DALLAS — The NFL is one step closer to using replacement referees.
Contract talks between the league and its officials broke off without an agreement early Tuesday. Unless a deal is made in the next few days, the officials will not work the final preseason games this week.
"The league has informed us that if we don't have a resolution by this week, they're going to go ahead with replacement officials," said Tom Condon, lead negotiator for the officials.
The talks, which lasted four hours, were to resume Tuesday.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league was moving toward replacements for the final week of the exhibition season. The NFL received a rejection early Tuesday to a proposal that would have meant there would be no strike or lockout this season.
Still, Condon is hoping for a settlement.
"I'll stay here for the rest of the week if that's what it takes," he said.
But he wants the NFL to give more.
"We've been talking about this with the league for over 18 months, and we don't think that talking about it for another 6-to-8 months is going to change anyone's mind."
The NFL has been adamant that it will not start the regular season without a deal with officials to replace the one that expired last March.
Replacement officials already are signed and could begin working exhibition games as early as Thursday.
On the table is the NFL's latest offer, a 40 percent increase immediately and a doubled salary by 2003. The officials, who work part time, are seeking parity with baseball, NBA and NHL officials, who are full-timers. That could increase their salary by 400 percent.
Under the offer, an official entering his fifth season who made $42,295 last year for regular-season and preseason games, plus various meetings and clinics, would make $62,103 in 2001. In 2003, he would earn $84,470.
An official entering his 10th season who made $64,215 last year would be paid $95,000 this season and $128,400 in 2003.
At the top of the scale, an official entering his 21st season who made $82,390 last year would earn $120,998 this season. He would get $139,555 in 2003.
Condon is used to waiting until the last minute to make a deal in his capacity as an agent.
"We reviewed their offer and thought their offer was inappropriate and didn't address the contribution that the officials make to the game," Condon said. "They thought our offer was excessive and asked for too much."
Tagliabue was in Mexico during the weekend and flew to Dallas for negotiations. He did not attend the Cowboys-Raiders exhibition game in Mexico City on Monday night.
Last week, the league hired 106 replacement officials, who were guaranteed $4,000 each for two games whether or not they work. That represents an expense of $424,000 by the NFL.