That was a catch?!
The NFL’s replacement referee debacle reached the forefront – again – in a bizarre ending to Monday’s game between the Seahawks and Packers.
Seattle was down 12-7 with eight seconds remaining in the game. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson scrambled to avoid defenders, then hurled the ball into the end zone as the clock expired.
Seattle receiver Golden Tate shoved Green Bay’s Sam Shields out of the way, an obvious offensive pass interference, then wrestled with M.D. Jennings for possession. While Jennings appeared to have possession of the ball, the play was ruled a touchdown on the field.
After a lengthy review, referee Wayne Elliott came out from under the hood and announced “the ruling on the field stands” and CenturyLink Field erupted in celebration. The Seahawks won the game 14-12 after players were called back on the field long after for the meaningless extra point.
Former head coach Steve Mariucci told the NFL Network that he doesn’t believe Tate ever had possession of the football.
“Jennings had the greater chunk of the ball, it was against his chest,” Mariucci said. “Jennings has the ball on his chest, and Golden Tate is trying to wrestle it from him. That makes it possession Jennings, and not simultaneous (possession).”
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Jennings said he was “shocked” by the call – “But the refs got the last say, so it is what it is.”
Packers coach Mike McCarthy was frustrated following the loss.
“Don’t ask me a question about the officials,” McCarthy said. “I’ve never seen anything like that in all my years in football.
“I know it’s been a wild weekend in the NFL and I guess we’re part of it now.”
The game’s outcome fueled debate about the replacement officials, who have been filling in this season due to an ongoing contract dispute between the league and its regular officials.
Following the controversial call, Twitter was filled with football-related Tweets – with trending topics including #MNF and Packers to Roger Goodell and #BoycottNFL, Tate, Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy and Pete Carroll.
Some of those Tweets came from Packers players. Guard T.J. Lang wrote, “Got f—ed by the refs.. Embarrassing. Thanks nfl … Fine me and use the money to pay the regular refs.”
Lang followed up by later writing, “Any player/coach in Seattle that really thinks they won that game has zero integrity as a man and should be embarrassed.”
Lang’s teammate Greg Jennings wrote “Can’t be upset anymore. All I can do is laugh. Laugh at the #NFL for allowing America’s game to come to this. Wow!”
Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman tweeted “These games are a joke,” while NBA MVP LeBron James tweeted “I simply just LOVE the NFL to much to see these mistakes. I’m sick like I just played for the Packers.”
Even Khloe Kardashian addressed the gaffe, writing “Bad day to be a replacement ref.”
Wisconsin State Senator Jon Erpenbach tweeted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office phone number after the replacement officials mishandled the final play of the game.
Erpenbach said in a separate tweet that if Monday night’s ending did not spark an end to the lockout of the regular officials “this season will be a joke.”
Some of the NFL’s replacement refs have evidently come under fire before. According to a Deadspin report posted early this morning, the Lingerie Football League fired some of the NFL’s fill-in officials in the past due to “incompetence.”
With AP