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Web parodies, Twitter users blast NFL replacement refs

From a "Call Me Maybe" parody to Twitter hate, the Internet and football fans weigh in on the NFL's replacement referees and Monday night's Seattle Seahawks victory over the Green Bay Packers.
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Green Bay Packers corner back Sam Shields knocks the ball away from Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington during a Monday Night Football game, September 24, 2012. UPI/Jim Bryant.
Green Bay Packers corner back Sam Shields knocks the ball away from Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington during a Monday Night Football game, September 24, 2012. UPI/Jim Bryant. 
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Published: Sept. 25, 2012 at 9:58 AM
By KATE STANTON, UPI.com

NFL fans are up in arms after replacement referees -- filling in during the NFL's labor dispute with regular officials -- made a controversial call on the final play of Monday night's Seattle Seahawks victory over the Green Bay Packers, following weeks of criticism that the new refs were too inexperienced to officiate professional football.

After Monday night's referees credited Seattle quarterback's hail-mary pass with a touchdown -- though it looked like an interception Packers' M.D. Jennings -- furious fans, players and football analysts took to Twitter to express their frustrations with the NFL and it's new officials [WARNING: Expletives ahead].

Packers guard T.J. Lang weighed in with a comment that got more than 77,000 retweets:


Here's what Packers tight end Brandon Bostick had to say:


Prolific Olympics commentator and actor Samuel L. Jackson:


And more:







Naturally, web parodies mocking the replacement refs' incompetence have begun to emerge.

Via sports entertainment channel, The NOC, the following take on Flo Rida's hit "Whistle" calls the replacement refs "scabs," and hits them with lines like "My last real job was as a line cook, for a Division III high school."

Here's the chorus:

I just bought a whistle baby, whistle baby, let me ref
Girl I don't know the rules except they tell me how to dress
I just wave my arms around and then I throw my flag
I just bought a whistle baby, whistle baby... I'm a scab

Though you probably spent your summer watching countless "Call Me Maybe" parodies, this one has a relevant news peg. Minneapolis radio station KFAN FM 100.3 first aired this spin on the replacement ref scandal.

Written and performed by Seth Haake, the parody takes the point of view of one of the unfortunate newbie refs:

"Hey I just met you, that play was crazy. What's his number, I'll call it maybe," Haake sings.

Here's video of the actual play and resulting chaos:

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