Referee Rage
SEATTLE — Just when the anger and complaints from a weekend of contempt toward replacement officials couldn't get any hotter, a disputed call trumps it all.
Replacement ref rage peaked Monday night thanks to Seattle's Golden Tate, and a bizarre touchdown call that will be debated, questioned and re-ignite frustrations over the locked-out officials.
Tate pushed a Green Bay defender out of the way, wrestled another for the ball and was awarded a touchdown on the final play to give the Seahawks a 14-12 victory over the Packers.
The game wasn't over for another 10 minutes after both teams went to their locker rooms and were summoned back to the field for the extra point. But that was just the cap to one of the most bizarre finishes in recent memory.
“Don't ask me a question about the officials,” Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. “I've never seen anything like that in all my years in football.”
“I know it's been a wild weekend in the NFL and I guess we're part of it now,” he said.
Russell Wilson threw the 24-yard touchdown pass and the crew of replacement officials agreed Tate caught the pass.
Wilson scrambled from the pocket and threw to the corner of the end zone as the clock expired. Tate shoved Green Bay's Sam Shields out of the way then wrestled with M.D. Jennings for possession. It was ruled on the field as a touchdown and after a lengthy review, referee Wayne Elliott came out from under the hood and announced “the ruling on the field stands” before the crowd at CenturyLink Field erupted in celebration.
“We both had possession of it. I don't even know the rule but I guess the tie goes to the receiver,” Tate said.
Asked later if he got his hands on Wilson's pass first, Tate wasn't so sure.
“I think so. ... Oh, well, maybe he did. But I took it from him,” Tate said.
Elliott told a pool reporter after the game that the play was ruled as simultaneous possession that was confirmed by the replay official.
“They both possessed it,” Elliott said.
The Packers were far from convinced that Tate had possession. Jennings said he had the ball pinned to his chest the entire time.
A compilation of Twitter reaction to the controversial ending of the Green Bay-Seattle NFL game on Monday night:• “Got (robbed) by the refs.. Embarrassing. Thanks nfl” — Green Bay offensive lineman T.J. Lang.• “Fine me and use the money to pay the regular refs.” — Lang.• “13th man beat us tonight.” — Green Bay tight end Tom Crabtree.• “Drama. Great for business. Godspeed, Ed Hochuli.” — Houston Texans running back Arian Foster.• “I simply just LOVE the NFL to much to see these mistakes. I'm sick like I just played for the Packers” — Miami Heat star LeBron James.• “This is what the NFL has come down to, & yet they tell you to respect the shield! Lol. But they'll try to fine us for everything thing we do.” — Arizona defensive end Darnell Dockett.• “These games are a joke.” — Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current NFL broadcaster Troy Aikman.• “Not gonna watch another nfl game until real refs r back. What a farce” — Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki.• “I would love to see what my reaction would be if a Mavs game ended like MNF. (hashtag)Expensive” — Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.• “Maybe they will actually start to think the regular refs are important. How many games can they screw up before people think its important.” — Atlanta pitcher Paul Maholm.• “That is unreal. I'm actually mad and I don't even have a dog in the fight. I'm sick.” — Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria.• “That's the worst thing I've ever seen.” — Texas Rangers catcher Mike Napoli.• “NFL should not be played anymore” — Napoli
