U.S. football fans witnessed one of the sport’s most bizarre endings last night in the ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup between The Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.
With time expiring in the fourth quarter and the Seahawks trailing 12-7, quarterback Russell Wilson threw a desperate Hail Mary into the end zone. What resulted was one of the most improbable endings in the history of the game.
Although it appears that Green Bay defensive back M.D. Jennings catches the football, Seahawks receiver Golden Tate (who illegally pushes a defender out of the way before the ball falls) puts his hand on the ball. According to NFL rules, when it appears that two players have possession of the ball, the tie goes to the receiver.
For those who might be unaware, the real reason for the controversy isn’t necessarily the call, but those who made the call. The NFL has locked out the Referee Union this season due to ongoing contract disagreements. So the referees calling these games are substitutes, who receive far less training than normal refs.
The event caused an absolute social networking firestorm unlike any the sport ever has seen. Fans, including many players and celebrities (and President Obama), took the opportunity to voice their very vocal opinions, some of which you can see below:
NFL fans on both sides of the aisle hope the refs' lockout is settled soon. -bo
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 25, 2012
"'Replacement Refs!' It writes itself!" — every shitty screenwriter in every L.A. Starbucks right now.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 25, 2012
If you’re holding your baby & I walk up and hug it, according to the NFL replacement refs, you have to give me your baby.
— Rob Fee (@robfee) September 25, 2012
I love this league and love the game of football, but tonight’s debacle hurts me greatly. This is NOT the league we’re supposed to represent
— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) September 25, 2012
Ashton Kutcher just walked into the Green Bay locker room and told them they've been punked #MNF
— Derrick Rose (@D_RoseLogic) September 25, 2012
These replacement refs gotta go man!! Packers just got game took from them. I LOVE NFL football to much to see this type of work.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 25, 2012
https://twitter.com/NFLReplacerRef/statuses/250444942281961472
What’s your take? – Refresh your memory with a video of the incident below:
http://youtu.be/TXDs1YQO04k