NFL explains referee’s ‘Jungle Boy’ comment during playoff game
Leave it to a referee to steal the spotlight in Saturday’s first NFL playoff game.
The snoozer between the now 8-8-1 Panthers and the Ryan Lindley-led Cardinals got a boost from referee Ed Hochuli. He opened the game by giving Carolina the choice on the coin-toss after the Cardinals won the toss (that was corrected).
He also said it was the end of the first quarter ... after the third quarter ended.
But this was the doozy:
Hochuli on a hot mic: "I got the word from Jungle Boy that was a good call."
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 3, 2015Ed Hochuli just had another hot mic and AGAIN said Jungle Boy
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 4, 2015Here is the explanation from the NFL’s vice president of officiating:
For those asking Hochuli did make a reference to "Jungle Boy" in the 3rd Qtr. He was referring to Replay Official Tom Sifferman (cont.)
— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) January 4, 2015For those asking Hochuli did make a reference to "Jungle Boy" in the 3rd Qtr. He was referring to Replay Official Tom Sifferman (cont.)
— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) January 4, 2015According to the Associated Press, Sifferman was a long-time field judge on Hochuli’s crew before becoming a replay official. He was nicknamed “Jungle Boy” by members of the crew for touring a jungle on a trip to Hawaii.
Here is what people said about the other calls:
"That is the end of the the first quarter." -- Ed Hochuli (at the end of the third quarter)
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) January 4, 2015Ed Hochuli messed up the coin toss. Arizona had called tails and it was tails. Then tried to give the Panthers the choice.
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) January 3, 2015To reach Pete Grathoff, call 816-234-4330 or send email to pgrathoff@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published January 3, 2015 at 7:31 PM.