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Playing the field: How NFL surfaces rate

The NFL Players Association released its annual membership poll of the league's best and worst playing surfaces.

There are some surprising results for AFC East stadiums.

Remember when New York Giants coaches and players ripped the new Meadowlands artificial turf after Domenik Hixon blew out his knee in a June workout?

That's also the New York Jets' field. It rated second among all artificial surfaces behind Lucas Oil Stadium.

Also surprising to me was Ralph Wilson Stadium at rock bottom among the 13 artificial fields. The Buffalo Bills installed their AstroPlay turf in 2003.

Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, ranked seventh.

One more peculiar result: The Miami Dolphins' historically disliked grass field ranked sixth out of 18 natural surfaces. The Dolphins usually rate near the bottom because they play on a baseball infield until the Florida Marlins are done playing.