Pereira: In ugly Week 2, nothing uglier than those replay screw-ups
There's no sugarcoating it — Week 2 was an ugly one in the NFL. Off-field issues dominated the headlines in the beginning of the week. And injury updates on some of the game's biggest stars will no doubt dominate Monday morning headlines.
But when it comes to actually playing football, we saw plenty of examples Sunday that we're still in the early season, from blown calls and bonehead coaching moves to players earning calls from the NFL's department of fines and, for the first time, some real problems with the revamped replay system.
And who better to break it all down than FOX's guru of football officiating, Mike Pereira? And where better to start than sunny Southern California, where perhaps the day's most stunning upset, and one of the most stunning failures in replay we have seen in some time, converged?
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The play: The Seahawks' Percy Harvin took a toss from QB Russell Wilson and raced down the left sideline for a 51-yard TD to give the defending champs a 7-3 lead in San Diego (the Chargers would win 30-21). However, Harvin clearly stepped out of bounds around the 20-yard line. And yet the TD was allowed to stand.
How could this be, what with the new system where NFL headquarters can be involved in replay to assist the on-field referees? Well, as you can see in the video above, no technology can overcome a group of humans who don't talk to each other enough to figure out who's seeing what. And what's more, like mom always said about running by the pool — slow down!
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The play: With the Jets trailing 31-24 late at Green Bay, it appeared they had tied the game. But a timeout was called from the New York sideline just before the play, and Geno Smith's Hail Mary to Jeremy Kerley never was. Per rule, only the head coach can call timeout from the sideline; on this play, it appeared offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg called it.
Jets coach Rex Ryan argued, saying he did not call the timeout. By the letter of the law, his point was correct. But by the letter of Pereira, in the heat of the game, that rule practically becomes inconsequential. What is of consequence? The Packers held on to win by that final 31-24 score.
And stick around to the end of the video — looks like Rex almost made out from that same loophole years ago. What goes around comes around indeed.
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The play: With the Browns driving for the potential game-winning score in their upset bid over the Saints, Cleveland QB Brian Hoyer completed a pass to Miles Austin to get the Browns inside the New Orleans 40 with 15 seconds to play.
Extra time appeared to tick off the clock, and the catch on the sideline was reviewed. The replay confirmed the catch but could do nothing about putting time back on the clock.
Yet the time did go back on the clock, buying Cleveland enough time to beat New Orleans 26-24 in the closing seconds and drop the Saints to 0-2.
So did someone blow it? Let Mike tell you.
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The play: In that same game in Cleveland, Austin turned back the clock and caught a 3-yard TD from Hoyer to open the scoring in the game. Austin rewarded the Dog Pounders with a free ball, tossing the pigskin into the stands.
Not a flag, but not a penalty-free move either. According to Pereira, Austin's getting a call on Monday.
What is this, the No Sharing League?
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The play: The Arizona Cardinals had a nice day in New York on Sunday, taking down the host Giants 25-14. But star cornerback Patrick Peterson has seen better days, getting called for three penalties.
After one, Peterson argued a little too passionately for Pereira's liking, making contact with the official.
Like Austin, Peterson was not flagged. And like Austin, Peterson should expect to be a little lighter in the wallet come Monday.
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The play: In the midst of his team's uninspiring 26-10 loss at home to the Cowboys, Titans safety Bernard Pollard tackled Dallas tight end Jason Witten four times. During one of those plays, Pollard was caught tackling just the way he's supposed to.
Well, you know Pereira. Our guy is all about player safety and tackling the correct way. And he believes a player can change his old habits -- especially when he finally gets tired of paying those fines from the league.