Officials expect scrutiny in big game

DETROIT -- They're the guys in black and white. No names needed. Unless they make a bad call.

Then, everyone finds out who these NFL officials are. Criticized and vilified, their eyesight and sanity are called into question. And a lot of them are making names for themselves lately.

In a postseason filled with questionable calls, the spotlight will be harsher than ever for referee Bill Leavy and his officiating crew when Pittsburgh plays Seattle on Super Bowl Sunday.

"What we want to do is to pick up the paper Monday and read about the game, not the officiating," said Mike Pereira, who oversees NFL refs. "We all want to be anonymous."

That can be tough sometimes. With more than 130 million people watching the Super Bowl, a wrong move can lead to outrage.

"There's no such thing as perfection. Mistakes happen," said Jerry Markbreit, the only person to be the head referee in four Super Bowls. "Officials are so hard on themselves. When they make a mistake, nobody feels worse than they do."