Maybe the NFL did learn from the mistake that was the Fail Mary.
The NFL and the NFL Referees Association have reached a seven-year collective bargaining agreement. The deal dodges a work stoppage and ends the anticipation dread of replacement refs getting their second crack at the pro leagues.
Based on the media reports, the deal includes increased access to officials in the offseason, a bench of officials, and a new formal training program. All of this is way better than the small college officials getting
a four-day training camp if the NFL couldn’t secure the new CBA.
What we don’t know is what happens to the new review system. The plan was for replay assistance expansion, which included voiding incorrect calls/alerting fouls not called. Since that was put in place largely as a failsafe in case the replacement refs returned, expect some changes there. Those new review rules were ratified at the end of March.
The system isn’t abolished, but it’s probably a good bet that interventions will be much less frequent now than if the original replacement refs were taking the field.
For those of you San Francisco 49ers fans who are wondering just how bad it could be, don’t bother. All you need to do is look up the Fail Mary, and you’ll know how bad—and embarrassing—it can get.
