NFL referees’ attorney hints at long lockout

It is almost certain that the NFL regular season will begin with replacement officials.  The NFL has locked out the members of the NFL Referees Association in a contract dispute and has hired replacement officials to call the games until there's a collective bargaining agreement.  This week, NFLRA attorney, Mike

Are full-time stripes a negotiation snag?

From that I’ve read and heard, the most talked about lockout issue coming from the NFL Referees Association is the pension plan. Currently the officials receive a traditional pension when they retire, and, apparently the NFL wants to make the officials’ retirement funda self-managed 401(k)-type plan. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in January that