Next year: The Hochuli rule?

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There’s not much question that referee Ed Hochuli’s blown call near the end of the game ultimately cost the San Diego Chargers a victory in a playoff-atmosphere game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Now the NFL says it will review the rule that left the ball in the Denver Broncos’ possession even though replays clearly showed that Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler had fumbled and San Diego had recovered.

Because Hochuli had blown his whistle when he mistakenly thought Cutler had thrown an incomplete pass, the play was ruled dead and the Chargers’ apparent recovery of a fumble turned out to be as much of a mirage as their pending victory. Even after a review showed it was a fumble, by the rules, the ball had to stay with Denver. To the NFl’s credit, that may now change.

Today’s acknowledgement that an error had been made and subsequent announcement that it would evaluate the rule does nothing to help the 0-2 Chargers ... this year, anyway.

But the league had harsh words for Hochuli, perhaps the league’s most recognizable ref.

‘Ed has been an outstanding official for many years, but he will be marked down for this call.’ league spokesman Greg Aiello said. ‘Under our evaluation system, an official’s grades impact his status for potentially working the playoffs and ultimately whether or not he is retained.’

Pretty tough talk about an official who may be the most recognizable ref in the NFL today. But as any Chargers fan will tell you, probably not harsh enough.

-- Mike James

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