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NFL referee lockout drags on: 4 issues keeping replacement refs on the field

Fans, coaches, and players keep grumbling, but replacement referees are still officiating in the NFL as the  regular officials remained locked out. . Here are the 4 factors keeping union refs and the NFL from reaching a deal – and leaving the replacements to botch calls through another weekend.

4. Full time vs. part time

Jeffrey Phelps/AP/File
Referees signal a made field goal during the first half of an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears last week in Green Bay, Wis.

Current league officials only work part time for the NFL, and most have other jobs. But the league wants to hire a corps of seven full-time officials (one for each refereeing position) to train recruits, scout, and do other things referees do, but year round. 90 percent of the union referees oppose this, not wanting to leave their other jobs and the money they provide. The NFLRA has said that they don’t totally oppose the idea of full time refs, but, again, they feel their pay might be inadequate.

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