NFL, Referees' Union Close To A Deal

The locked-out NFL officials might be returning to work as early as this weekend, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported an "agreement in principle is at hand" between the league and the referees' union.

According to Mortensen, both sides made concessions in a long negotiation session Tuesday that was extended to 2 a.m. Wednesday. For the lockout to officially end and get the regular officials back on the field for all Week 4 games, however, it would require a deal before the end of Wednesday.

The NFL Network reported Tuesday that the NFL and NFL Referees Association were committed to "expediting" their talks toward a deal this week.

This process comes on the heels of the controversial Hail Mary call Monday night when the Seattle Seahawks were erroneously credited for a game-winning touchdown against the Green Bay Packers.

Source: Sporting News

 

A friend of mine on Facebook heard the same thing on Phillysportspace.

 

I will believe it when Schefter reports this. Not saying it isn't true, but I wouldn't trust Mort if I had a gun to my head.

 

The real refs will be back for the weekend games believe that!!

 

[MENTION=1535]mj1987us26[/MENTION], it's being reported on several other news agencies...http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...d-lockout-referees-replacement_n_1916444.html

 

Then thank god.

 

Not surprising. I thought that when the replacement refs blew a call that cost a team a game, that would bring an end to the strike.

 

They don't really have a choice other than to get a deal done after Monday night.

 

That's not necessarily true. The logistics could hold the refs out another week. By the rules of the NFLRA, in order to ratify a new contract, all 121 officials need to be there in person. No proxy, no phone. They all have to meet at the same location to approve that new deal.

They'd have to all fly to a neutral location, go over the deal and approve it and then get on another plane to get to their destination game cities.

If they got a deal done today, it's not a lay up that there would be real officials this weekend. Although nowadays, it's nothing to jump on a plane and be ready to go...

Btw - Every ref would also need to be fitted for a new uniform...lol. That could eat up some time. Week 5 sounds like it could, logistically, be more realistic.

 

Scott Green is reporting that a deal is not imminent...???

 

Umm....
NFL, referees still not close to deal; Ed Hochuli has prepped refs for immediate return - Peter King - SI.com

 

I can only show you what the news agencies are reporting dude...I'm sure for every story there are a crapload more to show the contrary...This is the closest they have been all year so take it for what it is...

 

[MENTION=521]Sweets[/MENTION] - you don't write all these?!?

 

Nothing against you Sweets, but it was Mort breaking the story, and most of the things he says is not very accurate.

 

Not wanting to be a grammer nazi but god should be capital God. :kewl11:

 

Aside from the delicious irony of grammar being mispelled, why should god be capitalized? I dont capitalize "ghost" or "fairy" or "boogeyman", why capitalize god?

 

this is good to see that the refs are close. im tired of these replacements

 

At least I can say I know the difference between then and than though, plus god or God, Iphone doesn't know the difference I guess becuase God doesn't spell Jobs.

Oh and YAY for the refs.