NFL, NFLPA continue to monitor field conditions in Rio - ESPN

Field experts for the NFL and the NFL Players Association have been in Brazil for days to monitor the playing surface at Maracanã Stadium, NFLPA executive director JC Tretter said in a lengthy statement on Friday.

The Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens are playing Sunday in the NFL's first game in Rio de Janeiro.

«Based on our experts' assessment, the field needed better traction and stability,» Tretter said in a statement on Friday. «They recommended reinforced stitching to help the surface hold together and brought in equipment to reinforce as much of the field as possible before the game. Our experts will remain engaged and continue evaluating conditions through kickoff.»

Hoje, o gramado do Maracanã está recebendo a aplicação de fibra com a utilização da GrassMaster Stitch Machine.

O procedimento, realizado como reforço estrutural para o gramado, consiste em uma sobrecostura, aumentando a resistência e a segurança do campo. pic.twitter.com/9snmDUcx4l

NFL field director Nick Pappas told ESPN on Monday that the league has not had conversations about relocating the game. Pappas acknowledged there have been challenges after a record rainfall in Rio de Janeiro over the past six weeks but added, «nothing that we're not capable of managing.»

The Cowboys and Ravens both flew to Brazil on Thursday night and are practicing there on Friday afternoon. The teams will get their first look at the stadium's playing surface on Saturday when they conduct walk-throughs.

«The concern heading into this week was that the field would be loose, patchy, and lead to excessive slipping,» Tretter said. «Those conditions are generally more of a playability and performance issue than a significant injury concern. But safety isn't the only