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courtesy nydailynews.com

Well it is official, the NFL and Roger Goodell have finally reached an agreement with the "real" referees and they were allowed to work the Thursday night game between the Browns and Ravens. 

The fans gave them a standing ovation as they walked out onto the field.  This will be the first time and last time officials get any kind of standing ovation from fans. 

It was, though, time to reach a deal between these two parties.  The first three games of the year were beginning to become a joke and were making a mockery of the league. 

The NFL, which is the most popular American sport by far, was tainting its brand and having fans furious.  They were standing firm with the stance that the replacement refs were not changing the product on the field. 

There were plenty of calls made that were without a doubt questionable, but it was the flow of the game and control of the game that was altered as well.  The replacements were not qualified to do this level of officiating. 

It was like the NFL asked the replacements if they were football referees and they said, "No, but we did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."

It was evident they were not equip with the talent and fortitude to handle this kind of pressure.  It culminated with the debacle on Monday Night Football, at right.  The Packers, who I am definitely not a fan of, were hosed by the replacements and it was the straw that broke the camels back.  I am a fan of the game and to see this happen made me sick.

This non call will have ramifications throughout the rest of the season.  The Packers will have one more loss on their resume and the Seahawks will have one more win on their resume for the playoff push. 

It all comes down to tiebreakers in the NFL.  You get six teams in from each league and it usually comes down to that last weekend and a bucket full of tiebreaker scenarios.  You can bet your bottom dollar this will come back to either help or hurt these two teams at the end of the year. 

This is what Roger Goodell didn't want.  He didn't want the referees being bigger than the game and making their actions ultimately determining the outcomes of games.

He also didn't want this issue making the NFL Shield look bad.  The integrity of the game was being questioned and this is what he was supposed to stand for.  Integrity and safety of the game.

He, the owners, and the referees had to strike a deal and it is a good thing they did. 

Now that the deal has been done and fans, coaches, and players are in La-La Land with glee lets remember the regular officials are human too.  They will make mistakes, they will make bad calls, and they will make all us fans angry again. 

I am not Nostradamus, but it will happen. 

I think the difference is we have respect for what referees like Ed Hochuli, pictured left, do in order to run an NFL game.

I think Roger Goodell does as well. 

I have some contacts within the NFL and they informed me of how Mr. Goodell made up with the  regular refs so I will share it with you. 

It goes like this.

Mr. Goodell said, "Hey, Mr. Hochuli, I got a note."

Mr. Hochuli read the note as follows:

"Dear Mr. Hochuli:

Please excuse Roger and his actions that have allowed this once great league to look like the keystone cops.  He is glad to have you referees back in the fold.  He knows the future looks bright and the NFL will once again take its rightful place as the most popular sport in America. 

Signed Goodell's Mother."

Welcome back refs, Welcome Back, Welcome Back!