If that wasn't bad enough, some high emotions entered the room. Each side not only doesn't like the other's position, but it doesn't like the way the other presents it. The NFL resented getting Tuesday's new proposal from the union in the final 15 minutes of the futile negotiating session. The NFLRA believes the NFL isn't willing to budge.

Meanwhile, the resentment builds.

NFL executives want to roll the dice with the replacement officials. Players, particularly quarterbacks, wonder if their backs are protected on safety issues. NFL owners and execs worry that if officials -- who are part-time employees -- start making more than the average assistant coach who makes $160,000, that assistants might become the next group complaining about their wages.

While a cooling-off period might help get a settlement by next week, the sports world better get ready for the look of replacement officiating.

In a few instances, the NFL officiating department will have a few of its members don the zebra stripes and be on the field starting Thursday. Those who aren't in uniform will be along the sidelines or in the press box to supervise.

Expect 10 officials instead of the normal seven to be in uniform because three will be assistants along the sidelines, watching and trying to get a feel for the speed of the game. Those three extras will not be making any calls, though.

Who are these guys?

They are older college officials who have been bypassed by the league; they are younger officials who don't want to wait the eternity it takes to get into the NFL; some come from the Arena League; others have NFL Europe experience. The NFL vows that these replacement officials have experience somewhere being a referee.

Each will be given a one-day symposium on the rules and the mechanics. Then, it's on to the stadium for something that is unprecedented.

The biggest adjustment will be the speed of the game for the college officials.

It will be interesting to see whether the NFL goes with young or old umpires. Normally, you need a former pro player or a bigger, taller former athlete who understands how to move and avoid contact before making calls. Umpires line up behind the linebackers, where even the good ones get crunched.

Years ago, coaches who ran the West Coast offense designed routes that ran close enough to the umpires to use them as a screen. If there is an older replacement who doesn't have good movement or a young one who doesn't have the savvy to stay out of harm's way, the umpire or a player might get hurt.

The NFL is hoping that no one will notice that the old officials are gone. If that happens, then the league wins its position and either the NFLRA accepts the NFL's last offer or the league simply keeps the replacements.

The expectation is that the majority might be reluctant to throw a flag, but much will depend on how they are instructed Wednesday.

The NFL had fewer penalties last year, but that was expected to change this season. The league's plan for 2001 was to improve on-field sportsmanship and fine-tune calls against tackles who don't line up directly on the line of scrimmage, so more flags were expected from the regular group of officials had they not been locked out Tuesday.

Many key calls will involve quarterbacks, the single position most concerned about replacement officiating. According to the NFL, there were 33 late hits on the quarterbacks last year, but only 14 times were there immediate flags by the referees. Protecting the quarterback is the job of the referee, who is behind the line of scrimmage and watches defenders as they run at the quarterback.

There might also be plenty of inconsistency on calls involving cornerbacks and wide receivers, but there has been inconsistency for years because of different things the league wants to look at each season.

Defensive players have only 5 yards to get their hands on a receiver, but will the new officials call interference or holding consistently? Or will they simply not make the calls?

Holding calls will be another interesting thing to watch. NFL offensive linemen are given more latitude than college players in getting their hands on a defensive player. Holding could be called on practically every play, and the games will get bogged down if the replacement officials get flag-happy.

Referees will have an NFL supervisor or an experienced hand accompany them when they go to the sidelines to review replay calls. That's smart of the league because the replacement officials won't know all the intricacies of the NFL rules. Plus, another set of eyes won't hurt.

As it stands, the NFL is going to mike the referee and let him explain calls. With every game being taped, any strange explanation will make its share of highlight shows.

No new talks are planned between the NFL and the NFLRA. Those hinge on how the officials do Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If there are unusual mistakes or -- worse yet -- injuries related to officiating, the NFL might wish to reopen talks. If things go smoothly, the NFLRA might want to see if the NFL wants to talk.

Somewhere between the 40 percent and 300 percent increases is the number to settle upon and bring back the regular officials. Logic says it's probably in the 100 percent pay raise range, but those are up to both sides to hammer out.

As for now, getting an agreement is the last thing on either sides' minds. The ballgame has shifted to the replacements and their performance to see what breaks this stalemate.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.