NEW YORK: National Football League officials reached a deal with their referees’ union late Wednesday to end a lockout and regular officials will be back on the field starting with a game Thursday in Baltimore.
The settlement came about 48 hours after replacement officials botched a game-deciding call on the final play of a Monday night game to give Seattle a victory over Green Bay and pressure mounted upon the league to make a deal.
“Our officials will be back on the field starting tomorrow night,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, according to a statement on the league’s website.
“We appreciate the commitment of the NFL Referees Association in working through the issues to reach this important agreement.”
Union referees will work Thursday’s game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens before the entire referee union membership votes upon the eight-year agreement on Saturday in Dallas.
“Our board of directors has unanimously approved taking this proposed collective bargaining agreement to the membership for a ratification vote,” said union president Scott Green.
“We are glad to be getting back on the field for this week’s games.”
Final details of the deal were not immediately released.
Replacement referees worked pre-season games and the first three weeks of the NFL regular season, with a growing number of complaints from fans, players and coaches about the fill-ins’ performance.
Officials called in from the lower-level collegiate ranks were struggling to keep pace with the speed and physicality of the NFL game.
“Welcome back REFS glad y’all was able to get a deal done but thanks to replacements refs 4 trying their best given da circumstances,” said Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller in a Twitter posting.
Players’ safety and league credibility were compromised, critics argued, and the final play of replacement players summed up the mess on Monday when one official signaled a touchdown and another an interception on the last play.
The call was ruled a touchdown and a video review upheld the decision.
However, television reviews replayed for days showed Green Bay defender M.D. Jennings outleaping Seattle receiver Golden Tate for the pickoff even though Tate also managed to grab the ball with his arms around Jennings.
“It’s something that unfortunately went against us, but we’re actually moving on,” Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “There’s nothing we can do about it.”
NFL: League, referees reach deal to end lockout
NFL: League, referees reach deal to end lockout
Reed surges four shots ahead at Dubai Desert Classic
- Spaniard David Puig climbed into second following a birdie-birdie finish after a 66 left him at 10 under
DUBAI: Patrick Reed stormed into a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, thanks to a brilliant 67 on Moving Day.
The American held a narrow overnight advantage at nine under but was quickly challenged by Francesco Molinari on the front nine. Molinari, who led after 18 holes, opened with three straight birdies to reach double figures before Reed hit back with three birdies and two bogeys in his first seven holes to join him at ten under.
Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, then finished his front nine with a birdie to edge ahead and did not look back, picking up three further shots to climb to 14 under at Emirates Golf Club as he pursues a maiden Rolex Series victory.
“I think the biggest thing right now is the driving. I feel like I’m driving the ball a little better right now,” said Reed. “Once I saw putts go in this week, seems like the putter is back behaving doing what it’s supposed to, and allows me to free up the rest of my golf game.
“You’re always excited, showing up on Sunday with a lead. I feel like that’s what all of us live for as players, competitors, to have a chance to win on Sundays. I know it’s not going to be easy, it never is, and doesn’t matter how big of a lead you have.”
Spaniard David Puig surged into solo second following a birdie-birdie finish in a stunning 66 to reach ten under, with 2022 champion Viktor Hovland one shot further back alongside Englishman Andy Sullivan, who bounced back from bogeys at the eighth and ninth with three birdies on the back nine.
“It was a great day from start to finish,” said Puig. “We were a little behind, and seeing Patrick Reed and all the guys that are up there are really good players, so I knew I needed a good one. Still a little behind but it’s going really well. Hopefully tomorrow we have a good chance.”
Hovland, who carded a bogey-free 65, said: “It was very nice and steady today. Hit a lot of fairways. I know I played a wonderful round of golf today. Certainly no complaints about a bogey-free 65 out here. This place is no joke. If I get off the tee and in a decent position, I can really do some damage.”
Italian pair Molinari and Andrea Pavan were in a share of fifth at eight under, while Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Spaniard Jorge Campillo sat at seven under.
Nicolai Hojgaard led the group at six under alongside South African trio Jayden Schaper, Hennie du Plessis and amateur Christiaan Maas, as well as French pair Julien Guerrier and Martin Couvra.
