Looks like referee ED Hochuli might be facing an investigation for his alleged word exchange with Carolina Panthers QB, Cam Newton.
During the Panthers victory against division rivals, New Orleans Saints, Newton suffered a late hit in the 4th quarter that looked like it should’ve been a penalty. To his dismay, referee Ed Hochuli thought otherwise, the two exchange words and the game continued without a flag on the play. Ref Ed Hochuli Could Face Discipline For Comment to Cam Newton During the media press conference, Cam was asked about the exchange and said that Hochuli told him: “You’re not old enough to get that call”
“I looked at him like: ‘Jesus! I didn’t think you had to have seniority to get a personal foul or anything like that,'” Newton said.
“If he would have said he missed the call, that is one thing,” Newton said. “But for his response to be what it was and I’m not old enough to get that call … Geez!
“So heaven forbid he gets any rookies or they’re gonna have a long day, man.”
It has been said before that Cam’s size has prevented many flags from being thrown his way, but now adding in age? Doesn’t sound to fair, does it? NFL Vice President of Officiating, Dan Blandino has stated that he has spoken with Hochuli and also agrees with his ruling.
“He told me that he said, ‘The difference is you were running,'” Blandino said. “I think when you look at the tape it does look like Ed did say that … at one point. You can’t see everything that Ed says, but he’s adamant he didn’t say it, and I think that’s where we are right now and we’re just going to kind of move on from there.”
“Cam was outside the pocket and he threw the ball on the run, so there are different protections for a quarterback that is running outside the pocket versus in the pocket,” Blandino said. “Outside the pocket you don’t get the two-step protection, and so when you look at the play, Cam threw on the run, there was some contact, it wasn’t late and it wasn’t a foul.”
During the NFL investigation, if Hochuli is to be found guilty of saying such words, he will be disciplined.
“Any official could be disciplined if they say something inappropriate, and we do not teach that the number of years a player is in the league is going to determine whether a foul is called,” Blandino said. “It’s the posture that he’s in and was there a violation.”
It looks like a case of “he said, he said” not too sure how they will be able to get what REALLY was said on the field. It’s probably best if its left in the past and both parties move on. ‘
H/T: ESPN