NFL Referees Union Officially Ratifies Agreement With NFL

Members of the NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) met in Dallas, TX today, and per a report from Sam Farmer at the LA Times, the union officially ratified an 8-year labor agreement with the NFL owners. This marks the end of what was a needless and embarrassing work stoppage initiated by the NFL owners that, in many ways, damaged the credibility of the league.

Prior to today's ratification, news began to leak involving what went on behind closed doors during the negotiations between both sides.

After replacement officials took incompetence to a new low Monday night during the Packers v. Seahawks game (perfectly accentuated by their blown call on the now-infamous "touchception' play at the end), everyone from union busting recalled governors to the President of the United States was screaming that a deal needed to get done. However, per Judy Battista of the New York Times, Panthers owner and all-around jackass Jerry Richardson, along Jets owner and Tim Tebow enthusiast Woody Johnson, wanted to keep replacement refs working games and the lockout of the NFLRA ongoing.

Thankfully, these chucklenuts were seemingly brushed aside (not unlike how the football teams they own are routinely brushed aside every Sunday) and a deal was negotiated.

Colts fans might recall that Jerry Richardson was the charming fellow who insulted Peyton Manning's intelligence during the NFL owners and players negotiations last year prior to that lockout. I don't know why Richardson, a former player himself, seems to act like such an insufferable prick. At least he's consistent.

Basically, going forward, if there is ever another labor issue, owners need to lock Richardson in a closet, or lie and tell him the negotiation is in another state. This way, the real adults who care about the league can negotiate in peace while Richardson is off somewhere else, yelling at an empty chair.

NFL And NFLRA Reach 8-Year Agreement

We just got this lovely little missive sent to us courtesy of the NFL:

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 email also states that Commissioner Roger Goodell has temporarily lifted the lockout so that the officials can work Thursday night’s Cleveland at Baltimore game prior to their ratification vote by the referee union, which is scheduled for Saturday in Dallas.

Personally, I think it would have been HILARIOUS to make scab refs work the NFL Network game this evening, but I might be alone in my villainy there.

So, how did the deal turn out? Several think the owners caved, in particular the hardline owners who often remain nameless. We will call them "Jerry Jones." The reason for the concessions by the owners likely has to do with the disaster that happened Monday night. That was on ESPN. Thursday night's game is on the network built by the NFL owners. They don't want to see a repeat of Green Bay v. Seattle.

Thus, we have the union refs keeping their pension plans until six years from now.

What the owners get is, at the beginning of the 2013 season, they will have the option of hiring a number of officials on a full-time basis to work year-round, including on the field. However, another potential owner concession there is the league will pay for these crews, not the union.

Prior to this email from the NFL spelling out the details, the NFL and NFLRA issued this joint 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. 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."

The only thing missing from this wasteful and seemingly useless lockout is Ed Hochuli hugging it out with Patriots owner Bob Kraft in front of all the TV cameras.

And with that, we bid the scab refs adieu (unless they get hired in 2013 as part of the new crews) and we welcome back Mr. Hochuli and his merry men, who will (most likely) blow a critical call of three this Sunday. Hey, mistakes a human. The degree of the mistake is the difference between a union professional and a scab.

Welcome back, refs. Oh, and if you blow a call against the Colts, I WILL FIND YOU AND SPIT ON YOUR FACE WHILE YOU SLEEP!

NFL Smartens Up, Reaches Deal With NFLRA

'Touchception' Paves Way For Referee Labor Peace

NFL And NFLRA Reach Agreement, For Real This Time

It now seems that the NFL owners lockout of their referees is, indeed, ending. Per NBC Sports' Jim Daopoulos, who was once a long-time official and later a supervisor of officials, the NFL and the NFL Referee Association have agreed to a new deal.

Here's PFT's assessment of the news:

A crew is being assembled to work Thursday night’s game between the Browns and Ravens. Then, on Friday, the officials will travel to Dallas to retrieve their equipment and receive their game assignments for Sunday and Monday, with the same crews working together as last year.

Details are still not clear, but Daopoulos says that the much-debated pension issue was resolved with the current defined-benefit plan remaining in place for five years before switching to a 401(k)-style defined contribution plan.

On face value, it looks like the owners caved. They reportedly wanted to do away with pensions all together.

Tomorrow night's Thursday night game on NFL Network will have regular officials working.

Thus, we say goodbye to the scab refs who provided us with so much entertainment/heartache over the last month or so. It was fun guys (and gal).

Jim Irsay Chimes In On Twitter Regarding Referees, Does Not Reference Song Lyrics

Colts owner Jim Irsay:

Your loud voices r heard about getting Refs back. We're desperately trying 2 get it done! We want a deal that improves officiating overall.

— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) September 26, 2012

That's great, Jim!

Step one in improving overall officiating: Get rid of the scabs and bring back the guys who know what they are going (most of the time).

Report: NFL Owners and NFLRA Strike A Deal, Real Refs May Return Sunday

Well, it looks like the fiasco on Monday night has finally prompted the owners to realize that scabs really aren't the way to go when it comes to officiating a professional football games.

Per ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the NFL owners and the NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) have stuck a deal. This new deal should lift the owner-imposed lockout on the referees, allowing them to possibly officate games as early as this Sunday.

NFL Network's Albert Breer reported earlier today that the NFL and NFLRA had agreed on creating 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.

However, the sticking point remained the pensions. NFLRA members want to keep them. NFL owners want them to switch over to 401Ks. Mortensen's report suggests a compromise was reached on this issue.

No matter what the compromise was, the perception will be that the disastrous officiating by the replacement referees during Week Three prompted the owners to give in. I mean, when the President of the United States is weighing in and telling the owners to get a deal done, that's some pretty serious pressure.

For us fans, tossing out the scab refs and bringing back the professional, unionized ones will help return the game back to respectability. Once that is done, we can pretend this nasty little episode ever happened.

Well, maybe not Packers fans. They'll probably never get over it.

SBN Studios Interviews Anonymous Replacement Referee (Hint: It's A Parody, A.K.A. We Know It's Fake)

After the controversial ending to the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks game on Monday Night Football, SB Nation moved fast on interviewing an anonymous replacement ref to ask a few tough questions that football fans far and wide demand answers about.

[Editor's Note: If you didn't get the hint from the title that this is a parody video, I'll be over in five minutes to slap you upside the head. Afterwards, beer is on me. Enjoy. -Brad]

70,000 Pissed Of Fans Call NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

After the disastrous Monday Night Football game between the Seahawks and the Packers, someone random person from a place, that may or may not have been his or her mother's basement, sent out the phone number to the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's office.

The number made the social media rounds, appearing on Facebook pages and Twitter feeds all over the Internets.

The result?

NFL source: More than 70,000 voicemails were left at NFL offices last night.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 25, 2012

Impressive. Did it do any good?

Brace yourselves: a person with knowledge of the negotiations says NFL owners are dug in and opposed to further compromise.

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) September 26, 2012

[Brad throws his computer through a window. On the street below, a replacement ref sees this, holds up his arms, and says, "Touchdown Seahawks!"]

Colts Jerraud Powers Admits Players Trying To Game The Replacement Refs

Cornerbacks and wide receivers, long handcuffed by a fairly recent emphasis on rules which limit contact after five yards, are taking advantage of the NFL replacement referees (a.k.a., scab refs) lack of knowledge of the NFL rulebook.