ticket: The Ravens are in the playoffs as the AFC North Division champion, but they do not know their first opponent.
That hasn?t stopped season ticket holders from gobbling up tickets for two potential playoff games. The Ravens will sell theremaining 500 to 1,000 tickets today on ticketmaster.com at 10 a.m. with a two-ticket limit. Fans can also call 410-547-7328 or 1-800-551-7328.
