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Replacement refs.
Hearing those two words together no doubt brings back all kinds of trauma for Green Bay Packers fans.
Those memories returned this week when news broke that the NFL could hire replacement officials in 2026 if the league is unable to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association. ESPN's Kevin Seifer first reported the news.
The Packers were burned the last time the NFL turned to replacement refs at the start of the 2012 season when they played the Seattle Seahawks on "Monday Night Football" at then-CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
The Seahawks trailed the Packers, 12-7, with eight seconds left and faced a fourth-and-10 at the Green Bay 24. The Packers appeared to have an interception when defensive back M.D. Jennings skied for Russell Wilson's pass, putting his hands around the ball. Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate's snuck his hands around Jennings' arms and then attached to the ball when they both fell to the field.
Still an interception, right? That's not how replacement side judge Lance Easley saw it. He raised his hands to signal a touchdown. Seahawks 14, Packers 12. Game over.
Shock and dumbfoundment ensued. The Packers players, coaches and the fanbase 1,900 miles away couldn't believe it.
It wasn't long before the regular refs were back, but that didn't erase the sting of that moment for the Packers.
Here's how Packers fans and NFL observers reacted to the news about the potential of replacement refs 14 years later:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NFL could use replacement refs again, leaving Packers fans scared
Continue reading...
Hearing those two words together no doubt brings back all kinds of trauma for Green Bay Packers fans.
Those memories returned this week when news broke that the NFL could hire replacement officials in 2026 if the league is unable to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association. ESPN's Kevin Seifer first reported the news.
The Packers were burned the last time the NFL turned to replacement refs at the start of the 2012 season when they played the Seattle Seahawks on "Monday Night Football" at then-CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
The Seahawks trailed the Packers, 12-7, with eight seconds left and faced a fourth-and-10 at the Green Bay 24. The Packers appeared to have an interception when defensive back M.D. Jennings skied for Russell Wilson's pass, putting his hands around the ball. Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate's snuck his hands around Jennings' arms and then attached to the ball when they both fell to the field.
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Still an interception, right? That's not how replacement side judge Lance Easley saw it. He raised his hands to signal a touchdown. Seahawks 14, Packers 12. Game over.
Shock and dumbfoundment ensued. The Packers players, coaches and the fanbase 1,900 miles away couldn't believe it.
It wasn't long before the regular refs were back, but that didn't erase the sting of that moment for the Packers.
Here's how Packers fans and NFL observers reacted to the news about the potential of replacement refs 14 years later:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NFL could use replacement refs again, leaving Packers fans scared
Continue reading...
