Mike Pereira worked as the Vice President of Officiating in the NFL for 12 years, so it’s fair to say he knows the ins and outs of the NFL rulebook pretty well.
On Thursday, Pereira decided to take Jon Gruden to task over a couple of comments the former coach made about the officials during Monday night’s Saints-Falcons broadcast.
“I am not a fan of Gruden’s. Not today, not yesterday,” Pereira writes. “He was a loudmouth as a coach who constantly disrespected officials and he is a blowhard in the broadcast booth who spouts off when he doesn’t know what he is talking about.
“I have very little respect for him when it comes to officiating and his knowledge of the rules.”
Pereira went on to point out two separate plays from Monday’s game, which he says that Gruden “butchered” up in the broadcast booth.
On one play, Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton was flagged for a hit on a defenseless receiver and on another, Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins wasn’t. While Gruden seemed mystified by the discrepancy, Pereira pointed out the simple explanation: one of the hits was illegal, and the other wasn’t.
Pereira may not have to worry about listening to Gruden in the booth much longer, though. Gruden’s name has come up as a candidate for some of the head coach openings in the league for next season.
