AP

We noted during Friday night’s Giants-Jaguars preseason game that the replacement officials called holding on a Giants punt return by Jayron Hosley — and the ref called Hosley’s number when announcing the penalty. Obviously, a ball carrier can’t hold for himself, and Giants receiver Victor Cruz says that referee’s mistake was a prime example of why the NFL needs to come to an agreement with the regular officials.

“That was probably the most mind-boggling one to me,” Cruz said of the holding call on Hosley, via the New York Times. “I’m a little concerned because we want to make sure we’re getting the best referees we can. I actually overheard one of the refs saying he only refereed glorified high school games, which I don’t even know what that means.”

I don’t know what “glorified high school games” means either, but it’s probably better than the Lingerie Football League, where another replacement ref previously worked. Cruz said that the players, who were locked out by the owners a year ago, can sympathize with the NFL Referees Association.

“We understand the situation that they’re in,” Cruz said. “We want the best ideal situation so they can get back on the field.”

Eventually, a deal will get done so they can get back on the field, but that deal needs to happen within the next couple weeks or else replacement refs will work some regular-season games before the regular officials come back. Cruz says he’s eager to see a deal get done so that the best officials can get back on the field.

“That will probably be the first time I’ll be happy to see a ref I saw from last year,” Cruz said. “I’m going to shake his hand and say, ‘Thank you for coming back.’”

If the replacement refs continue making mistakes like that ridiculous holding call, plenty of fans will join Cruz in welcoming the real refs back.