The Real Refs - The First Night Back

Attending the Ravens/Browns game last night, I got a first hand look at the "real refs" as they made their much anticipated return to the NFL. As expected, they got a warm applause from the near-capacity crowd. This is the first time that I can ever remember the referees getting cheers for simply showing up. But it was well deserved after some of the shenanigans that we've seen from the replacement refs over the past three weeks.

But whether the calls were going for or against the home team, it was obvious that the referees were in complete control. The penalties were announced with confidence and clarity. This was quite a contrast from the replacement refs who, at times, seemed like they didn't know whether they were officiating a football game or a jello-wrestling contest.

The refs in last night's game kept the player's in line. We had the usual pushing and shoving, but none of the kung-fu fighting that we've seen in many of the previous games. Personal fouls were flagged appropriately throughout last night's game, which for the most part, kept the player's on relatively good behavior. Without all of these disruptions, the game moved at a sufficient pace.

But nothing lasts forever.........

As expected, the love affair between the fans and the officials was brought to an abrupt halt the first time a yellow flag was thrown against the Ravens. And at one point, the infamous "BULLSHIT" chant made a brief, but undeniable comeback from the pumped-up Baltimore crowd. One guy summed it up by holding up a sign that said, "Finally! We get to yell at the real refs! Welcome back!"

Ironically, the last play of the game was a Hail-Mary pass into the end zone. For those who don;t know, it was this very play in the Green Bay/Seattle game on Monday night that ultimately ended with the replacement refs blowing the call and awarding an undeserving win to the Seahawks. Fortunately, for the real refs last night, the pass from Cleveland quarterback Brandon Weeden sailed high and well over the head of his receivers. Time expired and the Ravens won the game with no controversy, 23-16.

Going forward, I'm sure there will be bad calls that will inevitably anger fans to some degree. But now that we have seen what the alternative is, at the very least, I think fans have a whole new respect for the "real" referees. Yes, it's definitely good to have them back......

kw