Ed Hochuli working the playoffs: Miami vs Baltimore
 

Even with all the flack that Hochuli got for the SD vs Denver game earlier, he still gets a playoff game.

I find it very interesting and can only imagine if SD didn't get into the playoffs if there would be more of an uproar.

Hochuli must have graded out pretty well throughout the season to get this assignment despite the week 2 game.

It was 1 call. It probably gets the same weight as any other call.

The #1 rated crew in the NFL.

As Rich said, it was one call in one game. Every official in the league has missed a call this year. In fact, they've all missed more than one.

I doubt very seriously the NFL cares about any uproar.

Im glad to see Ed's crew get rated as the #1 crew in the NFL. Good job for those guys.

How do you know they were the #1 rated crew? I don't question it, just curious about your source. I agree it was just one play and did not make or break anyone's season (teams or officials).

The CBS announcer said that, although I wonder if he had any actual knowledge.

Yep, I believe i heard Phil Simms say that too. Whether or not it's completely accurate, I don't know, but I'm sure Hochuli and his crew rated pretty high to be able to get a playoff game.

I wonder if Hochuli's shot at getting the Super Bowl this season hinges on SD not getting there...

I can't imagine this being the case.

I would bet that the Pereira made it know to the announcers that they were the #1 crew cuz you know it was going to be talked about. One call, one game, great rest of the year obviously!!!

I recall in previous years that whoever the #1 rated crew was mentioned. I don't see it as being something new this year.

Are they working as crews in the playoffs -- if so, all rounds or just early ones? What about rookies on their crews?

Ed's LJ #47 Pedroia (a rookie) is not on the game. The LJ is #10, from another crew.

Crews thus far:

ATL/AZ: Parry (R), C Paganelli (U), Bowers* (HL), Marinucci* (LJ), Coleman (SJ), Wrolstad* (FL), P Paganelli* (BJ)
IND/SD: Winter (R), Dawson (U), Mello* (HL), Stephan* (LJ), Hill* (SJ), Carroll* (FJ), Reels* (BJ)

*Were on this referee's crew this season

Rookies don't work playoffs. I forget how many years they have to work before they're eligible. There used to be a good site ofr this type of info, including who worked every game.

Last week's Official Review Mike Pereria said rookies and officials with problems would not work the playoffs. The conference finals and the Super Bowl will be all-star crews.

Greg Gumbel said Hochuli's crew was rated #1. That does not mean Ed himself was rated number 1; however, consider each official is rated for every call/no-call and the SD-Denver call was only one call in 16 games. One call a season does not make.

Thanks Ed and everyone else for clarifying where they heard Hochuli was the #1 crew. I only watched some of the game and had not heard that. Good for them! I only wish our high school crews in Indiana could be evaluated by someone who actually knows something about officating, philosophies and rules rather than just the coaches.

REPLY: This was the site you're referring to, I believe. Behind the Football Stripes

But it went 'dormant' in 2005 and hasn't been updated since. And in its latter days, every click created an unwanted ad of some sort.

That's Tim Podraza , my first year instructor. You'll have a real hard time finding a nicer guy and better official anywhere.

Other two games:

BAL/MIA: Hochuli (R), Brown* (U), Hittner* (HL), Phares (LJ), Weatherford* (SJ), Sifferman* (FJ), Schmitz* (BJ).
PHI/MIN: Corrente (R), Hall (U), McGrath* (HL), Hussey* (LJ), Lamberth (SJ), Weir* (FJ), Paganelli (BJ)

*Were on this referee's crew this season.

It's Podraza (#47).

#10 is a HL. Why was he working LJ?

Why are you asking me? Do I look like Pereria's secretary? :D :eek:

(Sorry - couldn't resist.)

I knew I had his name wrong; I should have looked it up. I usually look at the roster many times throughout the season; though this season was just at the beginning.

Give Tim my apologies? :p

Some clarification about how it all works.

I generally like Peter King, but he fell into the same mistake as many saying that he can't believe Hochuli is one of the top rated officials based on the magnitue of the missed SD/DEN call (i.e. one that 'decided' the game). The truth is, if this happened in the 2nd quarter of an October game between teams with losing records, no one would even think about it, and it would be impossible that anyone would suggest that official should miss the playoffs for that call. Yet, that 'meaningless' call (meaningless in the eyes of many fans anyway) is just as important to the official.

High profile vs. losing teams. That explains the hoopla. Pretty natural reaction. Ed is still top notch and he showed that by the way he handled the situation. He received many emails about the call (most you can expect to be very negative) and he replied to most of them. Pretty classy.

Yep.

The game in question was a late game, too, wasn't it? Meaning a lot of people got switched to it when their games were over? So it was seen by a good bit of the populace.

Oh, I agree that it a totally natural reaction, and I probably would have reacted the same before I was an official. We know better and can say that it is just another call in terms of rating him. I certainly compliment the NFL on doing the right thing with Hochuli rather than what would have been the easier decision from a PR perspective.