AP Columnist Literally Argues NFL Officiating Cannot Improve

There's no doubt that the officiating in the NFL has gotten absurdly bad in this past decade -- just ask anyone that watched last season's NFC Championship between the Rams and Saints.

For one columnist, however, this clear and apparent issue is one that actually cannot be fixed. Not anytime soon, anyway.

Take it away, Jim Litke!

With the scrutiny that NFL officials now face thanks to the global expansion of the sport across a 24-hour news cycle and an endless social media grind, it seems as though every mistake they make is depicted as an utter travesty. Litke defends the men and women responsible for these mistakes, as he suggests that human error is a fact of life -- and he's right -- while also attempting to humanize the referees themselves.

Yes, they may look like zebras but I can assure you they are human beings.

The pressure put upon these individuals to make the right call in extremely murky, high-pressure situations is immeasurable, and regardless of their decisions, there is no situation in which everyone will be happy. Is this really just the world we've made for ourselves?

With such blind hate for referees having seemingly risen to a new level in recent years, a sincere defense of football officials feels in many ways like a breath of fresh air, as it is easy to get caught up in the moment when a call does not go your team's way. Perhaps this AP article is something of a New Year's Resolution to live and let live when it comes to the guys in the stripes.