Torrey Smith: Heinz grass is 'terrible'

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- With heavy rain expected for Saturday's AFC wild-card game, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith expressed concern over the playing surface at Heinz Field.

"It's terrible. They need to go ahead and put some turf up there or something," Smith said Thursday. "Apparently the field gets a lot of use. That's good for them [as a business], but it's terrible for us [as players on both teams] playing this late [in the season]. I'm sure they'll do a great job prepping it."

Heinz Field has been ranked as the worst grass field in the NFL in the two most recent player surveys. The stadium, which opened in 2001, also hosts University of Pittsburgh and high school playoff games. The field tends to get easily torn up and often must be resodded.

Bad weather is expected to make the conditions even sloppier. The forecast calls for 100 percent chance of rain, and the most significant rainfall is expected to come right before kickoff.

Asked whether the weather will affect the Ravens' game plan, coach John Harbaugh said, "I think we've got the contingencies built in. We just have to see how the game plays out. I like to think our schemes are weatherproof."