After week 3 in the NFL, calls for a settlement in the league's dispute with officials grew louder than ever. Even the normally indomitable Bill Belichick, New England Patriots' head coach, was seen chasing a replacement referee Sunday after a Baltimore Ravens game-winning field goal. Belichick wanted a review. His pleas were ignored.

Last night's Monday Night Football closing play that resulted in a Green Bay loss to Seattle has fans calling for an end to labor strife...NOW!!

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Here's what happened: The Seahawks QB Hail Mary'd a pass into the end zone. His receiver, Golden Tate, used both hands to shove a defender out of the way. (A penalty that wasn't called.) Packers cornerback M.D. Jennings clearly grabbed the ball and came down with it. In the ensuing scrum Tate wrestled the ball away. One referee signalled a touchdown, the other an interception. The review upheld the touchdown call.

The rule states that in a simultaneous catch, the ball belongs to the passers. It is NOT a simultaneous catch if one player gains control first and the replay seems to indicate the defense caught the ball. If a simultaneous catch is ruled, you can't review WHO made the catch, only if it was complete or incomplete. CORRECT RULING: Green Bay wins. INCORRECT RULING: Seattle wins. This one is in the record books as a Seahawks 14-12 victory.

No one person has documented all the blown calls and regulatory nightmares of the last 3 weeks of football. Nor has anyone compared these 3 weeks to the first 3 weeks of any other season. It's all anecdotal, but players, coaches and certainly the football media are making a case for their locked out brethren in hopes they get their jobs back.

The 100 or so regular referees and officals continue to haggle over pay, job security and a pension structure. Most have other jobs and referee in the NFL part-time. Most are very successful in other industries and moonlight in the NFL. They are locked out, wondering why their part-time zebra work won't provide them a pension? NFL commish Roger Goodell has been accused of attempting to bust the union, not uncommon in the general labor climate of 2012.

Labor issues aside, judges, umpires and referees should never be allowed to control the tempo, mood or outcome of a competition. Clearly this is happening in the NFL and must be reigned in sooner than later. LEAVE COMMENTS.

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Here is the Monday night VIDEO. It is unclear, after review, how the reception call could still stand.