Ed Hochuli's acknowledgement that he erred on a call late in Sunday's San Diego-Denver game will mean lower grades for one of the NFL's highest profile referees.
"Officials are held accountable for their calls. They are graded on every play of every game," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said yesterday. "Ed has been an outstanding official for many years, but he will be marked down for this call. Under our evaluation system, an official's grades impact his status for potentially working the playoffs and ultimately whether or not he is retained."
The play occurred with the Broncos at the Chargers 1-yard line in the final minute. As Denver QB Jay Cutler dropped back, the ball slipped out and bounced off the grass into the arms of San Diego LB Tim Dobbins.
Though replay showed it was a fumble, Hochuli ruled it an incomplete pass and Denver went on to score, convert a two-point conversion and win, 39-38.
"It's going to require a great deal of discussion," said Titans Coach Jeff Fisher, the co-chairman of the competition committee, which might review the play in the offseason. "When the whistle blows and the pass is ruled incomplete, there's just no way currently that you can award possession."
The Titans (2-0) are sticking with veteran Kerry Collins as their starting quarterback as long as the team keeps winning.
Fisher said he didn't know the condition of Vince Young's sprained left knee and didn't talk to the quarterback, whose mental attitude was a national topic of discussion over the past week.
Chargers LB Shawne Merriman, who is out for the season, had surgery to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee.
Separately, he also was fined $7,500 for a below-the-knees hit on Panthers QB Jake Delhomme on Sept. 7.
Falcons S Lawyer Milloy was arrested on DUI and speeding charges in Lawrenceville, Ga.Browns DE Robaire Smith sustained a potentially season-ending injury to his left Achilles' heel during a loss to the Steelers.
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