The NFL has wanted an 18 game schedule for a very long time and now they have a formal proposal in place that they have given to the players union for consideration. 18 games would be fun to see but not the way they are doing it.
According to the proposal, the league would play an 18 game season but each player must take two weekends off. That is correct, the NFL wants 18 games but players can only play in 16 of those weeks. It simply makes no sense.
From what is being said by the NFL is that teams will have to field teams two times a year that will not include starters in those contests.