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NFL Sets May Training for Replacement Officials Before CBA Deadline

The move signals preparation for a work stoppage with labor talks still stalled.

Overview

  • The NFL told clubs in a memo it will train replacement officials in May and target team visits starting June 1 if no deal is reached.
  • Teams must submit OTA and mandatory minicamp schedules by April 22 so the league can assign those officials to practices.
  • Owners approved a one-year contingency that lets the New York command center correct clear, obvious missed calls during a stoppage.
  • Talks with the NFL Referees Association remain unresolved ahead of the May 31 contract expiration, with the league pressing for stricter performance accountability and the union seeking higher pay.
  • Reporting points to a pool drawn largely from smaller colleges and guaranteed training pay for recruits, with figures cited up to $120,000, while memories of 2012’s replacement-era errors fuel concern over game integrity and betting.