NFL Refs' Contract Expires, Replacement Officials on Standby

0:00On March 31st, the NFL Refs' contract with their union expires on Sunday, May 31st and talks for a new deal are getting tense. Owners are sounding the alarm over stalled negotiations so they're already lining up replacement officials from the college ranks. If no agreement happens soon, those backups start training on Friday, May 1st. This hits hard for Packers fans who remember the nightmare of replacement refs back in 2012. That lockout mess led to some brutal calls early in the season and it all boiled over in a key game against the Seahawks. Picture this Monday night football week three, Seattle trailing 12-7 with seconds left. Rookie Russell Wilson scrambles and heaves it to golden-tate in the end zone. Packer safety MD Jennings bats it down and pins it, but refs argue over possession. One calls interception, another touchdown. After huddling and replay review, they rule simultaneous catch, awarding Seattle the score and a 14-12 win.

1:02Fans dubbed it the fail-mary, pure chaos that forced the NFL to settle with refs just two days later. Packers still went 11-5 that year, but lost a first round by and a home playoff game because of it. With training camps looming, let's hope history doesn't repeat for Green Bay or anyone else.