Reports: NFL, referees closing in on new deal
Two days after a controversial call cost the Green Bay Packers a win, the NFL and the referees’ union are reportedly nearing an end to a lockout that put replacement officials on the field since the start of the season.
According to several reports, the NFL and the union are close to a new deal that would allow the league’s regular officials to return to work, possibly as early as this weekend.
ESPN reported Wednesday that “an agreement in principle is at hand,” and The New York Times reported that the sides “”were closing in” on a way to end the impasse. ESPN cited unidentified sources from both sides; the Times cited a person briefed on the negotiations.
A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the NFL and its locked-out officials were meeting Wednesday. The sides met for about 14 hours starting Tuesday into early Wednesday. They broke for a few hours before reconvening in an attempt to resolve the dispute and end the firestorm over the use of replacement refs.
Afternoon action
UNDATED (AP) — There are two day games in baseball and each has playoff implications. In Minneapolis the Twins are playing host to the Yankees. In that tight American League East race the Yankees top the Orioles by 1 1/2 games. Baltimore is home this evening to Toronto.
The other day game is in San Diego as the Padres entertain the Dodgers, who are 4 ½ games back of St. Louis in the National League wild-card race. Milwaukee is also 4 ½ back while Arizona is 5 ½ games behind the Cardinals for the lone remaining NL berth. The Braves clinched the other NL wild-card spot last night. On tap tonight the Cards are at Houston, Milwaukee is in Cincinnati and Arizona is at San Francisco.
In the AL wild-card race the Orioles have a half-game lead over the Athletics with the Angels 2 games back of the A’s and the Rays 3 back.
On tap tonight, the Athletics are at Texas in a key AL West contest as entering play the Rangers lead the A’s by 4 games. The Angels are home to Seattle while the Rays are in Boston.
As a new day of play begins the White Sox and Tigers are tied for the lead in the American League Central. Each is 82-72. The Sox are home to the Indians tonight while the Tigers are home to Kansas City.
The remaining NL games tonight have Philadelphia at home to Washington, Miami in Atlanta, the Mets play host to Pittsburgh and the Cubs are at Colorado.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
N-Y Yankees at Minnesota 12:10 p.m.
Kansas City at Detroit 6:05 p.m.
Toronto at Baltimore 6:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Boston 6:10 p.m.
Oakland at Texas 7:05 p.m.
Cleveland at Chi White Sox 7:10 p.m.
Seattle at L.A. Angels 9:05 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers at San Diego 5:35 p.m.
Washington at Philadelphia 6:05 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati 6:10 p.m.
Pittsburgh at N-Y Mets 6:10 p.m.
St. Louis at Houston 7:05 p.m.
Chi Cubs at Colorado 7:40 p.m. (LISTEN LIVE on ESPN Radio 1410)
Arizona at San Francisco 9:15 p.m.