Chris Mortensen says Regular NFL Refs have Agreement in Principal

FIBA is worse and college basketball is at least as bad. If college or FIBA refs worked NBA games it wouldn't be much better than the NFL replacement officials.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>NBC officiating consultant Jim Daopoulos tells PFT that a deal has been signed between NFL and NFLRA.</p>&mdash; ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/251148894992478208" data-datetime="2012-09-27T02:38:57+00:00">September 27, 2012</a></blockquote>
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Awesome!

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>I dunno, one ref signaled "The lockout is over!" at the exact same time the other one signaled "They're still negotiating!"</p>&mdash; Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) <a href="https://twitter.com/KenJennings/status/251172226756386816" data-datetime="2012-09-27T04:11:40+00:00">September 27, 2012</a></blockquote>
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Done Deal!!!!!!

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...-on-field-thursday?module=HP11_headline_stack

NFL, referees reach agreement; refs back on field Thursday

By Albert Breer
Reporter, NFL.com and NFL Network
Published: Sept. 26, 2012 at 10:53 p.m. Updated: Sept. 27, 2012 at 12:36 a.m.

The NFL reached an agreement with the NFL Referees Association on Wednesday night to end the lockout, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the refs will be back on the field starting Thursday night.

The new collective bargaining agreement is for eight years, the longest between the league and game officials in NFL history.

"We appreciate the commitment of the NFLRA in working through the issues to reach this important agreement," Goodell said in a joint statement issued by the NFL and NFLRA.

"Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved taking this proposed CBA to the membership for a ratification vote," said Scott Green, president of the NFLRA. "We are glad to be getting back on the field for this week's games."
A high-ranked referee told NFL.com and NFL Network's Jeff Darlington earlier that the officials are prepared to immediately begin work, noting he and many others have gotten access to all of the videos from the last three weeks of games that were distributed to the replacement officials.

While the referee said his colleagues would have liked to work a few preseason games, he says it isn't necessary to do their job.

Earlier Wednesday, the league and referees agreed to create a developmental program as a compromise to the NFL's demand for the addition of 21 officials to the current contingent of 121 NFLRA members, per an NFLRA source. The pool of money for the existing officials also will remain the same.

The developmental officials will be mentored by the existing crews and will be assigned to work with them during the week. The developmental officials will not be NFLRA members, will not work games and will not be eligible to be subbed in initially.

But eventually, as they improve and reach the standards to be NFL officials, they will be considered for NFLRA membership. As that happens, the financial pool for officials will be adjusted accordingly.

 

Details about the deal:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000066739/article/nfl-nflra-reach-eightyear-agreement

The NFL and the NFL Referees Association agreed tonight to the terms of a new eight-year collective bargaining agreement that will return the game officials to the field for this weekend's games, beginning with Thursday night's Cleveland at Baltimore game.The agreement is the longest with the game officials in NFL history

Commissioner Goodell temporarily lifted the lockout so that the officials can work Thursday night's Cleveland at Baltimore game prior to their ratification vote. The officials will meet Friday and Saturday to vote on the agreement. If it is approved, a clinic for the officials will be held following the vote.

"We look forward to having the finest officials in sports back on the field, and I want to give a special thanks to NFL fans for their passion. Now it's time to put the focus back on the teams and players where it belongs."

The agreement includes the following key terms:

» Eight-year term covering the 2012-2019 seasons.

» The current defined benefit pension plan will remain in place for current officials through the 2016 season (or until the official earns 20 years of service). The defined benefit plan will then be frozen.

» Retirement benefits will be provided for new hires, and for all officials beginning in 2017, through a defined contribution arrangement, which will have two elements: an annual league contribution made on behalf of each game official that will begin with an average of more than $18,000 per official and increase to more than $23,000 per official in 2019, and a partial match on any additional contribution that an official makes to his 401(k) account.

» Apart from their benefit package, the game officials' compensation will increase from an average of $149,000 a year in 2011 to $173,000 in 2013, rising to $205,000 by 2019.

» Beginning with the 2013 season, the NFL will have the option of hiring a number of officials on a full-time basis to work year-round, including on the field.

» The NFL will have the option to retain additional officials for training and development purposes, and may assign those additional officials to work NFL games. The number of additional officials will be determined by the NFL.

 

I think it's great that they may keep additional officials. Some replacement officials weren't that bad and developing them may work out in the long run.

 

I for one will miss the replacement Refs. They didn't automatically call 12 penalties on the Raiders.

 

Actually confidence is a big factor in how good of a job a referee does. One of the biggest problems with the replacement refs wasn't that they lacked confidence in making calls that caused players and coaches to challenge them more frequently and aggressively. It also allowed players and coaches to game the refs more. This disrupts the flow of the game and is one reason why games were taking longer.

An experienced ref will still make mistakes, that is just human nature, but will limit the amount of confusion about it and also the amount of bellyaching from the coach and players.

 

Thinking we should cheer for the Refs on Sunday..."Thank you Jesus, Real Refs.<clap clap>"

 

Man I should have been an NFL official. 200k a year in salary, 23k a year in a retirement contribution PLUS a 401k match?

MOTHER OF GOD

 

Yeah, plus this is only a part time gig for these guys.

 

No kidding! I've seen a few officials when I've boarded planes before sitting in 1st class, last one I saw had this massive Superbowl ring, on the side it said Referee. I had no idea they got rings for doing the Superbowl.

 

It's a little more than part-time.

http://onlyagame.wbur.org/2012/09/08/nfl-refs-workload

Even at 20-25 + travel time it basically is the equivalent of a regular full time job.

 

Not to mention, they're obviously better at what they do than the alternative.