National Football League

Hochuli's 'Jungle Boy' reference heard at game

Published Jan. 3, 2015 8:45 p.m. ET

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NEW YORK (AP) Referee Ed Hochuli referred to replay official Tom Sifferman by his nickname ''Jungle Boy,'' which was heard on the in-stadium microphone during the Arizona Cardinals-Carolina Panthers NFC wild-card game Saturday.

NFL spokesman Michael Signora said Hochuli intended to communicate that information to the officiating crew through the official-to-official communications system as he confirmed a penalty for 12-men on the field. But Hochuli inadvertently broadcast the remark on the stadium microphone.

NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino tweeted ''that is Sifferman's nickname on his crew. Hochuli mistakenly opened up his stadium mic, instead of his wireless mic to the other officials.''

Sifferman, a long-time field judge on Hochuli's crew before becoming a replay official, is nicknamed ''Jungle Boy'' by members of the crew for touring a jungle on a trip to Hawaii.

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