Are Replacement Refs Really Worse Than Full-Time Officials?

Thankfully, no calls or missed calls by the replacement referees decided any games on the NFL's opening weekend, but it certainly wasn't an officiating masterpiece. 

To be fair, what can we expect from a group of guys clearly overmatched by the overall speed of the game and size of the players? 

Don't try to track the disparity between the replacements and the regulars. That's missing the point. It's not about how many more pass interferences or how many fewer holding calls are made by the backup refs. 

It's about these replacements being completely in over their heads and the frightening thought that because of that, it's just a matter of time before they cost a team a game.

We all must realize this. 

The Seattle Seahawks were given a fourth timeout on their potentially game-winning drive in the final minutes of regulation against the Arizona Cardinals. 

The replacement refs dodged a bullet when Braylon Edwards failed to bring in Russell Wilson's throw in the end zone on fourth down. That was undeniably the most egregious error of Sunday's slate of games.

The replacement refs were far from horrible in Week 1, and many have applauded the debut efforts of the collective. 

Controversial calls are part of the game. They happen nearly every week, and sure, the regular refs get calls wrong on occasion. But at least they're almost always in the right positions, know every intricate rule, are far more consistent and have ample experience of the NFL game's sheer speed.

Knowing the NFL is putting the best possible officials on the field is something that ultimately should calm even the most enraged player, coach or fan. 

Right now, we know that simply isn't the case. 

Will the replacement refs get better? Probably. The more games they officiate, the more acclimated they'll get. They'll get more comfortable calling holds and could potentially get a sharper eye in determining pass interference. 

But remember, there's a reason they were refereeing castoffs. 

So, are the replacement referees worse than the regular referees? 

Most definitely. 

For the time being, all we can do is hope they don't drastically affect the outcome of any NFL games. They almost did on Sunday. 

Follow @ChrisTrapasso