NFL Informed Teams That They're Working To Hire Replacement Officials

Reports began surfacing last week that the NFL was preparing for a possibility in which they'll be using replacement referees if the NFL and the NFL Referees Association were unable to come to terms on a collective bargaining agreement. The former agreement expired at the end of May. Last week the NFL:

...instructed its scouting department for officials to begin preparing for the possibility that replacement officials could be used during the upcoming season if a deal is not struck.

Possible replacement officials include those from semi-professional leagues as well as those already in retirement.

According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, talks between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association have broken off.