Should Ed Hochuli be punished by the NFL?

This week’s installment of For Argument’s Sake takes a look at veteran NFL referee who made a rookie mistake last Sunday that affected the outcome of a game between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers.

Ed Hochuli has been an NFL referee for years. He’s easily spotted because of his incredibly toned and built physique, which sets him apart from any other referee on the field. I used to think his bicep would pop right out of his uniform whenever he gave the “first down” signal.

Coincidentally enough, I Hochuliwas profiled in Runner’s World magazine about how he keeps in such great shape. In case you weren’t aware, Hochuli is a highly respected referee around the league among players, officials, coaches and owners alike. Needless to say, it was a bit of a shock to everyone when he made the officiating blunder that he did, costing the Chargers the game.

So what I want to know is this: Should Ed Hochuli be punished by the NFL?

(Don’t forget to cast your vote in the poll!)

My argument is this:
Hasn’t he been punished enough? His “grade” is going to be lowered by the NFL, which determines which refs get to officiate playoffs games and the biggest, most important football game of all — the Superbowl. Would it really make a difference at this point if they asked him to sit out a game or two?

Also, the guy is obviously torn up about the call. ESPN reported that Hochuli has already come forward and admitted fault. He’s not making any excuses, he’s taking responsibility for his actions. He’s even going so far as answering hate mail from Charger fans with too much time on their hands. He doesn’t owe them anything, but he’s taking time out to apologize and answer each e-mail specifically. That’s what makes Hochuli such a good referee. He understands the passion of the fans, the players, the coaches and the owners. He gets it. He gets football.

And that’s why I know he’ll bounce back from this. After all, he’s human. And humans make mistakes.

The results of the AFC East poll are in! The question was: With Tom Brady out, who’s going to win the AFC East? The majority of you think that the New York Jets are going to win the division.

For previous editions of For Argument’s Sake, go here.

Photo provided by Newscom