Packers-Seahawks call sets fans abuzz - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

It was the call that set off football fans across the country. That final play in Monday night's game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.

Was it a touchdown for Seattle or an interception for Green Bay? The two referees in the end zone couldn't agree. Tuesday it was the talk of talk radio, the one thing everyone wanted to weigh in on The Grady and Big Joe Show on 1070 the fan.

One caller said, "For the first time you can say officials really did decide the outcome of a game."

Another said, "If fans don't like it they should quit watching for a week," to which Michael Grady asked, "Are you really going to do that? Turn that game off?"

Grady said it was time Jim Irsay and the other NFL owners get "called out on this...what's it going to take to realize that they're tainting the image of a once-proud game? That they [all sides] are turning the game into a joke?"

It wasn't just the last play of the Monday night's game but other questionable calls made since the start of the season by replacement refs. The refs were hired to fill in for members of the NFL Referees Association, who've been locked out in a labor dispute with the NFL.

As former Colt Michael Staysniak noted, "Twitter's blowing up, Facebook's blowing, up. People are interviewing all the players. They're not happy."

Just about everyone Eyewitness News approached on the issue Tuesday had an opinion.

Colts fan Jeff Bishop said, "What can we do? We're fans of the NFL, fans of the Colts. We like to watch the game. It's crazy. Hire them back, give them what they want and get the integrity back into the game."

Marcia Donner agreed, "It's starting to pile up now. At first it was give them a shot and one thing led to another. I think it's time they do something."

Mark Woodward said, "The league makes billions. I'm pretty sure they can handle the labor dispute."

But who's really to blame? Kim Donahue, Senior Lecturer of Marketing at IUPUI's Kelley School of Business said, "I wish I could point the finger at one person, but it's part of the negotiating process. Both sides are in a power struggle."

While ratings and attendance have remained high, Donahue predicts they'll start to slip if there's not a resolution soon.

"I think in another week fans are not going to put up with this," she said.

Donahue noted when fans are angry they stop buying merchandise, then single game tickets.

"People are not going to spend money to see a game where their team should have won, but didn't because of bad calls," she said.

Donahue also said unlike recent teacher strikes, people seemed to be siding with the union.

"This is football. This is how we escape and you're messing with that. Fans are saying pay them and get them back on the field," she said.

Colts fans have a bye this week. Fans are hoping the dispute is resolved in time for their next game, which is Oct. 7th at home against Green Bay.