B/R AM: NFL's Fix For Turf Injuries

According to ESPN, the NFL spent the 2023 season deploying 'a mobile machine' at various NFL stadiums to test the quality of different playing surfaces.

It's called the BEAST.

The Biomechanical Elite Athlete Shoe-Turf Tester has a 'cleat plate' which lowers into a field's surface and measures different variables including 'slipperiness.'

• The data is being analyzed now, according to ESPN. Changes will be considered after another year of data collection.  

The investment in turf research comes amid steady anger from players about quality and inconsistency in playing surfaces.

• MetLife Stadium in particular has been called out for switching to grass for soccer games but staying with turf for NFL games. 

HEADLINES

➤ Bills go on cost-cutting spree

➤ Mike Evans' deal had assurance

➤ Jason Kelce's tribute to trainer

➤ New LeBron poster just dropped

➤ Saban: NIL factored in retiring

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

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🏀 NBA Thursday

• MIN at IND (7 PM ET)
• MIA at DAL (TNT, 7:30 PM ET)
• BOS at DEN (TNT, 10 PM ET)

⚾ Spring Training

• ATL vs. BOS (ESPN, 1:05 PM ET)
• Full schedule here

ONE LAST THING

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Duke landed another elite prospect in 7'2" big man Khaman Maluach on Wednesday. The Blue Devils now have five five-stars, the No. 1 recruiting class for next season, and the No. 1 player in Cooper Flagg.