Packers fans are justifiably incensed. This is exactly what we have been dreading since the season began.

The replacement refs finally screwed the pooch royally this week, and not just on Monday night. They failed to call a number of blatantly dangerous hits (#DarriusHeyward-Bey and #MattSchaub) which is most definitely NOT in keeping with Roger Goodell’s “player safety” rhetoric. And I can actually forgive the simultaneous possession of a ball that was clearly caught by Greg Jennings of the Packers (even though it was obviously wrong), but I cannot forgive the missed call on shove in the back received by Sam Shields from Golden Tate before the ball even came down. Were any of these tools even watching the play. And the pass interference call on Shields earlier in the 4^th qtr might have been an even worse call.

Truly, there were literally dozens of calls in the game tonight and the games this weekend that were flat out unacceptable.

I have been maintaining, until now, that since all teams are equally screwed by these horrible officials that it shouldn’t matter. You know, level playing field and all that. I have changed my mind completely. That abortion of a game was too much. I feel like I was watching a Pop Warner game. Because remember, these replacements are NOT the best guys available who are not currently working for the NFL.  The best guys available are still working for the SEC, BIG 10, PAC 12, etc.  They have good jobs and aspirations of possibly getting an NFL gig one day and are not about to risk their livelihood and face possible career suicide by turning scab. So we are left with a bunch of scrubs who would never be considered for a job in the NFL unless the league were desperate, which they obviously are.

Even the guys in the MNF booth, who I’m sure had been asked to take it easy on these guys, were tearing them to pieces.  Two things are bound to happen and perhaps they will work in a kind of weird symbiosis.

Firstly, Roger Goodell will make the NFL rich by fining everyone who complains; and certainly there are more than a few who will be vocal after tonight. Mike McCarthy took the high road in his post game presser by not referencing the refs at all. He just went with “I’ve never seen anything like that in all my years in football.” Aaron Rodgers simply said it was “awful” and “frustrating.” I can’t help but think there will be repercussions directly relating to this game. Secondly, and more hopefully, this should put the kind of pressure on the NFL that will force them to do whatever it takes to get the best officials in the world back on the field.

This is where the symbiosis comes into play. My hope is that Goodell uses the money collected through fines to fund the referees’ salaries and we can put this ridiculous mess behind us. It can only get worse from here unless something is done.

GIVE US BACK OUR REFS!