On June 4, 2012, the NFL began hiring replacement officials for the start of the 2012 season, most of whom were officials from high schools or lower college divisions. Some were from professional leagues such as the
Arena Football League and the
Legends Football League. However, following poor on-field performances, the Legends Football League issued a statement indicating that they had previously fired some of the replacement referees due to "incompetent officiating." Unlike the previous lockout in 2001, none of the replacements were
Division I college officials. The NFL, in a memo detailing what it wanted in replacement referees, suggested that scouts target officials "who have recently retired from a successful career in College officiating and is still physically able to officiate at a high level of competency", or "lower division college officials, professional league officials and semi-professional league officials whose window of opportunity for advancement has pretty much closed but who have the ability to work higher levels but just got overlooked." Many Division I officials were effectively barred from serving as replacements, as current and former NFL officials serve as conference officiating supervisors, who would not have allowed their officials to cross the picket line. According to
Mike Florio of
Profootballtalk.com, "the more accurate explanation is that the Division I conferences refused to allow moonlighting in 2012."
Officiating incidents Notable instances included:
Week 1 ;Seahawks–Cardinals In the fourth quarter of the
Seattle Seahawks –
Arizona Cardinals game, the officials incorrectly awarded an extra timeout to Seattle. Seahawks
receiver Doug Baldwin was injured on a play with only 46 seconds left in the game. By rule, an injury that requires a stop in play in the final two minutes of the game requires that
a timeout should be charged. The officials incorrectly did not charge the Seahawks their final timeout as they believed that if an injury happens while the clock is stopped that no timeout is charged. The error did not impact the result of the game, with the Cardinals winning 20–16.
Week 2 ;Saints–Panthers Hours before the start of the week 2 game between the
New Orleans Saints and the
Carolina Panthers, the league pulled replacement side judge Brian Stropolo after being notified that Stropolo's
Facebook page showed he is a Saints fan. ;Broncos–Falcons Three plays were overturned in the game after replays. After a fumble in the first quarter, scuffles broke out between the two teams and the game was delayed for six minutes. Some players and coaches left the sidelines and yelled at the officials.
Ray Edwards of the
Atlanta Falcons bumped a referee, leading to a penalty but no ejection. Broncos head coach
John Fox was fined $30,000 and defensive coordinator
Jack Del Rio was fined $25,000 for verbal abuse of the officials.
Week 3 ;49ers–Vikings The
San Francisco 49ers were mistakenly awarded two extra replay challenges in the fourth quarter of their 24–13 loss. San Francisco coach
Jim Harbaugh challenged that the 49ers had recovered a fumble by the
Minnesota Vikings'
Toby Gerhart, which should have been denied since the team was out of timeouts. The call was overturned and the 49ers gained control of the ball and were given another timeout. They later challenged another fumble by Gerhart, but the play was upheld. ;Steelers–Raiders No penalty was called against Steelers safety
Ryan Mundy for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Raiders wide receiver
Darrius Heyward-Bey. Heyward-Bey was knocked unconscious by the hit, got carted off the field, and spent the night in the hospital with a concussion and a strained neck. The NFL later fined Mundy $21,000 for the hit. ;Patriots–Ravens In the fourth quarter, multiple penalties which were viewed by some as questionable went against the Ravens on subsequent plays. Head coach
John Harbaugh was flagged for
unsportsmanlike conduct for yelling at an official, although he claimed that he was trying to call a timeout. After this penalty, the crowd at
M&T Bank Stadium began chanting the word "
bullshit". The chant was sustained for over a minute and was clearly audible (and uncensored) on the nationally televised
Sunday Night Football broadcast; play-by-play commentator
Al Michaels called it "the loudest manure chant I've ever heard". On the final play of the game, Ravens kicker
Justin Tucker hit a game-winning field goal that sailed over the right upright. The kick was ruled "good", giving the Ravens a 31–30 victory. On replay, the ball appeared to come "very close" to flying outside the right upright. Patriots head coach
Bill Belichick unsuccessfully lobbied the officials to review the call, at one point grabbing the arm of one of the officials as they exited the field. Belichick was fined $50,000 by the NFL, which strictly forbids physical contact with officials. Belichick was apparently unaware that the play was unreviewable. ;Packers–Seahawks On the final play of the week 3
Monday Night Football game between the
Green Bay Packers and the
Seattle Seahawks, Seattle
quarterback Russell Wilson threw a
Hail Mary touchdown pass to
wide receiver Golden Tate that officials ruled was simultaneously caught by Packers
safety M. D. Jennings. Prior to the catch, Tate shoved a defender with both hands, which the NFL later acknowledged should have drawn an offensive
pass interference penalty that would have negated the touchdown and resulted in a Packers victory. The contentious nature of the replacement officials' decision at the end of this nationally televised game is widely considered to have been the tipping point that finally led to an agreement being reached to end the lockout. Goodell acknowledged that the game "may have pushed the parties further along" in negotiations. ==Reactions==