SEATTLE — The furor over the NFL’s use of replacement officials has reached a fever pitch following what many players and fans are calling a fiasco on Monday night in Seattle, as the Seahawks defeated the Green Bay Packers 14-12 on a disputed touchdown catch at the end of the game.
With time running out and Seattle trailing the Packers by a score of 12-7, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw a desperation pass to receiver Golden Tate in the end zone for a touchdown – despite video evidence showing that not only had Tate committed pass interference by shoving Packers defensive back Sam Shields out of the way, and that Packers defensive back M.D. Jennings actually came down with the ball before having it only partially taken away by Tate.
In an now-iconic photo taken at the moment of the catch, one official is seen signaling touchdown while another right next to him signaled for an interception. After a 10-minute review, the play was ruled a touchdown – giving the Seahawks the disputed win.
On Tuesday, the league upheld the final score, and the results of the game will stand.
The controversial finish follows numerous complaints about blown calls over the course of the first three weeks of the season. The NFL has locked out the regular NFL game officials in a labor dispute, and are using referees from the lower ranks of college football, high school football and even off-beat football leagues like the Lingerie Football League while the talks continue.
Following the game on Monday night, players and fans alike took to Twitter to voice their displeasure with the replacement refs – especially from Green Bay players, but also from ex-players as well as players and owners from other sports:
WARNING: PROFANITY AHEAD! READER BEWARE! DON’T SAY WE DIDN’T WARN YOU!
[tweet https://twitter.com/BrandianRoss/status/250457215478145024]
[tweet https://twitter.com/ChrisHarrisNFL/status/250451832755855362]
[tweet https://twitter.com/JermichaelF88/status/250457421913399297]
[tweet https://twitter.com/GregJennings/status/250471011785523200]
[tweet https://twitter.com/TonyGonzalez88/status/250453763612090368]
[tweet https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/250445728709746688]
[tweet https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/250452384810164224]
[tweet https://twitter.com/JasonTaylor/status/250444087214370816]
[tweet https://twitter.com/bubbawatson/status/250446477913112576]
