Giants players blast NFL on stand-in refs

NEW YORK, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- New York Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka and defensive end Justin Tuck Tuesday blasted the NFL for use of replacement referees during games.

The pair told the New York Daily News the officials -- tapped by the league to stand in for regular referees locked out during a labor dispute -- are endangering players' safety and altered the flow of the game.

"There's no doubt the integrity of the game has been compromised not having the regular officials out there," Kiwanuka told the newspaper. "We've got to get that taken care of."

He added, "When you look around at some of the calls being missed, player safety is the big issue."

"I am not necessarily mad at the replacement officials," Tuck said. "I am more upset with the NFL for not handling this and taking care of this in due time."

The stand-in refs have come under scrutiny following blown and missed calls during the NFL season's first two weeks. The Giants players said it seemed to them the refs were losing control of Monday night's game between the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos.