According to Football Zebras, Clete Blakeman will be the referee for Sunday's Patriots-Panthers game.
Blakeman has been around a long time, worked a number of big games and seems to have a good relationship with Bill Belichick. He was even at Gillette Stadium this summer during training camp to help work joint practices.
But, Patriots fans may recall he was the referee the last time New England played Carolina on the road, which ended in controversial fashion.
The Patriots trailed 24-20 with four seconds left and the ball inside the red zone. Tom Brady's pass intended for Rob Gronkowski in the end zone fell incomplete, but a flag was thrown on the play giving Patriots fans hope of another play. On replay it looked like Luke Kuechly held Gronkowski.
But after huddling up, Blakeman and his crew picked the flag up, deeming the pass uncatchable and ending the game.
"You never like to end the game with some controversy like that on a call, but I’m pleased that our officiating crew got together and communicated and discussed it and, ultimately, I believe we got it right," he said via the pool report afterwards. "So that to me is the part that is coming away from it. I’m pleased that our crew was able to discuss it and make the call right."
Blakeman does a solid job, but Patriots fans likely won't like to be reminded of the call the last time New England played in Carolina.
