A final word on the replacement refs

Regarding Monday night's controversial call, the thing that really struck me was the criticism that the two referees were making two different signals. I think that is a function of them not working together for a long time. The real refs would never make such a mistake, not because the two saw the play differently but one of them would copy the other's  signal just for consistency's sake and to avoid just such criticism.

And let's face it, these replacement refs are under a microscope in which the real refs never are, which is kind of unfair. For instance, I think that simultaneous catch is actually closer than it appears. And some pundits are killing the refs for not calling Golde Tate for a pass interference shove on that final play, but that is a call that is never made in that situation

The referees really are damned if they do, damned if they don't.