The sum will be added to a $7 million fund agreed upon in July by the league and its players' union. It will be supplemented by money from player fines, plus contributions from the NFL Players Association and other retired players groups.

This is the latest step in a dispute concerning retired players and their pensions. Last year, a group of prominent retirees targeted Gene Upshaw, the NFLPA's executive director, for paying too much attention to current players and not enough to former players.

In May, the NFL, the NFLPA, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL alumni association formed what was dubbed "The Alliance" to help retired players. Two months later, commissioner Roger Goodell, Upshaw and 11 retired players met in Washington and announced a $7 million fund for medical needs.

"We're continuing to work on the other needs of retired players," Goodell said today at the final briefing of the two-day owners meeting.