WASHINGTON — The NFL and its players’ union discussed a proposal to change to an 18-game regular season during a bargaining session Tuesday.
The league and the NFL Players Association issued a joint statement about the meeting, saying that negotiations “focused on several matters,” including the longer regular season, a rookie wage scale and improvements for retired players.
“Both sides look forward to continuing these discussions and reaching a new collective bargaining agreement,” the statement said.
League owners and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell want to expand the regular season from 16 games to 18, and cut the preseason from four games to two. Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said Monday he thinks such a switch is a “fait accompli,” basically meaning the deal has been decided on.
Goodell has pointed out that the league does not need approval from the players in order to extend the regular season.
Jaguars claim QB Edwards.
Showing just how frustrated they are with quarterback David Garrard, the Jaguars claimed former Bills starter Trent Edwards off waivers.
Edwards is expected to sign a contract this morning and join his new teammates at practice later in the day.
The move gives Edwards a fresh start after things went south in Buffalo and provides Jacksonville with a viable option behind Garrard, who threw four interceptions and was benched in a 25-point loss at San Diego.
NFL investigating confrontation.
The NFL is investigating a confrontation between Packers safety Nick Collins and a fan after Monday night’s loss to the Bears at Chicago’s Soldier Field.
Milwaukee’s WITI-TV aired video in which Collins is seen yelling at a fan as he left the field. Collins then appears to throw his mouthpiece into the stands.
• Monday night’s game between the Packers and Bears was the highest-rated cable telecast of the year.
ESPN says “Monday Night Football” had an estimated 17.5 million viewers, making it the fifth-most watched cable program ever.
Footnotes.
Don Doll, a standout defensive back who was part of Detroit’s 1952 NFL championship team before coaching the Lions, has died. He was 84.
• Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford (shoulder) says he’s been told to try some “light throwing” this week.
• Veteran kicker John Carney’s agent, Jack Mills, confirmed that his client would be signing a contract with his former team, the Saints.
The Associated Press
