Victory upheld:
NFL concedes refs missed penalty.
T.J. Lang knew his words could trigger a fine from the NFL. He didn’t care. He wanted to take a stand.
So with a trio of blistering, profanity-laced tweets, the Packers’ left guard did exactly that Tuesday, criticizing the league for using replacement officials that cost his team a game Monday and even concluding one of his tweets, “Fine me and use the money to pay the regular refs.”
The NFL had conceded Tuesday that a missed call (offensive pass interference) enabled the Seahawks to score a touchdown on the final play of a 14-12 win over the Packers — yet still upheld the Seahawks’ victory.
Lang’s tweets resonated, being retweeted more than 186,000 times by Tuesday night.
He said he regretted the profanity, but not the stand.
“I think we’ve gotten to a point where if we don’t take a stand, nothing’s going to happen,” Lang said. “We’d just be letting these refs ruin games. The NFL doesn’t give a crap. They’re still making money. People are still coming to the games.
“There needs to be more players who speak out to really put pressure on the NFL to try to get something done.”
The league met with its lockedout officials Tuesday in an attempt to resolve its collective bargaining impasse. Raiders add linebacker: The Raiders signed free-agent linebacker Vic So’oto to help their pass rush and waived linebacker Carl Ihenacho of San Jose State. So’oto played in seven games with the Packers last season after signing as a non-drafted free agent from BYU.
So’oto, a second cousin of late All-Pro linebacker Junior Seau, recorded seven tackles (five solo) and one sack with the Packers in 2011. Green Bay placed So’oto on injured reserve with an ankle injury Sept. 1 and then reached an injury settlement and waived him Sept. 10. Briefly: Denver linebacker Joe Mays was suspended for one game and fined $50,000 by the NFL for his hit on Houston quarterback Matt Schaub on Sunday. … Buffalo released punter Brian Moorman and signed rookie freeagent Shawn Powell. … The Eagles signed two-time Pro Bowl punter Mat McBriar to a two-year contract and released Chas Henry.