Just watching highlight reels or reading game recaps don't paint the full picture. There are, in my mind, three major aspects to the problem these scabs represent, besides my own obvious bias against scabs, what with it being no secret that I am generally pro-union.

1. Officiating Errors: The most obvious, and least compelling, problem. Yes, there have been egregious errors, but you are right in saying that this has always been the case. Officials are like offensive linemen... the only reason you notice them is if they are doing something wrong. Every week in the NFL has at least one game, maybe even two, with multiple instances of just bad officiating. The difference here seems to be that EVERY game is having them.

2. Game flow: Officials are responsible for keeping the game moving in a timely manner, to avoid long stoppages of play unless absolutely necessary. Monday night was a near catastrophic failure in that regard, with rulings, re-rulings, long conferences, etc. Also evident is a fear of the scabs to blow plays dead, leading to a great deal of after-the-play contact, which leads to aspect 3.

3. Game control: These guys are substitute teachers. The absolute lack of respect for them in the eyes of the players and the coaches is evident. This is the biggest problem and the one that cannot at all be laid at the scabs feet... coaches will use anything to try to influence future calls, so of course they'll badger the new guys. Players have a vested interest in not respecting the scabs, as the Ownership losing this round can only benefit the players union.

Plays go on for too long, leading to LOTS of conduct that would normally be late. Players get frustrated, so players get chippy. This makes other players frustrated, and THEY get chippy. Their coaches get visibly upset most of the time and this translates to them. It snowballed from week one to week two... it will snowball again to week three, and the product will continue to get worse.

So, if all you factor is bad calls, then yeah, other than a raise in volume (which you would expect with a new group figuring things out) it isn't a big deal. It is when the other factors are brought in that the problem becomes evident.

I also think it is a bit off to call the refs whiners... all they want is the same pension plan they signed on for, and it isn't as if they are striking. They have been locked out. They were even willing to accept new refs being on the new plan so long as those already on keep their original plan. They aren't pushing for better pay, they want to keep their current payscale. Fairly reasonable, given how the NFL only gets more and more profitable.