In an effort to stay off decertification from the players union, NFL owners made one last proposal Friday afternoon at the federally mediated labor negotiation sessions.
Among the concessions made by owners in said proposal was to stay with the current 16-game format through the 2012 season.
Owners also agreed to fund an additional $82 million to support benefits to former players over the next two seasons.
In addition, current NFL players would be given the option to remain in the player medical plan for life.
As for the highly contested rookie wage scale, the NFL proposed an entry level compensation system based on the union’s proposal for a “rookie cap.” Players taken in rounds 2-7 “would be paid the same or more than they are paid today,” according to the NFL.
Financially, the owners agreed to the union’s proposed salary cap of $161 million for 2014 and agreed that each team must spend a minimum of 90-percent of the cap over three seasons.
