NEW YORK

Less than three weeks before the season kicks off, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association are no closer to an agreement to end the lockout of the officials.

As replacement officials work preseason games — and generally get criticized for their performances — the league and officials Thursday disputed such issues as fulltime employees and adding officiating crews.

On Sept. 5, the Cowboys visit the Giants to open the season. Not since 2001 has the NFL played games that count in the standings with replacement officials, and that was for one week. This lockout began June 3.

The NFL is offering to add three full officiating crews, increasing the total number of officials to 140. League spokesman Greg Aiello said “this would reduce stress on the officials by allowing each official to work fewer games, would reduce travel, would allow us to do more intensive training, integrate younger officials more effectively, increase diversity, and improve quality of officiating.”

The NFLRA insists the compensation being offered with such an increase would reduce their pay.

“The increase in the number of officials was first proposed by the NFL to the NFLRA by letter dated July 19, 2012 and had never been mentioned in the preceding 10 months of negotiations,” the NFLRA said in a statement.

Another key issue, one Aiello noted will improve the quality of officiating long term, is hiring full-time officials. The league is proposing having seven officials — one per position of referee, umpire, line judge, side judge, back judge, field judge, head linesman — who would train, scout, handle communications, safety issues and rules interpretations yearround. Now, all NFL game officials are part-time employees, with outside jobs ranging from lawyer to teacher to business owner.

“The NFLRA is not opposed to full time officials if they are fairly compensated,” the union said Thursday. “While the NFL has never made any compensation proposal, comparable positions in other professional sports at the 20- year level earn approximately $350,000 to $400,000 and are provided health insurance, a pension, time off with pay and numerous other benefits.”

The union also disputes the value of the league’s current salary offer, which it says wouldnotbea5percentto11 percent increase.

Instead, the officials said the proposal “includes aggregate game fee compensation increases of 2.82 percent per year, not the rates publicly claimed by the league.