Golden Tate touchdown the biggest replacement ref gaffe yet: Twitter reacts

Replacement referees have made their mark, for the worse, often in this young season. But through almost three full weeks, none of those gaffes had a direct, absolute impact on the winner.

Until Monday night.

Golden Tate’s controversial last-second, game-winning touchdown catch against the Packers will echo for the entire season, including on how the playoff seedings fall. In the immediate aftermath, the football world unleashed a hailstorm of criticism on the referees and the league. A sampling of tweets is below.

First, the SI NFL team weighs in.

One of the great disgraces in NFL history.

— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) September 25, 2012

The NFL pretended like this moment wouldn’t happen. But we could all see it coming a mile away the past two weeks. It was a matter of time. — Don Banks (@DonBanks) September 25, 2012

RIP, NFL. — Chris Burke (@ChrisBurke_SI) September 25, 2012

I’m laughing to keep from crying. What a train wreck.

— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurke_SI) September 25, 2012

integrity of the shield has just become an international punchline. #replacementrefs

— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) September 25, 2012

Packers players quickly took to Twitter to voice their opinions. In addition to the tweets below, players like T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton launched expletive-filled rants.

All I can do is shake my head But God has a bigger plan for us Nothin but positive things that can come from this don’t worry fans were good

— Jerel Worthy (@I_AM_Worthy99) September 25, 2012

Guess we kno the real meaning of 12th man, welp headed back to Gbay…it’s still #packernation

— Alex Green (@AGreen_20) September 25, 2012

U can’t even be truly happy as a player to win in such a cheating fashion. Sum funky wins u take but this ain’t them kind. Pay the real refs

— Desmond bishop (@Desbishop55) September 25, 2012

Heard they didn’t show the replay at the stadium in Seattle. Haha I knew Pete Carroll was in the mob since playing against him at USC lol

— Desmond bishop (@Desbishop55) September 25, 2012

I think we need a personal apology in person….

— Brett Goode (@BGoode61) September 25, 2012

Other reactions from around Twitter:

If there was ever an official photo of this whole replacement ref debacle, this is it twitter.com/Rachel__Nichol…

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) September 25, 2012

I had to check my TV Guide bc for a sec I thought I was watching Punk’d… I was just waiting for Ashton to pop out… Smdh

— Brian Hartline (@brianhartline) September 25, 2012

Obama or Romney could win Wisconsin by stepping into the NFL ref lockout tomorrow.

— Aaron Schatz (@FO_ASchatz) September 25, 2012

Mess….

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 25, 2012

How much was this game potentially worth to the Packers? Hosting a home playoff game is worth $2 million.

— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) September 25, 2012

Feel for the Packers.Seeing a lot of “tipping point” comments.The way the owners negotiate, that still may not be the case.

— Andrew Brandt (@adbrandt) September 25, 2012

Why play the damn game? Just flip a coin if it will end like this!

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) September 25, 2012

You know what’s scary. The outcry and attention being devoted fills the NFL’s sails with pride over how important “their” game is to us.

— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) September 25, 2012