This is a no-brainer. The NFL needs to step in and remove any possibility of any remote sppearance of impropriety and remove this guy. I honestly can not fathom how they would want the **** storm that would happen if the Seahags, after their first gifted game from the officials, got a playoff gift, or anything that remotely resembled a gift.
The NFL is really, REALLY stupid if they don't replace this guy.
Sooo... no chance he gets replaced, right?
No chance. This is the same league office that was squabbling about small things to the point that they let the replacement refs blow the Seattle-Green Bay game. They don't care enough to do anything and will only care after the fact if something egregious happens. The pattern with the league and refs is reactive rather than proactive.