Pereira: No recourse if helmet speaker fails

Fox Sports rules analyst on what went right, wrong in Week 1

Fox Sports made an inspired move when they hired former NFL vice president for officiating Mike Pereira.   For four years, Pereira has explained difficult rulings and calls to the media.   Pereira was full of knowledge and expertise this past weekend.

Pereira was the first to alert the media and the fans on Sunday during the 49ers-Packers game when the crew mis-enforced a penalty.   Pereira agrees with those who say this is an inexcusable error and he says the entire crew should be downgraded for the mistake.

The former officials’ boss says Ed Hochuli’s crew made the correct call in the Jets-Buccaneers game when Lavonte David hit Geno Smith out-of-bounds with seconds left in the game, allowing the Jets to kick the game-winning field goal (video).

The NFL fined Ndamukong Suh $100,000 for a low block in Sunday’s Lions-Vikings game, and Pereira explains the rule.   Pereira stays in Detroit and explains why Calvin Johnson failed to complete the process of the catch on a potential touchdown.

And finally, Pereira says there is no rule covering a communications failure between the coach and quarterback through the quarterback’s helmet speaker, like what happened to Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman.   Pereira says the only rule of equity in communications systems is from the coaches in the press box to the sideline.

If Week 1 is any indication, Pereira will be busy again this coming week.

Image: Ray Michshaw/Fox Sports 1