Sept 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Referee Wayne Elliott (28) speaks with field judge Richard Simmons (102) before making a ruling on a call between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

The replacement officials the NFL has been using in the midst of the lockout of the NFL Referees Association did a passable job in week one. While that could have given the league leverage in the situation, what happened in weeks two or three made it clear that the league needs to get the regular officials on the field and fast.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen is reporting that both sides have made concessions and that the lockout could be over soon. Not only that, both sides have discussed the possibility of the regular officials returning to games this week.

Sep 16, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlinhas talks with Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano after the game at MetLife Stadium. New York Giants defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 41-34. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

One handshake was already a heavy topic leading into this week’s games and now we have another heading out of them.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive line got overly physical as Eli Manning took the final snap from the victory formation and Giants head coach Tom Coughlin let Bucs head coach Greg Schiano know just how upset he was about it.

Take a look at the heated exchange:

It is more than a little ironic this incident would take place just hours before Jim Schwartz and Jim Harbaugh would lead their team in a rematch of last year’s game that concluded with a less than friendly greeting of their own. Schwartz and Harbaugh greeted each other without incident prior to this evening’s game.

Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

While Mario Manningham has slowly been slipping down the depth charts in New York, he might have given himself a jet-propelled kick start into his offseason of free agency—and perhaps a return to Michigan makes sense.

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