NFL reaches tentative agreement with refs

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NEW YORK — The NFL and the referees’ union have reached a tentative contract agreement, ending an impasse that began in June when the league locked out the officials and used replacements instead.

With Commissioner Roger Goodell at the table, the sides concluded two days of talks at 11 p.m. Wednesday with the announcement of a tentative deal, which must be ratified by the union’s 121 members.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tweeted, “Pleased to report that an agreement has been reached with the NFL Referees Association. Details to follow.”

The replacements worked the first three weeks of games, triggering a wave of frustration that threatened to disrupt the rest of the season. After a missed call cost the Green Bay Packers a win on a chaotic final play at Seattle on Monday night, the two sides really got serious.

According to the NBC-owned website ProFootballTalk.com, Jim Daopoulos, a longtime NFL official and supervisor of officials who joined NBC as an analyst this season, said a crew is being assembled to work tonight’s game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens and on Friday the regular officials will travel to Dallas to retrieve their equipment and receive their game assignments for Sunday and Monday. The same crews as last season will be working together this season.

According to a report, 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.

The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.

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