The NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed on new standards for playing surfaces. Although the new approach counts as progress in the effort to give football players the best possible workplaces, the NFLPA wants more.

“While our player members have been clear about their overwhelming preference for high-quality, natural grass surfaces, we’re encouraged that their demands for more consistent and safer fields across the board are taking a step in the right direction,” the NFLPA said Thursday, after the league announced the change during a media conference call. “We look forward to continuing this work with the NFL on behalf of our player members.”

The league clings to the notion that non-contact injury rates are not significantly different between grass and artificial turf. Player

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