The NFL Players Association is making a strong push for natural grass fields, but whether they'll succeed remains to be seen. Here's what players are saying—and why it matters for the game.

In a recent appearance on the "Not Just Football" podcast with Cam Heyward, NFLPA executive director JC Tretter laid out the case for grass over turf. "What we want is good grass fields. Good, solid fields," Tretter explained. "You don't just want to pull out the municipal golf course grass. On every field, you want high-quality surfaces."

The numbers tell a compelling story. According to Tretter, a poll of 1,700 players revealed that 92 percent prefer grass over artificial turf. That's an overwhelming majority, though it raises the question: who's in the eight percent? It might be kickers and punters, or as NBC Sports' Chris Simms suggested, younger players who still have plenty of tread on their tires and want maximum speed. But as any veteran knows, that preference tends to change once you've logged a few seasons of NFL wear and tear.

"There is something about the feeling of being on grass—the body feels different," Tretter said. "If you ask the coaches, just standing on grass vs. standing on turf for three hours feels different. There is something there that impacts the body."

The NFL has pointed to injury data showing similar rates on both surfaces. But players argue that the general aches and pains from playing on fake grass don't count as injuries. The concern is that the accumulated pounding—the way forces players create ricochet back into their bodies—can set the stage for injuries on any surface.

For now, this is a negotiation point. Owners prefer artificial turf because it's cheaper and makes it easier to host other events. But with 92 percent of players united on this issue—from the aches in their joints to the feel under their cleats—the push for grass isn't going away anytime soon.