After the replacement refs call on the final play of Monday Night Football, it is amazing how fast the NFL and referees came to an agreement. Just after midnight, an 8-year agreement was reached between the NFL and the locked out refs. They will be back officiating as early as tonight's game.
I don't agree with ESPN running a story titled "Heroes' Welcome." It is still just guys getting paid around $7,500 per game with an annual salary of $150.000 to referee a football game. I would doubt there are many of our police, fire or military personnel making that much for six-months of work.
Just because they are back don't expect perfection. The refs have had no pre-season games as warm ups. They will come out a little rusty but the speed of the game will pick up with the refs not taking as much time to make their calls.
I will overlook the bad calls this weekend because I am just glad to have them back. It will be nice to watch a game without it be about the replacement refs. I can guarantee by next week fans will be back to their cat calls "you're blind," "get your eyes checked" or "go back to Foot Locker."
A bad call will go back to just being a bad call and not because it was made by a replacement ref. Welcome back referees, I am glad the NFL can get back to normal. Go Seahawks!
Go Hawks!