According to NESN, the Patriots will install a new synthetic field at Gillette Stadium. The natural-grass surface here as taken a beaten over the last seven weeks with football, soccer and concert events.

Coach Bill Belichick was asked about the sub-par condition of the field last week and here's what he had to say:

Q: Your opponents expressed some displeasure over the condition of the field, even some of your own players.

BB: It’s terrible. Yes, it's terrible.

Q: Is there anything that can be done about that between now and your next home game?

BB: I don't know. The field is in terrible condition. I don't think anybody in this organization is happy about it or thinks it’s in good condition. We’ll see what we can do about it. I can’t tell you exactly what that is. That’s the best I can do.

Q: Would playing on FieldTurf ever be a consideration?

BB: I don't know. We'll see what the options are and see what we can do. I don’t know. It’s October. It’s not like it’s peak growing season here in New England. There’s no question about it. All that being said, Jon Bengston, who does our field, I think does a tremendous job. He works hard. Our practice fields, we go out there and practice on those fields twice a day in training camp. He’s done a tremendous job with them and they’ve held up great. We’ll see what we can do.

After yesterday's practice, New England punter Josh Miller was asked what he thought if the natural grass was replaced by the fake stuff.

"If they do," he said, "kickers have no excuses."

What do most guys prefer?
"I don't know," he said. "I really don't. Sometimes you get a running back who shakes and bakes and wants a fast surface because he can't do that stuff in sand. As far as a punter, the returner now, who is a four-one guy, is no longer a four-one. He's now miserable and slow.
"When a (defense) is eight in the box and are coming to block you, they won't get a good jump, so you don't have to be as fast. When you're pooch punting, you can hit the ball, have it land on the ball land on the 2, and it may not go in the end zone because it will die right there. These are things that people don't think of, they just immediately come to our stadium and start complaining.
"I look at it as here's a guy who averages 15-yards per return and we just held him to 1. I get some good rolls with this stuff. This (grass) field is my friend."