By Meghan Donovan, Staff Writer
A 112-5 vote on Saturday, Sep. 29, ended the NFL referee lockout. The officials were returned to the job that is full of disagreements, unruly fans, and split-second decisions.
After the Seattle Seahawks faced the Green bay Packers on Monday night, the temporary referees were under intense scrutiny, and fans were ready for the officials to end the lockout and return to their positions. The debated touchdown call that handed the Seahawks the victory will not soon be forgotten by Packers fans.
Scott Green, president of the Referees’ Association, took control and led the voting on the new labor pact between the NFL and their officials. Saturday morning, the agreement was finalized.
The pact calls for an average increase in salary from $149,000 in 2011 to $173,000 in 2013, increasing to $205,000 in 2019. The NFL also has obtained the possibility of hiring officials to work year-round. That will be determined by the NFL’s needs in a given year along with training necessities for any new hires. The number of officials hired in total, will be controlled by the NFL.
This agreement takes a small fraction out from the $8 billion the NFL makes yearly and lets fans continue their love hate relationship with referees.
