NFL game and replay officials may turn down for the 2020 season in exchange for a $ 30,000 scholarship and a guarantee that their jobs will be protected by 2021, according to a preliminary agreement announced Sunday between the league and the NFL Referees Association amid coronavirus pandemic.
The agreement was approved by the NFLRA board and will advance Monday to a full vote of membership. If approved, officials will have until Thursday to notify the NFL of a decision to retire.
According to NFLRA Executive Director Scott Green, the average NFL official is 52 years old.
“There is nothing more important than the health and safety of our members,” Green said in a statement. “While it will undoubtedly be some risk for our officials, we are delighted that we have finalized a plan with the league that provides additional benefits and protections this unusual season.”
The roster of NFL officials currently stands at 121, enough to give every official at least one week off during the season. The league is pursuing two new hires this week and has a number of protocols in place to cover for officials who opt out of the season or fall ill. Those options include using officials who planned to go out and double down with some crew members on Thursday night or Monday night. As a last resort, officials have refined mechanics for six- or five-person crews. (The standard NFL crew has seven officers on the field.)
According to the NFLRA, the option is open to all officials concerned about COVID-19. In addition to the $ 30,000 scholarship and 2021 guarantee, the agreement also includes the following stipulations:
• COVID-19 will test twice per game week. For a game on Sunday, officials will be tested at home on Thursday and on the site of the game on Saturday.
• Every official who tests positive for COVID-19 during the season will receive salary, medical, and other benefits that the NFL normally provides if an official has an injury on the job.
• Any official who tests positive or shows symptoms of illness on a gaming website will receive medical expenses, lodging, and travel expenses at home from the NFL.
Officials have prepared for the season in a virtual training format. The NFL has canceled its annual visit to training camps and has changed the way it assembles crews and makes game missions to minimize travel time.
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