NFL: The Referee Holdout Is Detrimental to the 2012-2013 Season

During the preseason, we all assumed it was just temporary. In fact, it was actually quite comical. The ridiculous penalties, the missed passing interference. Along with the temporary appearance of Chad Johnson on Hard Knocks, the off-season was quite hysterical.

However, the situation was still present when Week 1 kicked off. The referees were still holding out and the once comical situation had not alleviated itself. Simply stated, the whole scenario was no longer funny.

And now it presents a terrifying problem. The replacement referees have not responded well at all with the pressure of being on live television, making decisions that cause fans to moan and groan in disgust and anger.

But now, these errors have now helped determined the outcomes of games, particularly in games with key Super Bowl contenders. And when millions of dollars rest on the line of a playoff berth, this once funny situation now becomes a travesty.

Over the past weekend, the allegations against these replacement referees have only amplified, particularly in the two most-watched games of the weekend, Sunday and Monday Night Football.

Just as time was about to expire and the New England Patriots led the Baltimore Ravens by the score of 30-28, Justin Tucker, an undrafted free agent out of Texas, stepped up to take a 27-yard field goal. These two AFC powerhouses had fought out four quarters of brutal football and the whole game came down to this one kick.

While the kick soared towards the uprights, it hooked right and seemed to sail right over the post, which would constitute a miss. However, the two referees motioned that the kick was good and the Baltimore Ravens celebrated a victory. Bill Belichick, in sheer frustration, grabbed the referee calling for at the very least a replay.

Although the kick may have very well went in, taking the time to go over the replay would have settled any doubts and would have alleviated the debates from both sides. Now, the Patriots could potentially have one less win than they deserve on their record and it all came from over-earnest referees.

However, the worst aspect of refereeing in Week 3 came from Monday Night. While time was expiring and the Seattle Seahawks were down 12-7 to the Green Bay Packers, rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, in desperation, let loose a Hail Mary that was somehow caught in the end zone. The question that remains is who caught the football?

While the rest of the America had their eyes glued to the television attempting to figure out who had a football, an over-earnest referee announced that the Seahawks had scored a touchdown and Golden Tate had come up with the football. Replays showed that it appeared that Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings had intercepted the football, but the result was already in the book. The Seahawks had won 14-12.

Now, while bloggers rant away about the horrible calls from the past weekend the determined the outcome of games, it is a simple reality. The referee holdout is detrimental to this football season. Two Super Bowl contenders have potentially been robbed of a victory and they can unfortunately point to the referee as the determining factor.

Roger Goodell, we have a problem. And you're the only one that can fix it. So do something about it, before it's too late.