NFL Refs Finally Return After Disastrous Lockout
The sweeping and wide negative reaction from the Monday Night Debacle between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers, was more than enough to get both the NFL owners, and the referees to come to an agreement on a new contract, ending the lengthy Ref Lockout that had stained the style of play over the first three-weeks of the season.
As everyone knows, Week Three will be best remembered for the number of horrific on field calls, pass interference penalties, coaches and players yelling at clueless replacement officials, and of course the phantom touchdown in Seattle.
The moment Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate was credited with a touchdown when it was so obvious that it was Green Bay corner M.D. Jennings had come down with the football, the negative feelings felt by so many fans, coaches, and players became even louder, and the desire to have the REAL NFL refs return became more apparent.
Early Thursday morning, the League and the NFLRA came to an agreement on a brand new eight-year deal, with the signing of that deal to come this weekend before kick-off on Sunday. That said, Commissioner Roger Goodell lifted the lockout in time for the Thursday night's game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns.
Even with the lockout lifted, what has occured over the last three weeks was a huge black eye to Goodell, his power, and credibility within the League. He postured definantly throughout this process, refusing to budge on a new deal. Even when the controversial touch ... I mean ... interception happened, Goodell and the League only released a statement stating that pass interference should have been called, but the touchdown should NOT have been overturned.
Are we supposed to be blind, Mr. Goodell? Sure you patched things up fast with the officials while in damage control mode, but the fact is that there are too many games that were affected wrongly by the replacement refs. Sure, the Green Bay Packers (1-2) will likely make the playoffs, but the margin between 1-2 and 2-1 is huge. They will have to spend the next two weeks trying to get back over .500 and are now in for a dogfight in the division. If Green Bay were to miss the playoffs by the smallest of margins, everyone will look to this game, which cannot be erased.
Expect the officials to get standing ovations all weekend. Already in Baltimore, veteran official Gene Steratore and his crew received a warm ovation from Ravens fans and warm greetings from both the Browns and Ravens players. Just goes to show that all aspects of this great game of football are greatly appreciated and cherished. Whenever someone tries to mess around with it, it disturbs the world order of football.
Football games are not supposed to go 4 or 5 hours; football games are not supposed to have 25 combined penalties in a single game; there should not be ridiculously long pauses to determine a simple replay challenge; and nobody should call a touchdown when they don't know what they are looking at. The replacement refs hurt the NFL. It will take a week or two of solid NFL football from the style of play to the officiating to begin to take the bad taste out of all our mouths.
Either way, it is nice to have the regular refs back on the field. Play ball!
The moment Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate was credited with a touchdown when it was so obvious that it was Green Bay corner M.D. Jennings had come down with the football, the negative feelings felt by so many fans, coaches, and players became even louder, and the desire to have the REAL NFL refs return became more apparent.
Early Thursday morning, the League and the NFLRA came to an agreement on a brand new eight-year deal, with the signing of that deal to come this weekend before kick-off on Sunday. That said, Commissioner Roger Goodell lifted the lockout in time for the Thursday night's game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns.
Even with the lockout lifted, what has occured over the last three weeks was a huge black eye to Goodell, his power, and credibility within the League. He postured definantly throughout this process, refusing to budge on a new deal. Even when the controversial touch ... I mean ... interception happened, Goodell and the League only released a statement stating that pass interference should have been called, but the touchdown should NOT have been overturned.
Are we supposed to be blind, Mr. Goodell? Sure you patched things up fast with the officials while in damage control mode, but the fact is that there are too many games that were affected wrongly by the replacement refs. Sure, the Green Bay Packers (1-2) will likely make the playoffs, but the margin between 1-2 and 2-1 is huge. They will have to spend the next two weeks trying to get back over .500 and are now in for a dogfight in the division. If Green Bay were to miss the playoffs by the smallest of margins, everyone will look to this game, which cannot be erased.
Expect the officials to get standing ovations all weekend. Already in Baltimore, veteran official Gene Steratore and his crew received a warm ovation from Ravens fans and warm greetings from both the Browns and Ravens players. Just goes to show that all aspects of this great game of football are greatly appreciated and cherished. Whenever someone tries to mess around with it, it disturbs the world order of football.
Football games are not supposed to go 4 or 5 hours; football games are not supposed to have 25 combined penalties in a single game; there should not be ridiculously long pauses to determine a simple replay challenge; and nobody should call a touchdown when they don't know what they are looking at. The replacement refs hurt the NFL. It will take a week or two of solid NFL football from the style of play to the officiating to begin to take the bad taste out of all our mouths.
Either way, it is nice to have the regular refs back on the field. Play ball!
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