The NFL Replacement Referee Act of 2012 has been a resounding failure, getting worse as the season progresses. While there were some opening week jitters, the replacement refs were mostly competent. People thought these guys were okay and the regular referees looked bad as a result. The second week had more problems, but could still be defended from time to time. The peoples' view of the regular referees started to turn. This past weekend however, having culminated with the last two games, have been an unmitigated disaster. While the New England Patriots may call foul with a questionable field goal, no one can cry more foul than the Green Bay Packers, who last night had a game stolen from them by the replacement referees.
The final play of the game is and will forever be under the microscope. Was the ball a simultaneous reception by both Jennings of the Packers and Tate of the Seahawks? While the referees determined that yes it was, which means it's a touchdown since the ball in those situations reverts to the Offense, anyone with a clear view of it, either from afar or close could see that Tate didn't even have an arm on the ball. When you see the replay, Jennings caught the ball, got both arms around it, went to the ground and had the ball in his chest. Tate had one arm above the ball, maybe near Jennings' neck area, but nowhere near it to say he had at least partial control. What resulted was baffling, what can only be described as a black eye for the NFL, as the league forced them to kick the required extra points minutes after everyone left.
Throughout this whole ordeal, the NFL has tried to maintain order over the Referee strike, claiming that everything was fine, and the replacements weren't costing teams games. After Monday, the league can no longer claim that. While the game from both teams was particularly ugly, the referees ended up deciding the result of the game. That is not what referees are there to do, and after this game, it is perfectly clear that this experiment is a failure. The league needs the people who know the rules and procedures back on the field. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but now.
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