September 24, 2012 - 7:30 p.m. - ESPN
CenturyLink Field
Seattle, Washington
Packers 12 - Seahawks 14
Leading up to this game, I didn't have a big problem with the replacement refs in the NFL. It's amazing how fast your opinion can change. There is no way around it; the Packers were robbed of a victory in Seattle. We won this game and it was stolen from us by a guy who was fired from the Lingerie Football League. I have never been so upset after a Packers game in my life. I was shouting. Screaming. I was throwing things all over my house. I couldn't sleep that evening because I was so upset and disgusted. Clearly M.D. Jennings intercepted that football but there wasn't one ref in the area code to see that play happen. And not to mention we didn't get any help from the replay booth.
What was the most disappointing to me was the NFL coming out the next day saying the "call on the field was correct." Okay, here's the deal, about three days after this game ended, I have moved on. I changed my attitude towards the situation. At this point, I am disappointed in the NFL and quite honestly, I am embarrassed to say I am a fan of the NFL. As a Packers fan, I wasn't requiring the NFL to overturn the result of the game. I was seeking something along the lines of an apology to the team, fans of Green Bay, and the fans of the NFL. I was looking for an admittance along the lines of: "okay, we admit it, the call was made wrong and we apologize to the Green Bay Packers and theirs fans." The only thing the NFL did was admit there should have been a pass-interference on Golden Tate. Duh. But that's never called. Ever. The reason why I felt embarrassed to say I am a fan of the NFL is the following: I used to take pride in saying I was a fan of the NFL because it is the best and most popular sports league in the world, in my opinion. Nothing comes close. However, with these replacement refs, the game doesn't have any integrity and is being viewed as a mockery. That is not the league I grew up watching. Loving. Cherishing. As fans, we invest so much into this game. I for one, care about this league and how it is viewed. Major League Baseball (MLB) may have gone through the steroid-era recently, but they survived and are making great strides to cleaning up the game. Attendance at games is increasing. The replacement refs are placing a dark cloud over the NFL and helping the MLB make a move on the NFL for the best sports league. The shield is tarnished. How am I expected to take the NFL seriously if this is the type of officiating taking place?
Now, I've heard from a lot of people the Packers shouldn't have placed themselves in that situation. Your right. The offensive line was beyond horrendous in the first half. 8 sacks? Let's not forgot Seattle does play well at home. But anyways, we, in my opinion, dominated the 2nd half. Why, well we started running the football. Hard to sack a quarterback when he is handing the ball off. So yes, certainly we could have prevented the situation, but it's football, anyone can win on any given Sunday or Monday and I guess Thursday as well. I've heard, "Why didn't M.D. Jennings just knock it down like they are taught?" Yeah, that's a good idea. Ask the Tennessee Titans how that worked out for them.
One last thing I want to say about these replacement refs. A good friend of mine is a high school ref in the area I live in and he has a friend who's friend is a ref at the lower level Division II of college football. This guy was a ref for the M.I.A.A. Conference of Division II football. This conference consists of the team where I went to college, Missouri Southern State University. This guy became a replacement ref for the NFL. This is an example of the type of refs Roger Goodell hired to officiate our favorite game.
Finally, I want say how proud I was of Aaron Rodgers and what he had to say on his radio show, "Tuesday's with Aaron." He called a spade a spade. Aaron shouldn't be the one apologizing to the fans of the NFL on behalf of the NFL. But he gets it. Good for Aaron. #gopackgo
Chicago Bears 2-1
Minnesota Vikings 2-1
Green Bay Packers 1-2
Detroit Lions 1-2
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