After making it through the first week with only a few noticeable mistakes, the replacement referees brought in by the NFL had a rough time in week two.
The most glaring issues came on a nationally televised game on Monday night between the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos.
The game featured a range of overturned calls, delays and in the first quarter the referees gave a fumbled ball to the Falcons that may have been recovered by the Broncos. Following the play the two teams began to push and shove at each other, but no one was ejected and the referees had trouble calming everyone down.
"Honestly. It's embarrassing. The command and control of this game is gone," Mike Tirico said as he called the game for ESPN.
The league brought in the replacements after they were unable to strike a deal with the referees association over pensions and salary issues in June. The new referees all have experience at lower levels of football, including high school, lower college football, semi-pro leagues and even the lingerie football league.
"I don't know what they're arguing about, but I got a couple of (million) on it, so let's try to make it work," Washington defensive back DeAngelo Hall said to ESPN.com, kiddingly, on Monday. "I'm sure the locker room could put up some cash and try to help the cause out."
On Sunday there were also a range of issues and embarrassments with officials, including before the New Orleans Saints-Carolina Panthers game even started.
The NFL was forced to pull side judge Brian Stropolo from a game after his Facebook page showed he was a die-hard Saints fan.
"We are reviewing Mr. Stropolo's status and pending completion of that review, he will not be serving as an on-field game official," said Greg Aiello, the league's senior vice president of communications.
Following the Baltimore Ravens-Philadelphia Eagles game, quarterback Joe Flacco complained that the referees made awful calls on two of the most important plays of the game.
The refs made an offensive pass interference call on wide receiver Jacoby Jones on a touchdown pass and also ruled an incomplete pass on a Michael Vick play that appeared to be a fumble.
"I might sound like a little bit of a baby here," Flacco said, "but for them to make that call, I think, was a little crazy."
Players have called out the NFL about the referees and say that the league is contradicting itself by having less experienced referees on the field while promoting a focus on player safety and the integrity of the game.
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was also frustrated about Sunday.
"The time is now," he said. "How much longer are we going to keep going through this whole process? I don't have the answer. I just know across the league teams and the league are being affected by it. It's not just this game, it's all across the league. And so if they want the league to have the same reputation it's always had, they'll address the problem. Get the regular referees in here and let the games play themselves out."
Mistakes came on some game-turning plays, including in the St. Louis Rams' win over the Washington Redskins.
After a fumble by running back Steven Jackson that was ruled on the field, Rams coach Jeff Fisher challenged the call. Coaches can't challenge when a turnover is ruled on the field, and he should have received a penalty. Instead the Rams kicked a field goal, which was the margin of victory in their 31-28 win.
Throughout the day there were also a range of smaller issues, like placing the ball in the wrong spot after penalties and indecisive calls on certain plays.
"Officiating is never perfect. The current officials have made great strides and are performing admirably under unprecedented scrutiny and great pressure," Aiello said in an email to The Associated Press. "As we do every season, we will work to improve officiating and are confident that the game officials will show continued improvement."
In the first week the most notable mistake was when the referees granted the Seattle Seahawk's an extra timeout in their game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks had extra chances to score the winning touchdown, but luckily for the league and the referees, they failed to convert.
The referees will liklely work at least until Week 5.
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