It is the play everyone is talking about. A last chance for Seattle proved to be effective against Green Bay Monday night. At least, that is what the referees thought.
The Green Bay defender looks like he caught a long toss to the end zone, but Seattle's wide receiver wrestles with it as well.
The officials ruled it a touchdown giving the Seahawks the win.
The NFL is standing behind the call and issued the following:
"While the ball was in the air, the Seattle receiver shoved a Packer player, which should have been a penalty for offensive pass interference. It was not called and is not reviewable. The officials then said both players had possession of the ball. Under the rule of simultaneous catch, the ball belongs to the offensive player."
While many had their say among friends, co-workers and on social media some are saying the criticism of the replacement refs is over the top.
Joel Heitkamp has experience as a high school football ref all the way up to Division 1 in college. Heitkamp says, "These guys are at the end of a career, or a career that was never going to be. They were officiating 6-man football in Texas. They were Lingerie League referees or referees who were really at the bottom."
Heitkamp does not blame the refs as much as he does NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "They're being thrown into the third end of the pool without a life vest," he says.
Perhaps no one understands this better than someone who played the game for 11 years.
"I think they realize that the speed of the game is so much faster," says former NFL player Phil Hansen.
As a former defensive end who had to find his next gear to keep up with the NFL pace, Hansen, who, now refs high school football can walk in their shoes.
"It's always easy to look at it six times in slow motion. Look at it once full speed, and your impression might be a little different," he says.
Hansen admits if he was a player in Monday's game he would have been pretty upset. He understands it is a tough call to make, but it is one that needs to be made correctly.
Heitkamp says, "Instead of people talking about a great football game Monday night, they're talking about the officiating."
Love the replacement refs or not, everyone is in agreement that the lock out needs to end quickly.
"I certainly would like to see the day when the NFL and the officials can get their arguments or disagreements worked out," says Hansen.
The NFL and officials' union remain at odds over a few key issues including the league wanting to scrap the current retirement plan and wanting three additional crews.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and Valley News Live. All Rights Reserved. 
