NFL Dealt Another Blow, But It Wasn’t “Inadvertent”

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According to Dictionary.com, the primary definition of the word ‘inadvertent’ is ‘unintentional.’  So, in my opinion, it’s highly erroneous for everyone around football – including players, fans and media – to refer to Ed Hochuli’s whistle as such.

His blow of the whistle in Denver Sunday was not unintentional; it was, in fact, just wrong.  It’s not that he didn’t mean to do it.  There was no confusion other than the fact that he was making the wrong call.

And I’m not here to beat up on officials.  They have a really tough job and generally do a pretty good job.  I agree that Hochuli should be commended for owning up to his mistake, but what was his other option?  To ignore the rules simply because he knew he’d screwed up?  Honestly, is it possible that while under the hood Ed was thinking, “Do you think anyone will call me on this if ignore the whistle?”  

I certainly didn’t even think to listen for the whistle prior to the replay ruling, but if I were a Broncos fan I have to think I may have been scrutinizing every detail of that play during the many replays.

*****

So the NFL is off to a rough start in 2008.  Consider what happened in the weeks leading up to and including the opening weekend:

1. The death of Gene Upshaw
2. The life-threatening shooting of Jaguars’ OL Richard Collier
3. The season-ending injury to poster boy Tom Brady
4. A hobbled Peyton Manning limping to a home-opening defeat
5. The mockery of an idiotic WR changing his last name to spanish digits
6. The mockery of a gray-haired QB holding the sports world hostage due to his own indecision
7. The apparent insanity of a once-promising young QB in Tennessee
8. A hurricane causing enough damage to force the postponement of a game

But prior to the officiating error in Denver, it seemed we were dealing quite well despite a tumultuous opening to the season.

Upshaw has been appropriately honored in his passing.  Collier has improved.  Cassel stepped up and slayed the Favre monster in Brady’s absence.  Peyton rallied the short-handed Colts for a rather unlikely road win.  The Bengals’ ineptitude has made 85 irrelevant.  And Jeff Fisher’s Titans have prepared to move on – at least temporarily – without the Vinsanity they experienced after Week One. 

I certainly have no idea what to expect next.  And we’re only two weeks into the season.

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Filed under Brett Favre, Chad Johnson, Denver Broncos, Ed Hochuli, Football, Media, NFL, Peyton Manning, San Diego Chargers, Sports, TV, Tom Brady