Now that the NFL has reached a deal with the NFLRA to put regular refs back on the field, it’s time for the league to try and make nice with its fans. Roger Goodell apologized today to fans for the replacement ref debacle.
Goodell said that Monday night’s botched call, which gave the Seattle Seahawks a win over the Green Bay Packers , forced the NFL and the NFLRA to work double-time to get a deal approved.
“The Monday night game, I don’t believe, we were in such intensive negotiations over the last three weeks. It might have pushed the parties further along but we were in intense negotiations. You always have costs for the short term but you sometimes have to experience that to get to the right place in the long term.”
Goodell said that the deal with the NFL refs will make the league better but said that he was sorry for putting fans through three weeks of questionable officiating.
“Obviously when you go through something like this, it’s painful for everybody … Most importantly, it’s painful for fans. We’re sorry to have to put fans through that. Sometimes you have to go through something like that in the short term for the right agreement for the long term.”
The regular refs will be back on the field tonight for Thursday Night Football.
NFL Referees Association President Scott Green said: “We are glad to be getting back on the field for this week’s games.”
Are you glad that the regular refs will be working the remainder of the NFL games this season? Do you think there’s added pressure on the officials to do a good job tonight?