May 21, 1964 - The spring meeting of the NFL ended in New York today with the team owners agreeing in modified form to one demand made by the players and refusing the other.
The athletes, through their players association, had requested a raise in pay for playing in the five preseason contests — from $50 to $100 per game. Commissioner Pete Rozelle (pictured) recommended to the owners instead that all players, rookies, and established stars alike, be paid $6 in expense money for each day they are in training camp.
The training period lasts nine weeks, so those who make the 14 league teams would be paid $378 at $42 a week. This did not quite meet the player request although the expense money is non-taxable while fees paid for games come under taxable income. Rozelle said the owners had received his recommendation favorably although they were under no obligation to pursue it. He said he expected all to comply.
The second request from the players was for representation on the board of trustees, which administers the NFL player benefit plan. The owners refused this request, which had been made by Ordell Braase, a defensive tackle of the Baltimore Colts and president of the players association.
The trustees are Rozelle and two men from outside of football, Edward Etherington, the president of the American Stock Exchange, and Clyde Vandeburg, a public relations executive.
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