Kansas referee: NFL's replacement officials did the best we could

WELLINGTON , Kan. - The NFL replacement refs were booed, disrespected and after three weeks, sent packing.

Still, one of them says the experience of officiating NFL games was pretty cool.

Mike Wilmoth is a high school social studies teacher in Wellington, Kan.

He's been a referee for 36 years, officiating everything from little league football games to NCAA Division II title games.

Wilmoth knows the replacement crews got a lot of criticism.

But he says he feels everyone did the best job they could.

“Thousands of plays were called exactly right,” Wilmoth said, admitting the “dozen, two dozen that have made the highlights really hurt us.”

The NFL's real referees returned to the field this week and will vote on a new contract deal.

Wilmoth is also back on the field, the high school football field.