Philadelphia (AP) - A carpet-cleaning company was brought in to steam-clean the artificial turf at Veterans Stadium after the Philadelphia Eagles complained that the dirty surface made the ball too slippery.

Coach Andy Reid and several players complained the ball was slick during last Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Reid said after the game that the substance used to thaw the field had made the ball difficult to hold onto and throw.

Team officials claimed that calcium chloride, a substance that supposedly leaves an oily residue, was put on the field. After steam-cleaning the turf on Wednesday, the city planned to paint the field Thursday and put a tarp over it.