It's Pretty Clear Bill Belichick & Brandon Spikes Aren't Fans Of Replacement Refs

Wow! Tell us how you really feel Brandon! Seriously though, he's got a point, although he's probably got a fine coming as well as a reprimand from Patriots owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick (well maybe not Belichick, more on that later).

I know it's becoming commonplace to bash these replacement referees but last night's debacle in Baltimore was Exhibit A of why this cannot go one week longer but hey we all still watched, so what do the owners care? As Steve Young said on ESPN last week after a brutal Monday Night Football game, the owners will still eat their cake.

I honestly had no idea these guys would be this bad, I mean it's not like we are dealing with replacement players right? However, just three games into the 2012 NFL regular season, the fans, players and coaches are being victimized by the absolute incompetence of the replacement referees.

Look, I get it. Replacement refs are people too and are doing the best job they can but that isn't the issue here. We are all fed up with the NFL owners' refusal to comply with the referees' unions request for pretty much whatever the fuck they want as this point. Everyone is pissed but the owners know that come kickoff on Sunday, we are all going to tune in no matter what.

Coaches and now players are starting to speak out. Check out some statements from the NFLPA's letter to NFL owners:

"Your decision to lock out officials with more than 1,500 years of collective NFL experience has led to a deterioration of order, safety and integrity," the NFL Players Association wrote. "This affirmative decision has not only resulted in poor calls, missed calls and bad game management, but the combination of those deficiencies will only continue to jeopardize player health and safety and the integrity of the game that has taken decades to build."

Last night's performance by the referees was unprofessional, inconsistent, random and embarrassing. On a weekend when every NFL team paid tribute to Steve Sabol for his contributions to the game we love, it has taken Roger Goodell and the owners just three weeks to put that same game in the hands of guys who would be overmatched officiating intramural flag football.

We saw headshots go unpunished. We saw "illegal contact" penalties left and right. We saw guys not have a clue where the hell to spot the ball. We saw coaches instructing referees on the rules of the game they are paid to officiate. We saw games across the slate moving at a snail's pace because owners can't/won't pony up the chump change it takes to restore some semblance of order to the most popular game this country has ever seen."

 It got so bad that Belichick almost coded on the sidelines on numerous occasions and then after the game did this:

Who wouldn't react the same way? Honestly, I hope he went to Kraft's office today and did the same thing to him!

Imagine if the crew that we had last night (best crews referee the marquee games) performing like this in the Super Bowl in February! It is simply unconscionable.

In fantasyland, the NFL would wake up after watching this but in the real world, we all know this is going to continue. We'll all still watch too.

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