NFL, Referees Reach Agreement

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Like Jason Wilde said on Twitter, we figured this is how it would happen. Just not against the Green Bay Packers.

Regardless, the NFL and NFL Referee Association (NFLRA) have come to an agreement on an eight year CBA to lift the lockout of the regular officials as confirmed by NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. A regular crew will be in place for the Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens game Thursday night.  Officials will meet Friday and Saturday to ratify the agreement.

From the official NFL statement:

“Our officials will be back on the field starting tomorrow night,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “We appreciate the commitment of the NFLRA in working through the issues to reach this important agreement.”

It’s unfortunate that it had to cost ANY team a game for this to happen.  It stings more because it happened to the Packers, but wouldn’t you be just as angry if it happened to any other team?  Judging by the amount of support seen from fans of the other 31 franchises, it’s likely that Packer fans would have expressed similar thoughts.

So now the criticism can get directed at the real officials.  Will there be more bad calls? No doubt.  Let’s also be clear about this as well: the replacement officials were put into a ridiculously difficult position by the league.  They did the best they could in a situation in which they were way over their heads.  They should be commended for accepting such a daunting task. I personally wish them all the best in the future.

That said, there are wounds between the fans and the league office that will take time to heal.  Will this increase pressure on the regular officials? Time will tell.

But for now, enjoy a rare sight at stadiums all over the league this week: standing ovations….for the referees!

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Kris Burke is a sports writer covering the Green Bay Packers for AllGreenBayPackers.com and WTMJ in Milwaukee. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) and his work has been linked to by sites such as National Football Post and CBSSports.com.

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11 thoughts on “NFL, Referees Reach Agreement

  1. “Let’s also be clear about this as well: the replacement officials were put into a ridiculously difficult position by the league. They did the best they could in a situation in which they were way over their heads. They should be commended for accepting such a daunting task”.

    I cannot commend anyone for knowingly taking on a job which they are NOT qualified to do.Their ignorance and lack of support for those who worked hard to be qualified by accepting to do the job is the very reason this fiasco lasted as long as it did.I would have gladly missed a few games to get the real Refs back than to suffer what was presented on so many levels and the pushing of dispicable actions by players and coaches alike.Many have been subjected to complete assinine events and you wish to commend those responsible.The replacement Refs NEVER should have accepted the tasks period and to be used as the pathetic pawns for the Owners.

    1. If you don’t have access to a cordon bleu chef you get a cook. The end product may not be as good, but you still get to eat.

      Would you rather go hungry to spite, well, yourself ?

      1. If I want a chef to cook and he isn’t available..I’ll wait.What I won’t do is go to MacDonalds and pay 5 star prices and convince myself it’s the same thing or commend them for putting dogshit on a bun.

    2. My profession has a code of ethics that each of its members is bound to follow. One item in that code is that no member will accept a position or responsibility that he/she does not have the necessary ability, training or resources to adequately perform.

      Too bad the replacement refs don’t have a similar code of ethics.

  2. This never should have been allowed to go as far as it did.

    That said, I never thought I’d be happy to see an Ed Hochuli-led crew of officials on a football field!

    1. I believe I would be just as angry.

      In an email sent to the NFL offices in New York, I said “I’m a football fan before I’m a National Football League fan.” I played football in high school and college and can’t remember so many poor and/or missed calls in any one game. Of course, the worst of it was the last call directly affecting the outcome of a game. Another part of my email said “the outcome of a game should be decided by the players on the field…not the officials on the field.”

  3. The NFL Monday Night Debacle is in the books.
    It was The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back!
    Hip Hip Hurray The Refs are Real! What’s done is done. Let bygones be bygones.
    We are no longer a few fries short of
    a Happy Meal!
    Our Divine St.Vince has spoken with the
    Lord. This coming Sunday the Saints must
    be outscored!
    Go Pack!

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