On Wednesday, the NFL and its referees ended its three-week lockout dispute by agreeing to a collective bargaining agreement that includes higher pay raises and better benefit packages including retirement for an eight year term from 2012 to 2019, which was influenced by a critical call made by replacement referees last Monday night in a game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers.
According to a statement made by the NFL and NFLRA, an annual league contribution would be made for each official, leading to their compensation increase from $149,000 to $173,000 in 2013.
Scott Green, president of the NFLRA, said “We are glad to be getting back on the field for this week’s games.”
Green represents a widespread view among players, coaches, and fans alike. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was fined $50,000 for grabbing a replacement referee for an explanation on a call. President Obama himself tweeted “NFL fans on both sides of the aisle hope the refs’ lockout is settled soon.”
Backlash on a call made during the Packers and Seahawks game last Monday contributed to the need for agreement, where Seattle won 14-12. As the fourth quarter was ending with the Packers in the lead, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw a 23-yard pass toward the end zone where players scrambled for the ball. Packers safety M.D. Jennings intercepted the pass with both hands on the ball as he fell down to the ground to secure the victory for the Packers. One referee signaled the clock to stop while another signaled touchdown. Then the referees ruled that Seahawks receiver Golden Tate also had his hands on the ball, ruling the case as a simultaneous catch, though the replay clearly showed Tate’s hands slipping off the ball.
This was not the only case where replacement referees made poor calls. After the NFL announced that it would start the preseason in June with replacement referees from the NCAA and high school level, referees often faced the wrong direction while making calls, referred to teams incorrectly, and took too much time for timeouts during the preseason games.
As the agreement takes vote on Wednesday, the real referees will have returned, and both the referees and the NFL owners themselves will not be facing the wrong way after this awkward, long-drawn conflict.
