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Official concern? NFL refs deal expires May 31

The NFL's agreement with game officials is set to expire at the end of the month and the two sides haven't agreed on parameters of an extension.

The key items to be bargained from the officials' perspective are pay and pensions.

Negotiations were expected a year ago, as permitted by the collective bargaining agreement between the two sides, but the NFL player lockout from March through July was far more important to settle and talks with officials never took place.

NFL officials were last locked out to begin the 2001 season.

"We're hopeful if anything like that happens, it can still be resolved before the season starts," said Tim Millis, executive director of the NFL Referees Association, in an interview with USA Today.

Millis said there are "certain situations" in which the officials would consider working under last year's contract.

The last deal was signed in 2005 and expires at the end of this month.