- November 23, 2024
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I slid into third base and just kept my head down. I was waiting for the ump to call me out.
Instead, he called me safe.
That prompted the opposing second baseman to scream out to the man in blue, “What, are you visiting from Seattle?”
This was on Tuesday night. Of course, the second baseman was referring to the debacle that took place in the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football, when a last-second pass was ruled a touchdown instead of an interception. The ruling gave the Seahawks a 14-12 win over the Packers.
And for many fans, players and coaches, that was the last straw. Apparently, it was the last straw for the NFL, too.
By midnight Wednesday, the NFL and the regular referees had reached an agreement. The regular refs will be back for Week 4’s Sunday games.
Of course, the replacement refs have been the most talked about officials in sports in a long time — if not ever.
I watched a lot of football over the last few weeks, and it was obvious that it impacted the game. There was no continuity . The new refs didn’t know all of the rules. Every other play, the field was littered with yellow flags.
Pass interference penalties were up by more than 75% so far this season.
Through the first three weeks, there was an average of 13.7 penalties per game. That’s a big increase of the 11.9-penalties-per-game rate of 2008-2011.
And although the replacement referees continued to get bashed (I did it, too), where could the NFL turn? Because it’s a union, the referees of the top-level college conferences wouldn’t dare sell out and ref in the NFL.
And for the most part, the NFL and its owners didn’t care. Regardless of the calls, people were still going to watch the games. Even though I got frustrated, I know I was still glued to my TV.
I’m not saying the replacement refs were good for the game. But, it’s not like the regular referees get every single call correct. Well, except for Ed Hochuli. He never misses a call. But in general, they still aggravate me.
A few weeks ago at a Matanzas football game, a questionable call on the field led to a joke in the press box: “Hey, are you guys replacement refs, too?”
But now, football fans can rejoice that the regular referees are back. It's more fun to pick on the pros, anyway.
