NFL players have big plans when it comes to the next collective bargaining agreement: They don't just want a better deal; they want to fundamentally change the power structure in the NFL.
"Really this negotiation is about, 'How do we move from the position of ownership and players to partners in the business of football?'" Philadelphia Eagles safety and NFLPA player rep Malcolm Jenkins said. "That's how we see it. We play; they provide the field. Within the business of football, we should be partners."
For such a seismic shift to occur, and for the players to secure the things they want -- from a larger slice of the revenue to improved long-term health care to more substantive contracts -- the NFLPA needs considerable leverage as it continues negotiations toward a 2021 CBA.