Today has been a special day for those “regular” refs we thought we really wanted back after being subjected to the incompetence of the replacement referees. If today is any indication, there may not have been any difference between them.

Now that the replacement refs are gone, more of an effort is being made to present them as sympathetic figures. Showtimes Inside the NFL did its part last night by bringing on two replacements to talk about their experience… including one from the infamous Seahawks-Packers game.

The referee lockout that was produced some of the stranger sights we’ve ever seen come out of the NFL. But perhaps none were weirder than what happened at the end of the lockout, tonight in Baltimore. Did there ever come a day you thought you’d see fans stand up and cheer for our dear old zebras, as they tip our caps back at us in gratitude? Well, the two of you got your wish.

Ah, NFL referee lockout. You’re over now, and frankly, we’re glad to be done with you. But in fairness to you, while you were around, you were a fertile source of comedy -especially as you were about to end.

It took the league being completely embarrassed on a marquee stage for it to finally happen, but it happened: the NFL’s much-maligned referee lockout is over. Your life is whole once again.

As our replacement ref nightmare winds down, and the real officials close in on a deal that will allow them to return to work, let’s catch up with lovable scallywag/NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley for one more tale of replacement ref woe.

Even though it happened less than 48 hours ago, it’s hard for us to remember a pre-Seattle-Screwjob world, so it’s easy to forget that there was plenty of replacement ref controversy over the weekend, too – and the fallout from said controversy is now official.

Ah, yes. Just what Packers fans wanted to hear. The latest development from Monday night’s referee disaster, after the jump.

Though everyone had gotten all their replacement-ref thoughts out of their system yesterday after the Monday Nightmare and sites like ours devoted nearly their entire day to talking about it? Not just yet.

On the flight home from last night’s officiating debacle, the Packers got to schemin’. T.J. Lang says they discussed taking a knee on every offensive snap until the old referees are back. They also talked about going on strike. Details, after the jump.