The stipulations are that they would cut the 4 preseason games to 2 and add two regular season games. The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (who has made quite a bit of press this season with the new helmet-to-helmet rule and fines) says that he doesn't need players permission to change the rule.
Clearly the players are extremely unhappy about the possibility of an 18 game season. Having two extra games would make it that much more likely that players would get injured. Their pay wouldn't go up with the addition for the two games. As of now players get 5 years of health care and medical expenses paid for after they retire. The health care if obviously a concern when there's two extra games. On the other side of the ball are the owners who are all for an 18 game season. The main reason is because they will get more money out of it (if you put it simply enough).
I agree with the players on this account. Football is as full contact as a sport gets, and adding two extra opportunities for players to get seriously injured is a bad idea. I believe that the board should have player representation, so that they can see the sport from the point of view from the players. It goes without saying that the players know best when it comes to injuries and what they think is best for their health. If you boil it down, the big reason why the league wants an 18 game season is to get more money. It's as simple as that; they make other excuses but that's the main reason. They aren't thinking of what's best for the players themselves, and are focusing on making $1 billion more. Goodell cares about revenue more than talking to the players about the best option.
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