lockout ALMOST over!!! (Merged)

[JMC00]

kind of amazing if they can get 120 guys in the next 4 days to

1) ratify the agreement
2) pass their physicals
3) get fitted for the new Nike uniforms
4) get to all the venues
5) get briefed on new rules/ points of emphasis

but hey....

I am all for it!

...........

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.

 

[Froob]

You don't know what you've got until it's gone.

Sad part of life, can never truly appreciate things until they're already gone. Lucky for us we get our refs back.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

A deal may yet be reached today but it sounds like Mort and ESPN again jumped the gun in order to be able to claim they broke a story. The progress story has been out there all morning from other sources. Pension plan remains the sticking point although owners brought in benefits specialists to work through that with union yesterday. Mort's decision to jump the shark is based on his sources claiming that they have discussed what it would take to get back to work this weekend IF a deal is reached.

Competition isn't always a good thing. As the football media consistently underscores.

 

[resdubwhite]

Conga time.

Who's with me?

 

[DarrylS]

Praise Jesus, and do the jump up and down dance!!!

 

[BigMike]

Conga time.

Who's with me?

roughing the conga line, first down Baltimore.....

 

[ensoul]

Ed Hochuli and his 15 minute explanation about a penalty is going to be music to my ears!

 

[pwes]

The regular refs suck but they are a dust buster compared to the black hole the replacements are.

 

[Steve102]

A deal may yet be reached today but it sounds like Mort and ESPN again jumped the gun in order to be able to claim they broke a story. The progress story has been out there all morning from other sources. Pension plan remains the sticking point although owners brought in benefits specialists to work through that with union yesterday. Mort's decision to jump the shark is based on his sources claiming that they have discussed what it would take to get back to work this weekend IF a deal is reached.

Competition isn't always a good thing. As the football media consistently underscores.

Thanks for this. Everyone is celebrating like we just liberated Paris or something. It's not over yet. Here's Irsay's tweet (can't believe I am quoting Jim effing Irsay)

Jim Irsay ‏@JimIrsay
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.

 

[thenepatsrule]

sorry no link. but i just heard on weei that the refs and the nfl have agreed to a deal. refs will be back sunday per adam schefter.

Now Congress can shift their attention to other important issues like drought and obesity

 

[Rob0729]

Thank God!!!

I was one who thought the replacement refs weren't going to be that bad. Boy, was I wrong. They sucked big time.

Who would have thought that I would be looking forward to an Ed Hochuli reffed game?

 

[TomPatriot]

I am sure deep pockets Kraft and a few other influential owners had alot to do with that...about time i would say.

You are correct in all respects.

 

[BradyFTW!]

According to ESPN:

Both sides have made concessions on previous sticking points such as a taxi squad of 21 new officials and pension plans that sources say the final meaningful hurdle is, as one source said, "about a little more money."

If that's true, and it's purely down to a discussion of money, then it makes sense that a deal could be done by now. If they were able to compromise on everything else, then quibbling over a few million dollars shouldn't last too long.

Also, it appears that the refs have made concessions on the 'taxi squad' issue, which was one of the points that the NFL was demanding that I would like to see. Good news there.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Color me offcially amazed & surprised.

And happy as a fan.

Crush Buffalo Sunday.

 

[Wolfpack]

I never thought I'd miss Ed Hochuli...then Sunday happened

Ed Hochuli is the worst ref in the league. He belongs with the replacements. He just gets way more attention than he deserves because he's in good shape.

 

[Big-T]

Ed Hochuli is the worst ref in the league. He belongs with the replacements. He just gets way more attention than he deserves because he's in good shape.

He's the one that's been keeping the refs in shape so are they all going to come back looking like Hulk?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Thanks for this. Everyone is celebrating like we just liberated Paris or something. It's not over yet. Here's Irsay's tweet (can't believe I am quoting Jim effing Irsay)

Jim Irsay ‏@JimIrsay
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.

That pandering tool needs to be kept as far away from real business as possible.

That said, it isn't over. And a mod needs to retitle this thread to Lockout could be over soon.

MarkMaske‏@MarkMaske

Deal between the NFL, locked-out referees "could be this week" but that isn't yet a certainty, a person familiar with the talks said.

And Breer has confirmed that. They have agreed on the additional crews being developmental and not members of the NFLRA until they are promoted based on training. They will work with the refs during the week (not sure if that's at their FT jobs or video conferenced night school...) and eventually be added to the ranks with no loss of pool money to the existing refs (who are paid out of a fixed pool of roughly $18M per).

At last report the officials offered to lower their demand for full grandfathering of existing refs into pension to some shorter term grandfathering probably geared to the longer tenured and older incumbants like Hoculi who is 61. Owners said nope. Also asked for ratification bonus probably tied to money lost in first 3 weeks. Doubt owners would not agree to this once pension is off the table. It's not about the money per se, it's about the benefits and overall control of the unit.

 

[RayClay]

Not official yet:

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter
As @mortreport is reporting, an agreement between NFL and NFLRA is at hand and both sides will work to have officials working this weekend.

sounds like it's almost done.

Report: Deal between NFL, refs "at hand"

I heard one official said it's done, while another official signaled no deal.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Locked-out NFL referees could return as early as this week -- sources - ESPN

Our long national nightmare is over.

Thank god the President didn't have to get involved.

I guess NBC can scrap the graphic of a ref wearing a blindfold with "Day ____" above it.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I heard one official said it's done, while another official signaled no deal.

Nicely done