Xuan Thai is a senior writer and producer in ESPN’s investigative and enterprise unit. She was previously deputy bureau chief of the south region for NBC News.
Anthony Olivieri
Oct 30, 2023, 07:51 PM ET
A federal judge on Monday dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by former NFL quarterback Brett Favre against ex-NFL tight end and current ESPN personality Shannon Sharpe related to Favre’s alleged involvement in an ongoing welfare fraud case in Mississippi.
Favre had accused Sharpe of making “egregiously false” statements about him in September 2022 on the Fox Sports 1 talk show “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed.”
“Because Sharpe’s comments are constitutionally protected rhetorical hyperbole using loose, figurative language,” U.S. District Court Judge Keith Starrett wrote in a filing, “they cannot support a defamation claim as a matter of law.”
The judge also emphasized that Sharpe noted on the show that Favre had not been criminally charged. More than a year later, there remain no criminal charges against the former quarterback.
Favre is one of dozens of defendants in a Mississippi civil lawsuit seeking to recoup some of the at least $77 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds that were misspent, according to a state audit published in 2020. Eight people have been indicted, six of whom have pleaded guilty. In April, a judge ruled that Favre would remain in the civil suit. He has since demanded a jury trial.
According to the state audit and civil lawsuit, Favre was paid $1.1 million in TANF funds for speeches he did not make. Favre eventually paid the money back, but the state auditor demanded Favre also pay $228,000 in interest. In addition, the athletic foundation at Favre’s alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, received $5 million in TANF funds, according to the state audit. Text messages show Favre pushed state officials for funding for a new volleyball facility on campus during the time his daughter was on the team. Two concussion drug companies backed by Favre also received more than $2.1 million in TANF funds, according to the civil lawsuit.
Favre has denied any wrongdoing.
“The Court also acknowledges that from the reports in the public arena after government investigations, forensic audits, civil litigation, Favre’s text messages, and Favre’s own implicit admission by returning $1.1 million dollars to the State, it appears to be widely believed that the money obtained by Favre for himself and USM came from welfare funds,” Starrett wrote in his dismissal.
“Although the funds may have come from the State of Mississippi, such TANF funds were intended to go to poverty-stricken families, not to fund the construction of a college volleyball [facility].”
A representative for Favre told ESPN: “We respectfully disagree with the court’s decision. Mr. Sharpe’s statements were unquestionably false and defamatory. We are considering our options.”
A representative for Sharpe declined to comment. Sharpe later thanked his legal team in a post on social media noting the suit’s dismissal.
Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia. You can follow him via Twitter @SeifertESPN.
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Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In his 10 years with the company, Nick has led ESPN’s coverage of the Niners’ 2019 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team’s relocation and stadium saga. You can follow Nick via Twitter @nwagoner
Oct 23, 2023, 06:00 AM ET
For much of their NFL careers, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan have been the proverbial ships passing through the night. They’ll make another pass Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC), the timing once again wrong for a long-anticipated but now almost certainly unattainable reunion.
Just as Cousins, who worked with Shanahan for two seasons in Washington in 2012-13, has laid a path toward free agency and a possible exit from Minnesota the next spring, Shanahan’s 49ers have landed on what appears to be a long-term answer at the position Cousins once seemed destined to fill.
The 49ers reached out to Washington about trading for Cousins in 2017, hoping to capitalize on the connection between Shanahan and the quarterback. Speculation then moved to 2018, when Cousins was set to hit the free agent market, but by then Shanahan had acquired Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots.
In 2022, the Vikings extended Cousins’ contract and, according to multiple sources, heavily pursued a rookie quarterback from Iowa State named Brock Purdy in the final hours of the draft, hoping to sign him to a UDFA deal. Purdy told ESPN last week he was considering the 49ers, Houston Texans and Vikings if he had gone undrafted. The 49ers, however, swooped in and made Purdy the final selection of the seventh round. When the 49ers lost Garoppolo and fellow quarterback Trey Lance to injury during the season, Purdy stepped in and won the job.
Alaina Getzenberg is a staff writer who covers the Buffalo Bills and the NFL. She joined ESPN in 2021. Alaina was previously a beat reporter for the Charlotte Observer and has also worked for CBS Sports and the Dallas Morning News. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. You can follow her via Twitter @agetzenberg.
Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris has been released from a Buffalo-area hospital and has neck pain, “but otherwise is going to be fine,” a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday.
Harris was taken off the field in an ambulance and transported to the hospital after suffering a neck injury Sunday night against the New York Giants.
Coach Sean McDermott said Sunday night it was his understanding that Harris has full movement in his body and that his scans were good so far.
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“So, things are heading in a good direction right now for Damien,” McDermott said following Buffalo’s 14-9 win.
Harris was rushing the football on third-and-1 from the Buffalo 34-yard-line in the second quarter when he took a hit to the neck area into the back of Bills right guard O’Cyrus Torrence and into the arms of Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke. Harris then took steps to try to continue running as Okereke brought him to the turf.
Harris lay on the field for several minutes as medical personnel and Bills athletic trainers tended to him. The entire Bills sideline came out to surround and support him. Left tackle Dion Dawkins shared that he made sure Harris was breathing but had to then take steps away as Harris received care.
Harris gave a thumbs-up sign with his left hand from the stretcher as he was loaded into the ambulance.
The Miami Dolphins hosted the New York Giants on Sunday, one day after the Miami Hurricanes hosted Georgia Tech on the same field — in the rain — at Hard Rock Stadium. In past years, depending on the weather, that kind of doubleheader sometimes led to tough field conditions for the NFL teams.
Multiple tenants is just one of the challenges facing NFL teams as they try to ensure optimal playing surfaces.
Hard Rock Stadium is one of 15 NFL stadiums that uses natural grass, while the other 15 feature various types of synthetic turf. The grass-turf debate has heated up again in the wake of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ injury suffered in MetLife Stadium, which prompted the NFLPA to call for grass fields at all stadiums.
Here is a look at all 30 NFL stadiums — two are shared by two teams — including what surface is used, whether any changes have been made or are planned, what other events are held there and what issues may have arisen.
Jump to: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC EAST
Stadium: Highmark Stadium
Field surface: A-Turf Titan 50 (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? The Bills are building a new Highmark Stadium across the street from the current one that will have natural grass. Since the stadium opened in 1973, artificial turf (in varying forms) has been used. There are no plans to switch the field surface at the existing stadium before the new stadium opens (expected opening, 2026 season).
Field-related issues: Bills players and coach Sean McDermott have spoken in favor of natural grass when asked recently, but there have been no major recent issues with Highmark’s turf.
Other events held here: No major events during the season
Stadium owner: Erie County
— Alaina Getzenberg
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium
Field surface: Natural Bermuda grass
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? In 2019, the Dolphins acquired 80 acres of land near West Palm Beach for the primary purpose of growing their own sod. Now, South Florida Sod Farm is the sole provider of natural grass for Hard Rock Stadium.
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Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Field surface: FieldTurf (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? Last change to most advanced form of FieldTurf was in 2021
Field-related issues: Nothing lately. The Patriots installed new turf in September 2011 after complaints about the previous turf, which had been installed four months earlier, being too soft.
Other events held here: New England Revolution soccer and concerts
Stadium owner: Patriots owner Robert Kraft and family
— Mike Reiss
Stadium: MetLife Stadium
Field surface: FieldTurf Core System (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? This is the first season for the monofilament turf. It replaced slit-film turf. NFLPA president JC Tretter called for a ban on slit-film turf, citing safety concerns.
Field-related issues: Plenty with the old turf, which had been the subject of multiple complaints, including by the San Francisco 49ers after five players suffered lower-body injuries in the same game during the 2020 season. The knee injuries suffered by Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas were season-ending. Last season, the Ravens were unhappy after cornerback Kyle Fuller tore an ACL at MetLife in Week 1.
Other events held here: Aside from two professional football teams, there are college and high school football games played during the season.
Stadium owner: The Giants and Jets are co-owners
— Jordan Raanan
AFC NORTH
Stadium: M&T Bank Stadium
Field surface: Natural grass. It’s a new strain that was developed on a sod farm in North Carolina. It’s a mixture of Bermuda and rye.
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? The Ravens switched from an artificial surface in 2016. The change was made after the players made it known that they preferred grass. The Ravens use special artificial lights and lamps to keep grass growing where the field is shaded, particularly in the winter months.
Other events held here: Occasional games for Navy and the University of Maryland
Stadium owner: Maryland Stadium Authority (Ravens are under lease through at least the 2037 season)
— Jamison Hensley
Stadium: Paycor Stadium
Field surface: Synthetic turf with slit-film fibers
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? The current turf was installed in 2018.
Field-related issues: NFLPA president JC Tretter called for a ban on slit film turf, citing safety concerns.
Other events held here: Concerts, but not during the season
Stadium owner: Hamilton County. The decision on what playing surface is used is a collaborative effort between the county and the team, per the provisions of the original lease. The county pays for the playing surface replacement, which occurs every six to eight years.
— Ben Baby
Stadium: Cleveland Browns Stadium
Field surface: Natural Kentucky Bluegrass
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? No, although ownership has been talking with city leaders about a stadium renovation.
Other events held here: No.
Stadium owner: City of Cleveland
— Jake Trotter
Stadium: Acrisure Stadium
Field surface: Natural Kentucky Bluegrass
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? No.
Field-related issues: While players prefer natural grass, the field at Acrisure Stadium tends to get worn down throughout the season because the Steelers share the stadium with Pitt. There are several occasions when the college team hosts a game on Saturday, and the Steelers host a game the following day. In Week 1, several Steelers players slipped against the 49ers, but they all said the playing surface was fine. The day before, Pitt hosted Cincinnati, and it rained throughout the weekend.
Other events held here: Pitt football
Stadium owner: Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
— Brooke Pryor
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AFC SOUTH
Stadium: NRG Stadium
Field surface: Hellas Matrix Turf (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? Changed from grass in 2015
Field-related issues: There were complaints about the old grass surface, but no controversy with the turf.
Other events held here: Concerts, such as Beyonce on Sept. 23-24 when the Texans were playing in Jacksonville.
Stadium owner: Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation
— DJ Bien-Aime
Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium
Field surface: Synthetic turf with slit-film fibers
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? Slated to be changed in March 2024 to monofilament turf, which is preferable to players
Field-related issues: Lucas Oil Stadium has ranked among the playing surfaces players most dislike. The NFLPA has pushed for slit-film fields to be eliminated.
Other events held here: Numerous concerts and various football games, such as the Big Ten championship
Stadium owner: The Capital Improvement Board, a public entity that oversees the stadium and the Indiana Convention Center.
— Stephen Holder
Stadium: EverBank Stadium
Field surface: Natural Tifway 419 Bermuda grass
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? It has always been grass, and there is no thought of going to an artificial surface.
Other events held here: College games such as Florida-Georgia and the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Stadium owner: City of Jacksonville
— Michael DiRocco
Stadium: Nissan Stadium
Field surface: Matrix Helix Turf with organic infill (coconut/cork), instead of black shredded rubber (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes?Grass was used before this season.
Field-related issues: The Titans said the old grass surface was
AFC WEST
Stadium: Empower Field at Mile High
Field surface: Natural Kentucky Bluegrass
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? No. At times they’ve replaced some or all of the grass late in the season. In 2022, they replaced the grass on the entire field for the regular-season finale.
Field-related issues: The look of the grass, at times, has been an issue late in the season, but the team has routinely replaced parts, or all, of the field. The Broncos try not to play home games the same week of other events at the stadium.
Other events held here: Concerts, the state high school football championship games, World Cup-level soccer friendlies, professional lacrosse and Colorado has faced Colorado State in the annual matchup.
Stadium owner: The Metropolitan Stadium District owns the stadium, but in the agreement with the team, the Broncos own the management company that operates the stadium and schedules events. The Broncos have paid for the field replacements through the years, and the field is heated to keep the grass growing when it gets colder.
— Jeff Legwold
Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium
Field surface: Natural Bermuda grass
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? No. The turf was switched from artificial to grass in 1994 and it’s been grass ever since.
Other events held here: Concerts
Stadium owner: Jackson County, Missouri
— Adam Teicher
Stadium: Allegiant Stadium
Field surface: Natural Bermuda grass on a tray that is pulled in and out of the domed stadium with a translucent roof.
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? The stadium opened in 2020, and the Raiders used the Cardinals’ idea of a grass tray being pulled in and out of the stadium for game day. A natural grass field was a prerequisite by Raiders owner Mark Davis.
Field-related issues: It has looked beaten up late in seasons, but that’s it. The Super Bowl is coming in February.
Other events held here: Concerts, international soccer and college football. The Raiders and soccer games use grass, but all others use turf.
Stadium owner: Las Vegas Stadium Authority
— Paul Gutierrez
Stadium: SoFi Stadium
Field surface: Artificial Matrix Turf (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? No.
Field-related issues: Seattle Seahawks J.C. Jackson and DK Metcalf suffered non-contact knee injuries on the field during a Week 7 game in 2022. Jackson ruptured a patellar tendon and was out for the remainder of the season. Seattle coach Pete Carroll and many players took to social media to question the safety of turf fields.
Other events held here: Concerts, Rams games
Stadium owner: Stan Kroenke, Rams owner
— Kris Rhim
NFC EAST
Stadium: AT&T Stadium
Field surface: Hellas Matrix Turf (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes?This is the first year with the surface.
Field-related issues: When the stadium opened in 2009, some players said the surface was too hard, but there were no real issues.
Other events held here: Concerts, high school and college football games that have a different artificial surface because of the hashmarks. There are also stadium tours when fans can go on the field.
Stadium owner: The city of Arlington. Technically, the Cowboys are a tenant but they have operating control of the stadium.
— Todd Archer
MetLife upgraded its turf before this season after the previous surface — slit-film turf — was the subject of multiple complaints. AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Stadium: MetLife Stadium
Field surface: FieldTurf Core System (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? This is the first season for the monofilament turf.
Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field
Field surface: Natural Bermuda grass
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? No.
Other events held here: Temple football, concerts
Stadium owner: City of Philadelphia
— Tim McManus
Stadium: FedEx Field
Field surface: GameonGrass sod, a style of natural Bermuda grass grown in North Carolina
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? The field was renovated for the 2021 season, adding new sod, new sand and improving the drainage and irrigation system.
Field-related issues: There were plenty of issues before the sod was installed. The surface was known to be one of the worst in the NFL, leading to numerous issues, particularly from 2013-20. Former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III and Seattle defensive end Chris Clemons tore ACLs in the same January 2013 playoff game with Clemons’ agent blaming the “crappy” surface. Former Washington offensive lineman Tyler Polumbus tweeted in 2017 that the field “is a joke and a danger.”
Other events held here: Soccer matches, college football, concerts
Stadium owner: The Commanders
— John Keim
NFC NORTH
Stadium: Soldier Field
Field surface: Natural Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? Switched from Kentucky bluegrass to Bermuda grass for the first time ahead of the 2022 season.
Field-related issues: The new grass has been free of controversy, which is rare for Soldier Field. In August 2021, after an Elton John concert chopped up the grass, the Bears hosted a preseason game against Kansas City. The surface was so bad that NFLPA president JC Tretter called for the league ‘to reevaluate what is an acceptable surface.’
Other events held here: Most concerts are held during the summer months/preseason and don’t overlap with a Bears game the next day. Artist Karol G played a concert at Soldier Field on Sept. 15, the weekend the Bears were at Tampa Bay. The Chicago Fire (MLS) have a handful of games in September and October. The USWNT played South Africa on Sept. 24, when the Bears played in Kansas City.
Stadium owner: Chicago Park District
— Courtney Cronin
Stadium: Ford Field
Field surface: FieldTurf Core (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? The surfaces at Ford Field and the Allen Park practice facility were changed from slit-film turf to a monofilament field turf ahead of the 2023 season.
Field-related issues: The Lions installed the new turf after the Players Association called for a ban on slit-film turf. The monofilament is considered the most grass-like style.
Other events held here: Concerts, college football games, Monster Jam and WWE SummerSlam 2023 in August.
Stadium owner: The Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority
— Eric Woodyard
Stadium: Lambeau Field
Field surface: Natural Kentucky Bluegrass and SISGrass polyethylene fibers
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? It was changed in 2018.
Other events held here: There is not more than one — and sometimes there aren’t any — non-Packers game/practice events at Lambeau Field. The last concert was in 2019 (Paul McCartney). The last sporting event was Bayern Munich vs. Manchester City in 2022. Wisconsin and Notre Dame are scheduled to play at Lambeau in 2026.
Stadium owner: City of Green Bay and Green Bay/Brown County Professional Stadium District. The stadium is operated and maintained solely by the team.
— Rob Demovsky
Travis Kelce suffered a non-contact right ankle injury Sunday on the slit-film turf in Minnesota. It’s the type of turf the NFLPA has asked to have banned, and the Vikings will replace it next year. Kelce came back to play after the injury. AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn
Stadium: U.S. Bank Stadium
Field surface: Global Artificial Turf, Xtreme Turf UBU Speed Series S5 (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? It is slated for replacement in 2024.
Field-related issues: It’s the slit film version of artificial turf that the NFL/NFLPA data says has been a host to more injuries than grass.
Other events held here: High school football playoffs in the fall, college baseball in the winter/spring, and conventions/concerts throughout. A total of more than 200 events per year.
Stadium owner: Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, a public body and political subdivision of the State of Minnesota.
— Kevin Seifert
NFC SOUTH
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Field surface: FieldTurf’s Core Field (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? New FieldTurf was installed in 2022.
Field-related issues: One issue is the stadium is required to have grass for the World Cup in 2026.
Other events held here: The Atlanta United of the MLS, concerts and college football.
Stadium owner: The state of Georgia, but it’s run by the Arthur M. Blank Group.
— Michael Rothstein
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium
Field surface: FieldTurf (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? BOA went from having one of the best grass surfaces in the NFL to FieldTurf in mid-2021, because the stadium was set to host the Charlotte FC of the MLS and owner David Tepper wanted to host more concerts. Publicly, no plans to change it back to grass have been announced.
Field-related issues: The NFL Players Association filed a grievance against the Panthers for poor field conditions after complaints by players following a 2022 Christmas Eve game against the
Field surface: Artificial Matrix Turf (artificial)
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? No.
Field-related issues: Seattle Seahawks J.C. Jackson and DK Metcalf suffered noncontact knee injuries on the field during a Week 7 game in 2022. Jackson ruptured a patellar tendon and was out for the remainder of the season. Seattle coach Pete Carroll and many players took to social media to question the safety of turf fields.
Other events held here: Concerts, Chargers games.
Stadium owner: Stan Kroenke, Rams owner
— Kris Rhim
Stadium: Levi’s Stadium
Field surface: Natural Bermuda grass
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? No.
Field-related issues: In the first two years of the stadium — 2014-15 — there were multiple issues with the grass not providing good footing. In 2014, the field had to be resodded after the first game because the footing was poor. In 2015, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker slipped on the grass, causing him to miss a field goal. And then-Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib said the surface was “terrible” following Denver’s win in Super Bowl 50. There have been no issues in recent years, though.
Other events held here: Concerts and the occasional college football game and soccer match. Taylor Swift and Beyonce performed at Levi’s during the preseason and Ed Sheeran had a concert during Week 2.
Stadium owner: The stadium is publicly owned by the city of Santa Clara and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, and it is operated by the 49ers.
— Nick Wagoner
Stadium: Lumen Field
Field surface: FieldTurf Revolution 360
Any recent changes or plans to make changes? The Seahawks have been playing on FieldTurf since the stadium now known as Lumen Field opened in 2002. It was most recently replaced in 2016 and 2019. Lumen Field is set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will require a switch — whether temporary or permanent — to natural grass.
Other events held here: Concerts, motorcycle races (Supercross), monster truck competitions (Monster Jam), corporate events and trade shows.
Stadium owner: The Washington State Public Stadium Authority
ESPN Senior Writer