Roger Goodell wrote a letter announcing a $100 million funding to player safety and outlining a new initiative called "Play Safe, Play Smart" on the program's website.

Goodell wrote that the goal of the initiative is "to drive progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of head injuries, enhance medical protocols and further improve the way the game is taught and played by all who love it."

Goodell acknowledged the NFL "can and will do better" in this area and acknowledged that some might think the league's motives are not pure.

"We know there is skepticism about our work in this area," he wrote. "That's why both the process and the results of our work will be shared with the medical community and the public at large."

The program will have "four pillars," according to the website: protecting players, advanced technology, medical research and sharing progress.

The NFL's ratings were down for Week 1 of the 2016 season.

Thursday's game between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers drew in 25.2 million viewers but dropped eight percent from 2015 and six percent from 2014.

On Sunday afternoon, CBS scored a 10.2 overnight rating for its NFL offerings, a 13 percent drop from FOX’s numbers (11.7) last year and a 9 percent drop from 2014 on CBS (11.2). This also marked the lowest overnight season-opening rating in seven years.

Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals had an 18 percent decline.

Monday Night Football's doubleheader was also down.

NFL coaches and executives have become concerned by the lack of experience of the players they're putting on the field.

Due to changes at both ends of the age spectrum, players have become younger. Record numbers of less experienced rookies are entering the league which is pushing out veterans.

“Everything from defensive linemen not knowing where their eyes should be looking, not knowing where blocks are coming from,” said John Harbaugh. “Defensive backs not recognizing routes, not knowing how to burst, stop, start, and change direction so they don’t tear their ACLs. Offensive linemen not knowing where blitzers are coming from. Just not a lot of technique anywhere.”

In 2015, the league-wide average age hit its lowest mark since Football Outsiders started keeping track a decade ago. In 2006, the average age of the players on the field was 27.2; in 2015, it was 26.6. On offenses alone, the average age of players on the field dipped almost a full year, from 27.6 in 2006 to 26.8 last year.

“This is a real serious concern,” Harbaugh said. “Not just for the quality of the game, but for the well-being of these young guys coming into the NFL.”

Despite medical and nutritional advancements, NFL careers are ending earlier for anyone who isn’t a quarterback or a special teams cog.

The 2016 NFL Draft featured 107 early entrants, which was easily a record.

“Let’s be honest, the younger the league, the less experienced the league is and with that, the quality of play doesn’t start off at the same level,” said Mike McCarthy. “I think what you see, particularly in the early part of the season, is a reflection of that.”

“The way the CBA is structured now, it’s really no different from any other workforce in that you want to find the healthiest, youngest, least-expensive talent and infuse it into your corporation,” said Titans general manager Jon Robinson. “We’re the same model.”

The Columbus (OH) City Attorney's Office announced it has declined to pursue charges against Ezekiel Elliott in an alleged domestic violence incident from July involving a former girlfriend.

The office said it declined to pursue charges because of "conflicting and inconsistent information." It also said Elliott was cooperative in the investigation and offered up affidavits and photographs to support his case.

The NFL could still discipline the Dallas Cowboys rookie running back.

Aaron Rodgers would like to get involved in CBA discussions during the next round of negotiations.

"It has to change," Rodgers said. "I don't know why the owners wouldn't want it to change, because it's made the league look bad a few times. I read something -- you know I said that I felt like we had the opportunity to make a change in the first CBA, and I stand behind that, that statement.

"Many guys I don't think were aware of how strong our position could have been had we waited a little longer. One of the things that we should have maybe pushed for was to have an independent arbitrator. I don't think we should have to give anything for that to happen in the next negotiation."

The current collective bargaining agreement ends after the 2020 season. 

"If I'm fortunate enough to be around for the next one, I think it could be an opportunity to help out the next generation of players, by taking maybe more of a role in that," Rodgers said. "If it's wanted by the union, I would be open to it because I think we need some really strong leaders when we come back to the table, and realize that, as opposed to maybe the last time the CBA rolled around, that we have more bargaining power than we showed."