With 1 play left in the Monday night football game between the Packers and Seahawks, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was flushed out of the pocket and heaved up a throw to the end zone. In between 7 Green Bay players and 2 Seattle receivers, Green Bay DB M.D. Jennings leaped up and brought the ball down. On his way to the ground Seattle WR Golden Tate tried to pry the ball out of the hands of Jennings.
Two referees both within the vicinity of the catch signaled the end of the play. However, one referee signaled a touchback, while the other ruled it a touchdown. (See picture below)
Upon initially seeing it, the ball was caught by both people at the same time, which would indicate a touchdown to Seattle. However, once put into slow-motion and reviewed the replay clearly shows the ball was not pried from the hands of M.D. Jennings until he had reached the ground. (See picture)
The referees went to the replay booth to review the play. Meanwhile, Green Bay Packers players, furious, left the field to head to the locker room.
Upon further review the referees found no indisputable evidence to overturn the call. Due to NFL rules Seattle and Green Bay both had to bring 11 men back out to kick the extra point. This resulted in a 14-12 win, instead of a 13-12 win, which made a difference to nobody except a handful of gamblers.
This is the last straw for the NFL replacement officials. Not only did the referees initially disagree on the call, but they did not even get together to discuss what their decision would be. This is an example of egregious crew work by the referees. Then, to make matters worse, the call on the field stood. There was certainly enough evidence within the replay to overturn the call. The referees just didn't have the guts to overturn it. The replacement referees are scared, spastic, and extremely fallible.
Now there's no mistake about it; These referees are under the largest microscope any set of referees have been under, but they are revealing a sickly virus that is ruining the NFL.
They are even beginning to be taken advantage of. In Sunday's matchup between the Vikings and 49ers, John Harbaugh talked himself into two extra challenges despite having no timeouts. This is because THE NFL REPLACEMENT OFFICIALS HAVEN'T A CLUE OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE NFL RULEBOOK. Sure, anybody can referee a peewee league football game, and anyone with experience can referee in high school. However, to referee in college and in the NFL, at the highest levels of competition, you need to know what you are doing, down to the every detail.
They are disgracing the integrity of the NFL. Not to mention last night 3 of the replacement refs previously refereed in the Pac-12 and were fired for poor officiating.
The NFL needs to act on this issue and act on it now. End the lockout. "Dear Roger Goodell, it's time to take off your pull-ups, put on some big-boy pants and end the lockout. Sincerely, every NFL fan." This has gone too far. It has come to the point where an officiating crew, not only played a part in the outcome of the game, but decided it. It makes it terrible to watch.
This also has an effect on the players of the NFL. Last night after the game, the Twitterverse was abuzz with players from the Packers, and other NFL teams, completely furious and flabbergasted with what had just occurred.
It is summed up best by Tom Crabtree, a Tight End for the Green Bay Packers who tweeted, "13th man beat us tonight." (Read other tweets here. http://www.espn.go.com/sportsnation/story/_/id/8422575/web-explodes-replacement-refs-call-packers)
When asked about the call after the game, Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers responded saying, "It was terrible." He proceeded to say that he would probably be getting fined by tomorrow morning, but the officiating was terrible.
The Packers anger was likely strenghtened with comments made by Golden Tate. The reporter-player conversation goes as follows,
"Did he catch the ball?
"Yes, I think so."
But replays seemed to show Jennings getting to the ball first.
"Maybe he did, but I took it from him."
What about that push-off?
"I don't know what you're talking about. I just went up and competed."
Tate, like everyone else, initially had no idea what had happened.
"I didn't know if they called touchdown, interception, incompletion," Tate said. "I didn't know what was going on."
Even wide receiver Golden Tate, who has received glory for hauling in the winning touchdown pass, was clueless as to what the heck was going on.
And it wasn't just the end of the game. The referees were consistently bad throughout the game. There were a total of 24 penalties resulting in 245 yards.
This is not something that has only affected Green Bay, it is affecting every single team in the league.
Even Seahawks Tight End Heath Miller (who might be a minority voice of reason after this game) said in a tweet that the officiating was sorry and he would do anything to have the old officials back.
Numerous players have said that they would be fine if Goodell took the fines they will or would receive from complaints to pay the officials.
This goes beyond Green Bay and last night's loss. It is affecting every team in the NFL, and putting a black mark on a very treasured American sport. And if nothing changes, the black mark is only going to get worse.
Something needs to change. Roger that Goodell? Change the officials. Put your pride aside and give the fans good football.
The NFL circus has come to town, Goodell is the ring leader, and the officials are making one enormous joke of it.
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