When people say the replacement refs are not professional, they usually mean the stopgap officials are making bad calls or not keeping order on the field.
It turns out they may not be professional in an even worse way.
On the same day a line judge was yanked from covering the New Orleans game after the NFL found out he was unabashed Saints fan by looking at his Facebook page, Eagles running back LeSean McCoy revealed another incident that makes the replacement refs look as bad as they have in the six weeks they've been taking over for the pros.
McCoy said Monday that the refs are "like fans" on the field — being intimidated by players and even talking fantasy football.
"One of the refs was talking about his fantasy team, like, 'McCoy, come on, I need you for my fantasy. Ah, what?' " McCoy told Philadelphia radio station 94WIP.
McCoy said another ref was a bit shaken by Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis doing his usual intimidation routine after a big play.
"During the game, they made like a bad call or something, the ref, and I see Ray Lewis like pump his chest up, trying to scare him," he said. "Don't you know [the ref] started stuttering? I'm like, 'What's this?' "
Lewis, of course, had his own beefs with the refs after the Ravens lost Sunday. As evidence mounts that the replacement refs are clearly out of their element, the protests will only get louder.
For their own well-being, the replacements could consider shutting down their fantasy teams (a violation of rules against refs gambling, by the way) — or just not be as stupid as to say something during an actual NFL game they're officiating.
