Just when you thought the replacement ref rage in the NFL couldn’t get any worse, this time, it affects the outcome of a game — and fans, players and coaches are furious.
The Seattle Seahawks won on a last-play “Hail Mary” to beat the Green Bay Packers 14-12, Monday night. The 24-yard touchdown pass was heavily disputed after one ref waved it off as an interception, while another called it a catch for Seattle.
Both teams left the field before they were brought back for the final extra point.
It’s been three weeks of replacement refs, and Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s morning show co-host, Greg Brady, said if the owners haven’t been paying attention, they certainly are now.
“I think that if you’re an owner of a team, you wake up this morning and say ‘this isn’t right.’ There’s a lot of ex-superstars in the league — Troy Aikman, Steve Young — who are coming out and saying ‘something has to be done here’,” Brady said.
“There’s a real complication with the pensions involved with the part-time referees, who want a salary of close to $195,000 a year to referee 15-16 games,” he added.
Sportsnet’s Don Taylor said the NFL brings in $9-billion a year, so it can afford to settle with its refs.
“Drawing a hard line in the sand seems crazy when the basic integrity of the game is compromised by replacement zebras who are clearly in over their heads, butchering calls,” Taylor said.
After the game, thousands of fans took social media to vent about replacement refs.
“I’ve never seen social media blow up after an NFL game like this particular one,” Brady said.
Former quarterback Drew Bledsoe tweeted: “The NFL is a Formula 1 race car. The replacement refs are the three-year-old behind the wheel.”
Canadian comedian Gerry Dee tweeted: “These replacement refs are so bad, a CFL team may win the Super Bowl.”
Golfer Bubba Watson tweeted: “All NFL fans should watch the Ryder Cup this week — we got no refs.”
Some of the other comments on Twitter included: “Let’s press the reset button on this NFL season” and “at this rate, the NFL should just put the cheerleaders in as refs.”
Outrage follows controversial replacement ref call in NFL
Charlene Close and News staff
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