The NFL reaffirmed the ruling that gave the Seattle Seahawks’ a disputed 14-12 win over theGreen Bay Packers as information came out that the side judge at the heart of the controversial call had never worked above the Division III college level before becoming a replacement official.
The league, which resumed meetings with its locked-out officials in an attempt to resolve the impasse, provided information stating that Lance Easley had four years of officiating experience, none above the D3 level.
That information comes after the league said that Seattle’s last-second touchdown pass should not have been overturned but conceded that Seahawks receiver Golden Tate should have been called for offensive pass interference before the catch.
More than 70,000 voicemails were left at the league offices Monday night, an NFL source told ESPN’s Seth Markman.
Amidst the furor over the call, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is meeting with representatives of the locked-out officials; however, the discussions had been planned before the controversy. According to a source, there have been ongoing negotiations over the last week. In conversations Monday afternoon, the parties scheduled sessions for Tuesday.
In light of Monday’s dispute, the NFL issued a statement on the labor dispute with the referees.
“There is broad agreement that the quality and consistency of officiating can and should be improved. How to accomplish that is a critical issue separating the two sides in this negotiation,” the statement read. “While the officials’ union would like to turn this into purely an economic dispute, we have told the union and the federal mediator that we are prepared to make reasonable economic compromises and that we will invest more money in officiating as long as it assures long term improvement.
“We have made a number of specific proposals to accomplish that, including by developing a deeper, more diverse talent pool that is trained in NFL officiating earlier and more intensively.”
Obama spokesman Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One that the president, an avid sports fan, watched the game and “thinks there was a real problem with that call.” Green Bay is in politically important Wisconsin, adding significance to Obama’s stance.
“NFL fans on both sides of the aisle hope the refs’ lockout is settled soon,” Obama wrote on Twitter.
The ire of coaches, players and fans at the struggles of the replacements had been steadily building this season, and it reached an apex Monday with what everybody had feared would happen: a highly questionable call deciding a game.
