Nfl Referees | featured news

NFL officials ended their labor dispute with the league by approving a new eight-year contract with a 112-5 vote Saturday, then hustled off to the airport to get to work. Next stop, stadiums around the country. And, the officials hope, anonymity.

The National Football League (NFL) reached an agreement to end a labor dispute with its regular game officials on Wednesday, ending three weeks of questionable calls that had threatened the integrity of the sport.

The N.F.L. and the referees’ union are close to reaching an agreement to end the lockout, but a remaining issue is how quickly the regular N.F.L. referees can return to work.

The good news is that there’s a tangible sign of progress between the NFL and the locked-out officials. The bad news is it’s progress on a lesser issue, while the major issue between the two sides is no closer to being resolved.

The NFL put its stamp of approval on the still-smoldering outcome of the Green Bay-Seattle game: Wrong call. Right review. Wrong team still wins. Seahawks 14, Packers 12. With frustration mounting among coaches, players and fans, the worst fear finally materialized: a mistake by a replacement official would decide the outcome of a game.

The furor over the work of replacement officials reached a fevered pitch during Week 3 in the NFL, especially Monday night when Seattle beat Green Bay on a desperation pass that many thought was an interception....