Lance Easley (arrow) will umpire Richard Sherman’s charity softball game.

In the Most-Bizarre-News-line category of the day, we hear that loud-mouthed Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman rubbed salt into the wounds of every Green Bay Packers fan when he announced that he was hiring the one and the only Lance Easley to umpire his summer softball fundraiser.

If you don’t know who Easley is, you might not want to know, but I’ll tell you anyway.

He’s the official who made the touchdown call on the “Fail Mary” pass to give the Seattle Seahawks the 14-12 win over the Green Bay Packers on that fateful Monday night last fall.

Clearly, Sherman is trying to be funny and Seahawks fans will surely find a laugh somewhere in there, but for Packers fans – well, we don’t want to think about it. The loss to the Seahawks was devastating to the team at that point in the season and affected many things down the road of that 2012 season.

The call epitomized how stupid the National Football League had been up to that point in failing to carry out negotiations with the regular referees, but it also served as a wake-up call to the league to get the contract situation resolved – something they did before the start of play during the following week of NFL action.

Though the regular referees didn’t totally solve the problems of blown calls, at least they brought a semblance of professionalism back into the game – taking away the keystone cops mentality that had been running rampant from game to game up to that point.

So, we hope Sherman and all his pals have a great time with Easton and that they raise all kinds of money for a good cause.

Packers fans won’t be watching, but we will be waiting for 2013 and some redemption at some point.

But if you want to be ticked once more … here you go.

Sept 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (81) holds on to the game-winning touchdown as time expires against the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Charly Martin (14) and Green Bay Packers cornerback Jarrett Bush (24) and Green Bay Packers strong safety M.D. Jennings (43) look for an officials call. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Just when we thought we were far enough removed from the pain, disgust and anger, Green Bay Packers fans were once again reminded today – at least those of us who came across this GQ story – a story about those two dirty words: replacement refereess.

That’s right. I know at this point in the season that nasty September game in Seattle feels like a lifetime ago, as it should. So much has happened since then. Good things. Bad things. But thinking back over the course of the first three-fourths of the season, that night and that instant is indeed one of the most gut-wrenching moments in Packers history. Certainly it was a turning points of many during a season when the Packers have looked unbeatable (Bears, Texans), So-So (Jaguars, Cardinals, Saints, Lions), and Bad (Colts, Giants).

In his piece published on gq.com, author Nathanial Penn sat down with six replacement refs and pulled some insightful and brutally honest answers from the men.

The quotes included in the piece range from descriptions on how the league’s lame efforts in recruiting replacements seemed like nothing more than a cattle call, to their love of the game and how much they appreciated the opportunity to be a part of the event. Most interesting to Packers fans are the comments about the Seahawks games.

Sept 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Referee Wayne Elliott (28) speaks with field judge Richard Simmons (102) before making a ruling on a call between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Let’s start with Wayne Elliott, the referee of the Packers-Seahawks game. The 55-year-old Realtor and NCAA Division III official said that it was the crowd noise at the end of the game that told him there had been a touchdown called.

Elliott: At halftime of the Green Bay-Seattle game, I felt like the cock of the walk. I was thinking, We’re kicking this game’s butt. In the fourth quarter, Green Bay took their first lead of the game; it was 12 to 7. Seattle got the ball back with about a minute left. Then it was fourth-and-ten from the twenty-four. The quarterback rolled sixteen yards back. I’m watching him; he’s my responsibility. I could tell from the reaction of the Seattle bench that we had a touchdown.

And then there was Perry Hudspeth, the investment advisor and retired NCAA Division I official who didn’t work the Seahawks game but had plenty to say about it, and it wasn’t complimentary:

Hudspeth: One official was signaling time-out. When you have a close play and need a second or two to think about it, that’s always a good signal to give. Then the side judge came in and immediately called it a touchdown. I think had they been more experienced, they would have talked to each other first.

Elliott goes on to describe the conversation he had with the replay official, a conversation that should have Packers fans scratching their heads. At least after reading his quote I was wondering what those guys were looking at and what they were thinking. You should read it for yourself …

But this article is about more than just that one game. I came away from reading it with a more complete picture of life as a replacement referee. These guys are clearly human, with all the foibles that come with that package. In the end, they are no different than the regular referees and probably didn’t make any more mistakes than the regulars may have made.

The replacement refs’ mistakes just seemed to be that much more egregious … especially that last one in Seattle.

Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

And if you want one more look at the mugging in Seattle, check it out and be mad all over again.

Sep 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; NFL referee Richard Simmons breaks up an altercation between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers after the game at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Green Bay 14-12. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

So, it was only a matter of time – actually only a day or two – before the Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks controversial game received its own Wikipedia page.

The game-ending call of a touchdown on the Hail Mary pass that raised a worldwide uproar changed the league forever. Fans were not only ticked over the call, but over the NFL’s usage of replacement referees and the lack of negotiations in solving the impasse with the National Football League Referees Association.

That all came to an end Wednesday night as the two sides finally agreed to settle their issues – and will result in the usage of the union referees for the remainder of the season and well into the future.

Now that there’s labor harmony with the players and referees for the foreseeable future, NFL fans will hopefully be spared from any type of situation like what happened last Monday night.

But in the meantime, feel free to check out that Wiki page and add your information – but make sure it’s accurate! We don’t want any more “Inaccurate Receptions!”

Can the evidence be more convincing?

If you need evidence about who caught the final pass in the Packers vs. Seahawks game last night, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Just take a look at the pictures provided on the covers of these newspapers in Wisconsin and Washington State.

If it weren’t so ludicrous, I’d be crying.

Sep 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll celebrates after referee Wayne Elliott (28) signals a touchdown on the final play against the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 14-12. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Led by their fist-pumping, egotistical head coach Pete Carroll, the Seattle Seahawks have not only shown they are the dirtiest team in the National Football League, but their celebrations over what was clearly a game-ending interception by Packers safety M.D. Jennings in the end zone were stunning.

Have you ever seen this ad on television: The scene is a basketball game where the ball sails out of bounds and the referee makes the call for one team. However, an honest player on the other team tells his coach that he touched it before it went out of bounds. The coach then tells the player to go out onto the court and let the referee know that the ball belongs to the other team, which he does.

Clearly, Carroll hasn’t seen the ad, nor have his players.

Instead of taking the high road and coming clean on the last play of the game, Carroll and his minions, including QB Russell Wilson who is supposed to be a man of God, stood by and soaked in the win – exclaiming how it was a great play that was called correctly.

Many are saying that this is the game that will be the tipping point in the negotiations between the referees union and the NFL and that it will speed up a negotiated agreement.

Former Packers executive Andrew Brandt told ESPN that he wasn’t so sure. He said that there are so many other mitigating circumstances involved in the negotiations that to reach an agreement is still a difficult sea to cross.

But we must get back to the Seahawks and their integrity, or lack thereof. How can they possibly present the image of victors in a game they clearly lost? How can they celebrate and thank God for their victory on the field?

Shame on you, Pete Carroll. Shame on you, Russell Wilson. Shame on you Golden Tate.

This is what you would call integrity and honesty?

Yes, it’s the National Football League and it’s a dog eat dog league. But this goes beyond just winning and losing. Your behavior at the end of this game was pathetic, shameful and just plain embarrassing.

And where will the league come down on this? They won’t. Commissioner Roger Goodell has been hailed as the savior of the league, but he has now crashed back to Earth as he oversees this boondoggle – this sinking ship.

Maybe it’s time for the players and more importantly, the owners, to finally say enough is enough.

We don’t like seeing teams like the Seahawks get saddled with looking bad.

When you have a player like Golden Tate – who “caught” the final touchdown pass – say “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” when asked about his blatant push-off of Packers cornerback Sam Shields just before leaping for the ball, you wonder about his character … and he went to Notre Dame?

You call that classy? You call that dignified? No, it’s a blatant denial of the truth … oh, a lie, you say? Of course. Tate’s college instructors are now in hiding, shameful of the behavior of their former student.

One might ask if the Packers players and coaches wouldn’t have done the same thing … I would hope not. However, they weren’t put in that position and it’s not them we are talking about.

One thing is for sure, the Packers are a team that knows how to deal with adversity, and if there’s any situation that wreaks of adversity, it’s this. They will come back from this and live to fight another day.

And while the Packers may have lost this battle tonight, I have the feeling that the Packers will eventually win the war.

This all goes beyond whining and crying. This is about doing what’s right.

Pete Carroll and his players didn’t come close to doing that Monday night.

Sept 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (81) holds on to the game-winning touchdown as time expires against the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Charly Martin (14) and Green Bay Packers cornerback Jarrett Bush (24) and Green Bay Packers strong safety M.D. Jennings (43) look for an officials call. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

If you’ve been living under a rock, you missed what happened in the Seahawks versus Packers game Monday night. It was a travesty, an embarrassment, highway robbery and just plain wrong.

The replacement refs were probably wined and dined by the Seattle faithful after the game, while the rest of the world wanted to tar and feather them right next to the mob that was burning Commissioner Roger Goodell at the stake.

This whole replacement referee experiment has got to go. The majority of the world thinks so – especially the Twitter world. Here’s what Clay Matthews tweeted:

Here are some other tweets that give you a flavor of the violent distaste all fans had after this game.

#Epic RT @49ersSpin: If Rodgers had Allstate instead of State Farm, he’d be protected from mayhem like this.

Not watching the NFL until the real officials are rehired

うわもうマシューズ最高

@danpack6 I had said earlier that they should fine the refs when they make terribly stupid calls. I wanna make them taste my fist.

21mDavid ‏@Midwestfan

Going to bed. When I wake up, I hope to see this: “Goodell overturns call. Packers win. Ref who signaled td has been deported to Siberia.”

@nflcommish Please make this right, and overturn the result of this universally-condemned officiating. People everywhere are outraged.  

USA TODAY Sports reporter Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko): “Time to meet the refs’ demands. I don’t care if they want 67 copies of Moby Dick, and naked pictures of Bea Arthur. Give it to em. #Airheads”

USA TODAY Sports NFL Editor Kevin Manahan (@KevinCManahan): “The crazy thing: these guys were actually officiating games somewhere else before the NFL hired them. #nfldisgrace”

ESPN and Grantland writer Bill Simmons (@sportsguy33): “Mike McCarthy should have run back out on the field naked from the waist down.”

Green Bay Packers guard T.J. Lang (@TJLang70): “Got f***** by the refs.. Embarrassing. Thanks nfl”

ESPN columnist Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon): What robbery…what a fraud the NFL just perpatrated on the Green Bay Packers.”

Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley (@JermichaelF88): Come on @NFL this s*** is getting out of Control. Caused us a DAMN game. Horrible!”

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (@drewbrees): “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”

Houston Texans running back Derrick Ward (@DerrickWard32): “And that is exactly y these replacement ref’s should be replaced themselves ASAP!!!”

Arizona Cardinals defensive back Patrick Peterson (@RealPeterson21): “Com’on can we please get the real refs back. Destroying the game that we all grew to love. WOW!!!!!”

National Post columnist Bruce Arthur: (@bruce_arthur): “Luckily, nobody gambles on these games.”

Washington Post blogger Cindy Boren (@CindyBoren): “Again…I never knew it was possible to miss another human being as much as I miss Ed Hochuli.”

Dallas Morning News reporter Clarence Hill (@clarencehilljr): “If im the real refs..i go Randy Moss on the NFL now in regotiations..#Straight cash homey”

ESPN analyst Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR): “Did the ref have Golden Tate in fantasy? #itsnotoutofthequestion”

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (@ArianFoster): “Drama. Great for business. Godspeed, Ed Hochuli.”

ESPN soccer analyst Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy): “I may put in my resume to ref NFL games. Futbol, football. Come on, no difference right now.”

Radio host Jim Rome (@jimrome): “What a disaster. 100x worse than last Monday night.”

Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (@DeAngeloRB): Well we knew this was bound to happen but on Monday night football? Come on the replacement zebras aren’t fit for this zoo! Lol”

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft): “Just saw that catch. S*** just got real for Roger and the replacements.”

Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush (@reggie_bush): Refs single handedly blew this one…”

Golfer Bubba Watson (@bubbawatson): “All @nfl fans watch the Ryder Cup this week, we got no refs. #USA”

Louisville Courier-Journal reporter Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ): “As a person who loves football, I’m legitimately angry tonight. But imagine the gamblers. Oh, my.”

ESPN analyst Damien Woody (@damienwoody): “Was this game a Buffalo Wild Wing commercial?!?! #MNF”

New York Post reporter Steve Serby (@NYPost_Serby): “Those refs should be forced to line up in victory formation against Greg Schiano’s Buccaneers”

ESPN columnist Gene Wojciechowski (@GenoESPN): “If this loss ends up costing Packers a playoff spot, I don’t ever want to hear the league lecture players about the integrity of the NFL.”

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban (@mcuban): “I would love to see what my reaction would be if a Mavs game ended like #MNF. #Expensive #NBAtime”

Sept 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (81) holds on to the game-winning touchdown as time expires against the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Here is some of what Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers had to say at the end of this Monday Night Fiasco:

Mike McCarthy started the conference by saying: “Don’t ask me a question about the officials”

Thought defense was outstanding

Hard to swallow

didn’t see (the last play) … communication from our players was they had the ball I was told MD Jennings intercepted

I’ve never seen anything like that in all my years in football.

tell the truth, need to move on … important for us to get back and get ready for the saints

very unusual most unusual FB game I’ve been a part of. Wild weekend in the NFL and and I guess we’re part of it.

Seattle did excellent job first half they did heck of a job

Thought offense was outstanding in second half … tough place to play … the crowd was excellent. Thought our football team responded well coming out in the second half …

I’m not in the mood for drama tonight … but I appreciate that.

Aaron was excellent on third downs. We were starting to wear the defense down.

Aaron Rodgers 

When asked about the call at the end of the game: “Awful. look at replay and the fact it was review … it was awful”

Shouldn’t have been been in that position … going for 2 points

Sucks losing and worse when it goes that way … go home and get ready for New Orleans

Crazy after the game. Nobody had no idea what was going on.

I saw one referee waving arms … touchback. the other calling a touchdown

Should have cashed in with more points.

When asked if this was the most bitter defeat in his career: “Yes.”