Aaron Rodgers criticizes replacement ref's Week 1 performance

By: Kim O'Hara | Posted: September 12, 2012

Count Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers in as part of the anti-replacement referee club. In fact, with scathing remarks during his weekly WAUK-AM radio segment, Rodgers could be nominated as club president. 

"It's just frustrating when you're positive that there's either a missed call, or that the rule was not interpreted the way that it's supposed to be interpreted. There were multiple instances of that, and when you watch the film back, it's frustrating. That being said, there were just some bizarre calls on both sides." 

Rodgers ceded that his Packers did benefit from a blatant no-call (on a block in the back committed by linebacker Terrell Manning during Randall Cobb’s touchdown-scoring punt return), but maintained that the overall inconsistency of officiating should be under scrutiny. 

In spite of missed calls (or additional timeouts or clock errors), the replacement officials have yet to directly affect the outcome of a game. And as long as minor mistakes here and there aren’t impacting wins and losses, the NFL will be able to defend its use of replacements. I mentioned earlier this week that player safety should be the primary concern, but perhaps a blown call that dictates a game’s result is the best chance we have at seeing an NFL-NFLRA resolution.

Kim O'Hara is the Assocate Editor of TheFootballGirl.com. She is an avid fan of sports in general, but the NFL in particular. She has also been a contributor to ESPN the Magazine. Follow her on Twitter: @arahomik 

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