Football Zebras commentary
Part of our annual tradition is to predict which referees are assigned to the postseason and the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, there are several outside obligations that have prevented us from doing a full rundown. So, without further elaboration, here are our selections:
Ben Austro | Mark Schultz | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Super Bowl | Pete Morelli | Pete Morelli | ||
Conference Championship | Carl Cheffers | Clete Blakeman | ||
Bill Vinovich | Tony Corrente | |||
Divisional Playoffs | Tony Corrente | Walt Anderson | ||
Bill Leavy | Ed Hochuli | |||
Pete Morelli | Pete Morelli | |||
John Parry | (1) | Gene Steratore | ||
Wild Card Playoffs | Walt Anderson | Jerome Boger | ||
Clete Blakeman | Bill Leavy | |||
Jerome Boger | Terry McAulay | |||
Ed Hochuli | John Parry | (1) | ||
Pro Bowl | Gene Steratore | Carl Cheffers | ||
27 | 27 |
Scoring
We will score the predictions as follows: 5 points for a correctly slotted referee, 3 points for selections off by a round, 2 for two rounds, 1 for three rounds, and 1 point each for a Pro Bowl guess who works the playoffs and a playoff guess who works the Pro Bowl. (Ties broken by the number of correctly slotted referees, then by scores in each round in descending order.)
I won’t say which games but I’m sure these guys will work the playoffs – most if the usual suspects. Hochuli, Corrente, Anderson, Vinovich, Boger and Parry…
I predicted Pete Morelli for the Super Bowl. I predicted Vinovich for Conference Title game. Surprised that Ben doesnot have Terry McAuley working a post-season game.
Sorry for mispelling of Terry McAulay’s name on my previous post.
If Vinovich is in the same stadium as Peyton Manning, the broncos are screwed.
McAulay definitely deserves to be in there, no less than a divisional. But I’m predicting here, and I have a feeling he might be shut out, totally undeservedly
McAulay just did last year’s Super Bowl anyways.
You both have Leavy graded highly. Wouldn’t it be interesting if he had another crack at a Super Bowl involving Seattle. Hawks fans weren’t happy with him in February of 06. Especially since the SB officials are probably picked before the teams make it.
My predictions:
Divisional Round:
Tony Corrente
Brad Allen
Gene Steratore
Bill Vinovich
Conference Championships:
Carl Cheffers
John Parry
Super Bowl XLIX:
Bill Vinovich
Pro Bowl:
Walt Anderson
Cheffers is working a wildcard game and I believe new refs can’t do the postseason their rookie year….
I keep going back to that roughing the passer call in Seattle that the league had to apologize for. In a league where the officiating is so top-notch, that call, which I believe is a ding against Hoculi, could easily be the difference between WC weekend and Div weekend and ultimately SB Weekend.
I sincerely hope that Vinovich isn’t near a playoff field. He is absolutely the worst.
for me the Referee who had the best season was actually a rookie Brad Allen he has been great this season I really hope he gets a playoff! I mean after all he was the only official in NFL History to go from College football to referee in the NFL in one season! Maybe NFL make an exception!