Wave goodbye to the Replacement NFL Referees - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Wave goodbye to the Replacement NFL Referees

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We have some breaking news for all you NFL fans out there. You can wave goodbye to the replacement refs, because they have been replaced. The NFL and Referees Union reached a late night deal.

Some say after botched calls this deal could not have come soon enough. Starting tonight, the regular referees will be back calling the games. 

The replacement refs have called for the first three weeks of the season. They have been on duty since June, when the NFL and Referee Union could not come to an agreement.

This tentative agreement deals with pay increases and retirement benefits for on-field officials. Under the proposal, refs would see an increase from an average of $149,000 in 2011 to $173,00 by 2013, and by 2019, they'll be taking home $205,000.

Get ready to cheer on or boo the regular refs tonight as the Cleveland Browns take on the Baltimore Ravens.

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