Has anybody heard through their possible "sources" who the NFL has assigned for the AFC/NFC Champiohsip Games, and then the Super Bowl?

REPLY: Not yet...

Super Bowl Officials
 

I would look at those officials who worked wild-card games.

Not the crew from NE/INDY
 

The crew that called the INDY/NE game checked their collective gonads at the gate. I sure would hate for the NFL to be embarrassed by that crew.

Re: Not the crew from NE/INDY
 

cheifgil, what were you so unhappy with??

PREDICTIONS:

NFC Championship: Carey
AFC Championship: Hochuli

Super Bowl: Corollo

So if Baseball North's predictions come true, it means that the past SBs were officiated by:

Corollo
Hochuli (Corollo alternate)
Corollo (Hochuli alternate)
???
???
???

Does anyone else finid that funny?

They are just predictions, haha.

I'm a baseball guy at heart, but I do take an interest in NFL officiating as well.

We'll see how my predictions go.

I haven't seen Gerald Austin in any playoff games yet.

I can't imagine him being totally left out of the playoffs especially with him being one of the top referees.

REPLY: Just an observation...since 1994, all Super Bowl referees except for last season have come out of the wild card round. Last season, Hochuli work the NFC Divisional playoff. So the question is whether the NFL made an exception last season or are they changing their procedure and taking the R out of the divisional playoof round?

Also, since 1994, the only referee to work more than 1 playoff game was the SB referee, until last year.

Last year, two WC , Coleman and Kukar, worked the conf. championship games and Hoculi worked the SB, as Bob said.

Kukar, Austin, and Nemmers have not worked a game.

If it's true that only 8 referees/crews are selected now, and last year holds true, then we're looking at either Hoculi, Coleman, Anderson, or Carey this weekend. I figure Hoculi gets one of those games.

For the SB, we're looking at Leavy, Morelli, Carollo, or McAulay. I'll go with Carollo.

REPLY: Kukar has the Pro-Bowl in Honolulu next month.

I'm with you.

If that does indeed happen, I think it speaks volumes what the NFL thinks of their officiating crews. Doesn't it say that basically it is up to Hochuli or Corollo to lose the SB?

Keep in mind that since 2003, CREWS and not individuals are working. Even good referees may have been on lower rated crews. My understanding is that all crews working this weekend and the SB have already worked a playoff game.

The exceptions are rookies at any position. I can only speculate that when there is a rookie (2nd year also??) they go get the highest rated individual from that position that isn't also in the playoffs.

Which brings up an interesting dilemma: 11 total games played, with 3 crews working 2 games. So, top 8 crews, but what if the SB crew has a rookie Side Judge. Do they get the highest rated SJ, who happens to be on either crew 2 or 3, and he thus works his THIRD playoff game? Go down to number 4 who works his SECOND playoff game? Or go to number 9?

Officials are ineligible during their first 5 years in the NFL. Considering that most crews have 1 or 2 officials who are ineligible, it kind of throws the crew concept out the door.

As best I can remember in an explanation from an NFL supervisor, the top eight crews receive playoff assignments. In cases where there are rookies on a crew, they are replaced by the highest ranked official at that position who is not already working a playoff game. The top crew will work the wild card weekend and the Super Bowl. But no official can work the Super Bowl two years in a row, therefore, you will not see Ed Hochuli on the field in Jacksonville this year.

If I am correct, both Hochuli and Carey worked wild card games as replacement referees.

Oh yes, by contract the top rated crew gets the Super Bowl and all accomodations. The second rated crews gets the Pro Bowl and all accomodations for him and his spouse.

I would take Honolulu in early February to Jacksonville any time.

Bill Carollo is in Philly
Walt Anderson is in Pittsburgh

Kukar has the Pro Bowl

Are you sure it's Corollo on Sunday?

Didn't he just work last week? I thought that they can't work consecutive weeks.

If those conference assignments are true, I would look for Mike Carey to get the SB.

I just realized that I've been spelling Carollo wrong.

superbowl.com says a not o. I picked up Corollo from an NFL game broadcast. Hmm...

Did Mike Carey have a good year? I didn't see him much this year. I know he's a good official.

A fun day in the state of PA.