Replacement referee Wayne Elliott says Mike McCarthy called him, admits he would've ruled interception

Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

The NFL's infamous chapter with replacement officials is more than a week in the rearview mirror, but two of those referees shared their experiences Wednesday night during an extremely revealing interview on Showtime's Inside the NFL.

A fascinating, 17-minute sitdown provided rare insight into their treatment on and off the field as well as some of the guidance they received from the league prior to reaching the big stage.

The most interesting vignettes came from Wayne Elliott, who reffed the final replacement official game, the controversial Green Bay Packers-Seattle Seahawks Monday nighter that most observers feel was gift-wrapped to Seattle with an erroneous game-ending touchdown awarded by Elliott's crew.

"The phone didn't quit ringing for 72 hours probably, lot of Wisconsin phone calls to my number," said Elliott, who reviewed the final play but did not overturn Golden Tate's TD reception, a ruling the NFL subsequently supported.

Asked about the mood in the dressing room after the game, Elliott said: "It was quiet. It was like a losing locker room, very little conversation."

The league did indicate in a statement the day after the game that Tate should have been flagged for offensive pass interference. Yet Elliott said of the training the replacements received, "It was brought up that you don't really call interference on a Hail Mary. ... You just let it go."

Pressed about how he now viewed the play, Elliott (who was not in the end zone and did not make the initial call) momentarily hedged before admitting, "I'd probably call interception.

"I learned a rule by screwing up the rule."

But perhaps most shocking of all, Elliott said he received a voicemail from Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who all along showed great restraint even in the wake of a scenario that many feel cost his team a rightful victory.

"He called me at my house last week because he had heard I was having a rough week with all the calls and everything," Elliott said of McCarthy. "Wanted (me) to know that he thought what I did — controversial and maybe he didn't agree with it — (but he thought) I handled it with class."

Jim Core, who reffed the season opener between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys among other games, appeared with Elliott on Inside the NFL.

Despite the negative press and difficulty on their families, both men steadfastly counted their brief NFL tour as wonderful experiences even though it came at a heavy cost.

"We knew crossing the (picket) line was going to end (our) college career," said Core, insinuating that since NFL officials often oversee college conferences, opportunities for "scab officials" would no longer be forthcoming.

But worth it anyway, evidently.

"I had the time of my life," said Elliott, adding he'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Core said he was largely treated respectfully on the field but was critical of Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie head coach Greg Schiano. "He's college," said Core, not paying Schiano a compliment. "The rest of them (coaches) acted at a different level."

Elliott, who seemed to get a kick out of the interview, wistfully recalled being called "a (expletive) replacement ref" by Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler.

Galvanizing the presidential nominees even tickled Elliott, who ironically resembles and sounds like James Carville.



"I was glad to bring the nation together I guess," he cracked.