Bristol, CT, United States (AHN) – The NFLPA is not crazy about a proposed 18-game schedule by the league, but according to reports they may be willing to go along if some concessions are made.
According to a report on ESPN.com, the NFL Players Association made what it says is a “good-faith” counterproposal.
According to sources cited in the report, the union’s counterproposal includes reduced voluntary offseason workouts and a specific number of helmetless and padless practices during training camp.
Other potential bargaining points in the counterproposal include two in-season bye weeks, expanded rosters from the current 53 to 56 or 57, in addition to practice squads and increased prorated salaries for players under contract.
According to the report an NFL spokesman said the league would not have a comment on the union’s counterproposal, which was delivered to the league’s labor negotiation team near the end of October.
It has not received a response from management.
The owners will have their monthly labor meeting in mid-December in the Dallas area.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has stated that while there have been discussions, little progress has been made as both sides have prepared for a potential work stoppage in 2011.
“We have responded to every one of the league’s proposals and concerns in an effort to keep negotiations progressing in good faith,” said George Atallah, the NFLPA’s assistant executive director of external affairs. “There are obvious concerns about an 18-game season in the absence of real information that we await.”
The NFL’s proposal for an 18-game regular season remains unavailable but sources said the league has called for a reduction from 14 weeks on voluntary workouts to 12.
The union’s five-week proposal is a stark contrast, although the NFLPA will allow for rookie exceptions as first-year players are integrated into the league.
The NFL also has proposed one bye week after the second of two preseason games in addition to one bye in-season, the sources added. The union wants both byes to be in-season.
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