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Done Deal: NFL Refs to Return Thursday

By Jeralyn, Section Off Topic
Posted on Wed Sep 26, 2012 at 11:26:16 PM EST
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Good news for football fans. The lockout has ended. A deal has been struck and the NFL referees will return starting tomorrow night.

According to reports, the pension issue was resolved with the existing defined-benefit plan remaining in place for five years until the officials are rolled over into a 401(k) plan.

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    Done Deal: NFL Refs to Return Thursday | 12 comments (12 topical)

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    This job is far better (none / 0) (#1)
    by CoralGables on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 08:59:36 AM EST
    than I ever imagined. I was under the impression the average salary was $80,000 for twenty days of work a year as a second job (Ed Hochuli's real job is as a lawyer). Reports today place last year's average salary for NFL refs at $149,000.

    The agreement is to increase the average salary over the next 7 years to $205,000 plus an additional $23,000 annually in retirement benefits.

    Not a bad gig at all. That will get them up to $11,400 per day.

    Looks like the refs union... (none / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 09:53:36 AM EST
    sold out future new hires on the pension vs. 401scamk issue.  If the refs couldn't lock up a pension with all that leverage, in a goldmine business like the NFL, I guess the pension concept really is extinct, in the private sector anyway.  Great news for Wall St...not so good for workers.

    But great news for football, and somewhat good news for labor.  If nothing else we've got a talking point and perfect example that a qualified workforce is to be valued and compensated. Or else suffer the scabs and get what you pay for, potentially destroying your business in a penny wise pound foolish fashion.  The NFL has a virtual monopoly and look what happened to their credibility, a business with real competition can afford to scab it up even less.

    I'll be interested to see which crew (none / 0) (#3)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 10:08:37 AM EST
    is working the Ravens game tonight...will they send Hochuli and his crew, since it's a nationally televised game and they'll want to showcase the union refs' professionalism?

    I guess we'll see soon enough.

    I'm just glad tonight's game doesn't have to suffer with replacement refs, as I had originally heard that if they reached a deal, the union guys wouldn't be on the job until Sunday.

    I have a feeling that after what happened Monday night, and after the extremely loud chant of "Bullsh!t" that Ravens fans treated the replacement refs to on Sunday night, and that could be clearly heard on the national broadcast, they decided it would be better to get the union guys on the field tonight.

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    Just saw that it will be Gene Steratore (none / 0) (#4)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 10:12:39 AM EST
    and his crew tonight...

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    Wouldn't be fair... (none / 0) (#5)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 10:17:51 AM EST
    to have the scabs do tonights game and have the real refs on Sunday...so glad the real refs are here for all of Week 4.

    Got the Ravens in my suicide/eliminator pool this week, 50 entrants 12 remain...counting on your boys Anne, no mega-upset please.  I want that 12 hundo, this is my year!

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    It's tough playing on Thursday (none / 0) (#6)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 10:53:51 AM EST
    after that high-energy, high-emotion game against the Patriots - it's too tempting to say "oh, well, it's just the Browns" - that's how trap games come to be traps.

    Home field may prove to be the difference in this game - I'll take whatever gets us that "W!"

    What's your take on the Jets without Revis - is this a bigger blow to them than losing Suggs was to the Ravens?  I'm thinking it is, but you'd have a better idea than I would.

    Good luck to both of us tonight!

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    The short rest... (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 11:25:01 AM EST
    and let down factors were a concern with the pick, it was either the Ravens or the suprising Cardinals with their swarming D at home against Miami...went with the more proven winner, hope it proves wise.

    The loss of the best cover man in the universe cannot be understated...Rex has his work cut out for him revising the defense schemes.  Absent a huge leap from our lame offense and Kyle Wilson stepping up big time we're looking at 8-8 again imo.

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    I love Revis (none / 0) (#8)
    by jondee on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 11:49:43 AM EST
    but I'm calling Team Instant Karma..

    From where I was sitting on opening day it looked like Landry was trying to take out Fred Jackson's knee, and Harris looked very much like he was celebrating Jackson getting hurt after the play was over.

    Very "bad form", as the English say..  

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    Need to talk to Reggie Bush... (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 01:15:10 PM EST
    and work that out jondee, he said it was instant karma for Rex's big mouth.

    Pretty cool to be looking down at the Pats for a change, ain't it?  Bills better win this week.

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    Not terribly likely.. (none / 0) (#10)
    by jondee on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 02:43:09 PM EST
    especially with C.J Sayers now out as well..

    Not to be a downer..

    Fitz seems to be a great guy, but I'm afraid he'll never be better than a Jay Cutler with a weaker arm and a better attitude.

     

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    Well, that was a nail-biter...man, I hate that. (none / 0) (#11)
    by Anne on Thu Sep 27, 2012 at 11:15:16 PM EST
    It should never have been that close, but I do think that playing their 4th game in 18 days took a toll - these guys are t-i-r-e-d.

    Stupid move by Kruger at the end, giving the Browns one more shot at the end zone...

    On to Kansas City, with 10 days to rest and recover.

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    I think they (none / 0) (#12)
    by Zorba on Fri Sep 28, 2012 at 06:48:48 AM EST
    are tired, but still, it was a win.
    I guess Kruger was thinking the replacement refs were still there and he could get away with it, or he was just pushing the limit, as some of them do. Kind of dumb, really, because the regular refs are going to be hyper-vigilant about unnecessary roughness, at least for awhile, given all the complaints about the replacement refs allowing it to go on.

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    Done Deal: NFL Refs to Return Thursday | 12 comments (12 topical)

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