NFL reportedly looking for potential replacement officials in case league doesn't reach new CBA with refs

The collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) expires at the end of May, and the league is reportedly coming up with a familiar contingency plan. The NFL is looking for potential replacement officials in case the league doesn't reach a new CBA with the refs, according to reports from ESPN and Pro Football Talk on Wednesday . Replacement refs were most recently used in 2012 when the lockout of NFL officials followed the previous season's lockout of NFL players .

In that instance, the replacement refs were used for three weeks of the regular season, a stretch that culminated with the infamous "Fail Mary," the ruling on which incorrectly rewarded the Seattle Seahawks with a game-winning touchdown reception against the Green Bay Packers on "Monday Night Football. " Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem: Make your picks for $50K in total prizes That lockout of officials lasted 110 days. NFLRA executive director Scott Green said he's surprised the NFL "would even consider" replacement refs after what went down in 2012, according to ESPN.

Green flagged some possible issues with that approach, as outlined in ESPN's report. He believes there'd be a greater chance for gambling to find its way into officiating crews. Green also noted, per ESPN, that replacement refs can compromise the safety of players, given they aren't equipped with the necessary experience at that level of football.

When citing the emails it reviewed, ESPN reported Wednesday that the NFL is seeking a list of around 150 officials, a group mostly comprised of small college refs, by the end of this coming weekend. Barring a new CBA, those potential replacement officials could reportedly start the onboarding process as early as April. That would get the ball rolling on training, which, per ESPN, would involve a four-day clinic in May and then training camp visits prior to the start of the regular season.