Upon Further Review... We're Bringing the Old Refs Back

While the 2012 NFL Season has been a fun one to watch so far, the side story of the lockout of the referees and using replacement refs has taken suddenly taken center stage due to a bad TD call at the end of the Packers-Seahawks game on Monday night. News outlets everywhere had it as lead stories grateful to be talking about something else other than the election (#isitover). Two days after the call and then denial by the NFL, the lockout ends after roughly 3 months.

The NFL and the NFLRA spent two days talking over the details and finally got a deal done. Just as the bell tolled midnight, the announcement was made that a tentative agreement was reached between the two parties. The new deal is a 8 year labor agreement includes a salary increase from an average of $149,000 a year in 2011 to $173,000 in 2013, rising to $205,000 by 2019. As for the pension plan, it seems to a compromise as 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. Then by 2017, new refs hired by the league will have a contribution program setup by the league. (very technical, click here for full scoop at ESPN)

There also seems to be some new hiring agreements like hiring some refs for full time year round service and also retaining some for development and to oversee games. The point is that an agreement was made.

Thank goodness. Now the replacements can go and we can yell and hate the regular referees again.

I will say that I am glad that the regulars are back because while they will make mistakes like the replacements do from time to time, they at least know how to keep teams from ripping each other apart like on Sunday night. These guys know how to manage the game and keep the pace moving which is something that the replacements lack.

Them coming back also bring a sense of legitimacy back to the league. While no human is perfect, the regular refs officiating is best for the integrity of the sport as it's saying that the best are there overlooking things for the league. The use of replacement officials didn't have the same PR message, especially after Monday night.

The regular refs make their return tonight at the Browns-Ravens game. It seems awfully quick to bring them back as they might be rusty but it's better than the replacements at any given time.