The NFL’s lockout of their regular referees could be ending soon, maybe even soon enough for the regular refs to work week 4 game, per an ESPN source:
The NFL and the NFL Referees Association made enough progress in negotiations Tuesday night that the possibility of the locked-out officials returning in time to work this week’s games has been discussed, according to sources on both sides.
Although league sources said it would take a week to get the locked-out officials on the field, the NFLRA says its 121 referees have been trained on the new rules implemented last season, have already passed physicals or are prepared to pass physicals immediately. New official game uniforms designed by Nike are “hardly an obstacle,” according to a source.
This is great news for both NFL teams, players and the fans, especially in the aftermath of the controversial end to Monday Night’s game between the Packers and Seahawks. The Seahawks were awarding a game-winning touchdown on a pass that appeared to be intercepted in the end zone by the Packers.
The replacement referees have clearly been in over their heads officiating in the NFL. There have been missed calls, flags for apparently phantom penalties and the games have on average been longer than in previous seasons due to the poor officiating.
Although the regular refs have taken much heat and criticism over the years, their return to the NFL fields will be a welcomed sight for both the teams and the fans alike.
-ALR
