While there hasn't been an NFL game played in more than seven weeks now, there's obviously still been plenty to talk about, what with the wild period of this offseason that we just went through with free agency. I mean, the Green Bay Packers haven't contributed much to the overall conversation, but you get the point. And there will certainly be plenty to discuss in the next few weeks, as we head toward the 2026 draft, which kicks off in Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23.
But another situation is unfolding that hasn't received as much hoopla, and some may not even be aware that the league's collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association is set to expire on Sunday, May 31.
The two sides have been in negotiations on a new deal, but it was reported this week that NFL owners are "alarmed" by the state of those meetings. As such, the process of hiring and onboarding replacement officials, which will come from the collegiate level, will take place in the coming weeks. And if no new deal is reached, those officials will officially start training on Friday, May 1.
This is an absolute nightmare for Cheeseheads, because as every Packers fan well knows, the last time the NFL used replacement refs was back in 2012, as Green Bay was on the wrong side of what came to be called the "Fail Mary" against the Seattle Seahawks.
Replacement refs were responsible for the famed "Fail Mary" in a Packers-Seahawks battle back in 2012
Simply put, the replacement refs during the first few weeks of the 2012 campaign were absolutely atrocious, and everything came to a head in a Week 3 matchup in Seattle on Monday Night Football between the Packers and Seahawks.
This was a low-scoring affair, as there were only 13 total points scored until Green Bay took a 12-7 lead on 1-yard touchdown run from Cedric Benson with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.
After Seattle embarked on a lengthy drive that ultimately resulted in a turnover on downs, the Packers went three-and-out and punted the ball away, with the Seahawks taking possession on the Green Bay 46-yard line with 46 seconds remaining.
Then-rookie Russell Wilson (yeah, it's been a minute) hooked up with Sidney Rice for a 22-yard connection on the second play of the drive, taking Seattle to the 24-yard line, but failed to complete a pass on the next three plays, thus setting up a 4th down with eight seconds to go. And that's when it happened.
Wilson took the snap and scrambled backward, ending up near the 40-yard line, and launched a pass toward the left corner of the end zone in the direction of Golden Tate.
The ball pass was brought down by Packers safety M.D. Jennings, who pinned it to his body as he fell to the ground. He ultimately landed on top of Tate, who tried to wrestle the ball away, and the replacement refs got all sorts of confused, as one signaled an interception while another signaled a touchdown.
After several minutes of consultation and a replay review, it was decided that the two shared possession, which resulted in a touchdown, as such a ruling rewards the offense. The extra point was tacked on to give the Seahawks a 14-12 victory, and that was that.
Everyone except those officials knew the call was wrong, bringing on the entertaining "Fail Mary" and "Inaccurate Reception" monikers. And the NFL had clearly seen enough, as a new deal with the NFLRA was reached just two days later.
Green Bay still finished 11-5 that year, as did Seattle, but that loss cost the Packers a first-round bye in the postseason and what should have been a home game in the Divisional Round, a round in which they lost on the road to the San Francisco 49ers, who'd gone 11-4-1 to take the second seed in the NFC. Remember, two teams got byes back then. The Niners, of course, went on to the Super Bowl, losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the famous Harbaugh Bowl between brothers John and Jim.
So, yeah, you can see why Packers fans might still have some nightmares about replacement refs. So, we'll go ahead and speak for Cheeseheads everywhere this time around with a message to the NFL and the NFLRA: Get this deal done!