The importance of good officials can’t be overstated.

The lockout of the referees this summer is one bad decision that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell needs to rectify quickly.

Bring back the real referees. Pay them what they ask, or come to a decent, face-saving salary and benefits accommodation and get them on the field as soon as possible.

The first two weeks of the NFL season have shown how important officials are and how transparent, like a Romulan cloaking device, they are when they do their jobs well. When that happens, the product on the field takes the spotlight.

The replacement officials have been absolutely awful, with gaffes galore.

In Week 1, the officials gave the Seattle Seahawks an extra timeout in a game against the Arizona Cardinals. One, two, three…four?

In the primetime Sunday night game pitting the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers last week, the referee told the game crew to reset the “glame cock.” Oops.

A side judge, Brian Stropolo, was taken off a crew working the Saints-Panthers game last week because his Facebook page revealed that he was a Saints fan. Whoops.

That wasn’t the worst of it. Officials are the controlling authorities of each game, interpreting the rule book and making sure the game doesn’t generate into a uncontrolled brawl. The replacement officials aren’t doing either.

Play got chippy in several games Sunday, with the officials unwilling or unable to eject offenders. Offsetting personal foul penalties are a mere slap on the wrist.

That’s a dangerous incident waiting to happen.

This controversy shows that while the average fan loves to hate officials and make them convenient scapegoats for a gut-wrenching call, it’s obvious now to everyone how important their jobs really are. The difference between an entertaining game that flows well and one that doesn’t is the officials.

And just think how difficult the job really is. Making thousands of judgment calls each week is a recipe for a triple-decker stress sandwich with a side of misery. Thankless doesn’t begin to communicate the enormity of their job and the importance to the game we love.

Officials are just like airplanes. Thousands of flights originate in the U.S. everyday. The vast majority make it to their destination. That’s not news. It is when one doesn’t.

The fiasco in the NFL also makes one appreciate the sacrifices endured by high school referees, who make anywhere from $55 to $90, depending on their certification, per game for Mississippi High School Activities Association. Most are competent, care greatly about the game and do a great job.

So when you think that there’s a conspiracy afoot to defraud your team of a victory, remember it could always be worse.

Just ask the NFL.

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Steve Wilson is sports editor of The Vicksburg Post. You can follow him on Twitter at vpsportseditor. He can be reached at 601-636-4545, ext. 142 or at swilson@vicksburgpost.com.