Some people think the Denver Broncos are crazy for taunting Tom Brady and calling him a “crybaby” and a “whiner” in advance of the AFC Championship Game, but the overall objective of their smack talk is quite obvious.
The Broncos are already trying to work the officials.
As Jason Cole of Bleacher Report notes, Denver is making a concerted effort to send a message to the referees who will be working Sunday’s game. Cole says the Broncos organization is hoping the banter will help them avoid personal foul calls.
“The real reason behind this is that (defensive linemen) Antonio Smith and Malik Jackson had specific messages for the refs who are going to work the game,” Cole said. “Too often, Brady turns to the official and looks for personal foul calls on late hits.”
Smith kicked the Brady smack talk off this week by calling the four-time Super Bowl champion a “crybaby,” and Jackson later added some similar thoughts of his own.
And that’s not the only way Broncos players are trying to get in the ears of the officiating crew. Linebacker Brandon Marshall said Monday that Rob Gronkowski is so difficult to cover because he gets away with pushing off. Gronk has been called for offensive pass interference numerous times this season, and one of the flags was thrown by Ed Hochuli. Hochuli is in charge of the crew that’s working the AFC Championship Game.
Ed Hochuli will be the referee in Denver. Pats are 3-4 in Hochuli's games since 2010. Hochuli flagged Gronk for OPI vs. NYG in Week 10.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) January 19, 2016
We already listed all the ways in which the Broncos are giving the Patriots bulletin-board material, but they clearly don’t care. If Gronk was successful in getting the flags to stop with this tweet several weeks ago, the Broncos are hoping to swing the pendulum back in their favor.
