Monday Night Football

We have a company wide picks thing at work every week (I work for Sprint, so our sponsorship gets us 2 free Superbowl tickets each week to give away), and I picked the Broncos to win.  Which, basically, makes this my fault that the Pats are killing them. 

The Chiefs fan in me is pleased though... 

The ironic part was, that before that game I never would have known the guys name, but right after, I am reading my Runner's World and there is Hochuli on the back page as the featured celebrity runner!

To give the guy credit, he responded to just about every pissed off fans' e-mail with a sincere apology and I really do think he regrets the call.  It is up to the NFL to change the rule that made the bad call stick.

I always remember Hochuli because he was ripped for an official.  He's had a lot of high profile games, too...because he used to have a really good record. 

He's lost his touch though.  That call in Denver shook him, the next week he was giving 2 minute explanations for every call.  He's (I guess it would be more accurate to say he and his crew have) also blown major calls in at least 2 of their games since then.  They blew a bunch in the Saints Vikings game, basically handing us the game.  Had a similar early whistle in week 6 as well.  All in all I don't think it's the ref's faults.  The league is doing so much to try to protect their big name players that they've told the refs to call seemingly minor infractions and blow plays dead to minimize contact.  This season will end up being the reason that the NFL has to hire full time officiating crews.