Replacement Referees

So it has been almost two days now and I have calmed down some now.  Went through and entire range of emotions---anger, rage, disbelief, sadness among others.  The poor guys have been taking grief for the whole season, and rightfully so.  They simply are not up to the task.  I see the one guy is a high school ref, the other guy gets fired from the lingerie league--what kind of penalties are you calling there?  Sad that it came to that.
 How about the money that betters won/lost?  Millions in Vegas because of the spread and what not, and then you have the folks in all the different pools and fantasy leagues and such.  No wonder everyone is hacked off.  Then you have to wonder about the other effects of "The Call".  What about if the Packers don't make the playoffs, or if they do, what if they don't host a playoff game ?  They say the economic impact for that happening would be around 8 million bucks.  Maybe not that big of deal in New York City, but huge in northern Wisconsin.  Playoff money and endorsement deals or the players?  Who knows.  Fines?  Would figure they are coming.

The poor refereeing affects the entire league.  Standings will be skewed.  Guys may get hurt.  The whole league is starting to be a joke.  So what to do?  How about making the job a full time gig.  Pay 'em ninety or a hundred grand or whatever.  Make them train, know all the rules frontwards and backwards.  Make them study film, pay the good ones extra for the playoffs, and be done with it.  Get some younger guys, ones who can keep up with the players.  You don't need bankers and lawyers doing a weekend job for the extra cash.  Get some spare guys ready in case of injury and to keep refs on top of their game, or they could be replaced.  Don't know what it would cost in salary and expenses, but it would certainly be better than using the clowns they have now.....

I see that the league and the referees may be near a deal.  This isn't going to change what has happened, and if I hear one person say something about good coming out of the GB-Seattle game I think I will become ill.  It will be interesting to see the effects of this "loss" throughout the rest of the season.  Here's hoping the Pack can overcome the "calls" of the last game, and that Seattle gets what is coming to them as well....