NFL and Referees Reach Agreement

The NFL’s regular officials will be getting their stripes back this week after the league made a tentative agreement with the referee union ending the lockout.

The NFL and the NFL Referees Association came to an agreement late Wednesday night in New York City after two days of talks. The NFL locked out the referees in June, and the two parties were deliberating over an eight-year collective bargaining agreement. On Friday, the new agreement must be ratified by 51 percent of the NFLRA union’s 121 members.

The agreement comes just two days after the controversial game-winning touchdown call the replacement referees made in the Seattle Seahawks v. Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football.

Regular NFL referees will make their return during Thursday night’s match up between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens.

After reaching an agreement, the NFL and the NFLRA released a joint statement Wednesday night.

"Our officials will be back on the field starting tomorrow night,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

“We appreciate the commitment of the NFLRA in working through the issues to reach this important agreement."

"Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved taking this proposed CBA to the membership for a ratification vote," NFLRA president Scott Green said in the joint statement.

"We are glad to be getting back on the field for this week's games."

NFL players took to Twitter to express their frustration about replacement referees these past weeks. But, on Wednesday night, Buffalo Bill’s CJ Spiller tweeted his excitement for the regular referees’ return but appreciation for the replacement referees.

“@CJSPILLER: 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.”