The following comments by former NFL VP of Officiating Mike Pereira, to Ryan Wilson on CBSSports.com.
“Well, I thought it was ridiculous,” he said. “It actually took me back, it took me back to my job in New York when I worked for the league, and it was a constant complaint by the Eagles, whether it was [Donovan] McNabb at quarterback or whether it was Vick. They clearly complained more than any other team.”
Does that sound like somebody who is going to give the Eagles a break? Michael Vick’s comments have made him an enemy to many of the officials whether they admit it or not. They will grudgingly throw a flag for him the rest of the year, but deep down they’ll likely be slow to help him.
“He’s a quarterback that’s on the move, he’s going to get hit more,” Pereira said. “Yes, there are a couple that may be missed but the fact that a ton of them are missed and that he’s hit late all the time is absurd. And he comes out and kind of does the mea culpa yesterday but at the same time what did he say? ‘I was being too candid.’ Well, that doesn’t sound to me like much of an apology. And also the damage is done. I don’t want to be the referee that goes in there now next and works with him. If he calls a roughing the passer penalty for a hit on Vick everybody’s going to say, ‘Well, Vick taunted him into that.’ If he doesn’t [call it] there’s going to be more criticism. So I think it was a bunch of bull and it didn’t sit well with me and it still doesn’t.”
The truth of the matter is that Vick wasn’t complaining about getting hit when he’s on the move, he was complaining about getting hit while he’s in the pocket, which is supposed to be called the same regardless of whomever the quarterback happens to be.
If Pereira was on a witness stand he would have cost them the trial with that comment alone, but Vick doesn’t want to win the public debate, he wants to get the calls during the game. You do that by befriending the refs like I wrote in the previous article on GCobb.com, “Vick Has A Legitimate Point, But He Should Learn To Work The Officials”.
He needs to work extra hard before the games to talk to the refs one-on-one to rebuild a relationship with these guys. Machines don’t make those “roughing the passer calls” people make those calls and people can be influenced in or against his favor.
He should apologize to them for a few weeks then talk about how bad he feels about saying something that puts all the refs in a bad light. Anybody would agree that putting everybody in the same bag isn’t fair. He should dwell on that in each interview for the next few weeks.
not buying this official’s crap
the guy’s comments are stupid and contradictory because he calls Vick’s statement ridiculous in one breath and admits calls were missed in the next breath…
Whether or not the Eagles complain the most or not has no bearing on whether the calls are being missed by the refs…
refs need to do their jobs and stop taking offense everytime they get called out for missing calls..
the pictures you have on this site of Vick getting hit late? they have referees standing RIGHT ON TOP OF THE ACTION…. They should make the calls consistent and stop with the butthurt feelings
I will agre that Vick needs to worry about completing passes and protecting himself because the refs obviously are dropping the ball on this one.. let Andy and the Eagles do the complaining… Vick needs to focus on executing the offense and staying healthy
Peira comments pissed me off. Im getting tired of all these white people keep saying he’s getting hit because he moves around They need to STFU. He’s talking about when he’s in the pocket. What part of this cant these idiots understand? Or are they trying to cover up the fact that Vick was right. They continue to keep acting like he got hit cuz he was running when thats not what he’s talking about. I believe Peira is a racist whyelese is he so bitter at Vick. Piera is a bitch
Also… I disagree.. he shouldnt spend weeks kissing their a$$es… He needs to simply move and let Andy or somebody take the lead on that issue..
kissing their butts is part of the reason they have such sensitive feelings in the first place
dont kiss butt… just play and let the team handle the missed calls
supabad – “all these white people keep saying he’s getting hit because he moves around” ? Ridiculous statement! I suppose you also think Vick moves around in the pocket ’cause he’s an African american too then? I surely hope not.
It’s a fact that Vick moves around in the pocket and his color has nothing to do with that. As any football fan that knows the NFL rules on roughing the passer knows, its simply more difficult to determine roughing once the QB has moved out of the pocket because the QB has to re-establish himself as a QB to benefit from the two step rule. Does Vick move outta the pocket? Yeah, very often. Do I think some calls get missed for roughing Vick? Yup. Does it piss me off? Yup. Do I think it has anything to do with Vick’s color? NOPE. I see it with all mobile QBs regardless of color.
Im not even buying the BS about Vick being a mobile QB anymore… Its not difficult to figure out if he is in the pocket or not when he throws the ball…
the refs have let Vick get thrown around after the ball is out waay too much…
you take down Peyton Manning after the ball is out and you will receive a penalty… EVERYTIME
guys are getting extra licks on Vick and the refs are looking the other way… I cant say because he is black…. I dont believe that…
I think they just let it go because he isnt brady or Manning or some of these other ‘golden boys’ who made the rule changes for from the beginning…
Refs need to do their jobs… period
Piera’s has no weight and hasn’t worked for the NFL in 3 years…
Vick backed up a little from his original statements but it was a mistake by him and he needs to learn to do a better job of keeping thoughts to himself or in the lockerroom, he needs to realize and I am sure he does, that everything that comes out of his mouth gets pleayed, dissected and analyzed a 1000 times by everyone under the sun… So moving forward, he just needs to let his play speak for himself and keep his mouth shut and say the things to the media that they expect you to say, “It was a good game, but I have things I can get better at.” or “The —– are a good team but we had our chances and left plays out on the field”.. The usual non-comittal , sugar-coated, feel-good stuff that bores reporters and the media and then you can get back to the real work and job on hand which is to play football at the highest level possible…
In the original interview, you can clearly see Vick is Frustrated with the way the start of the Season has gone for the team,for him personally and getting knocked out of 2 games, Frustration for 2 weeks after signed a deal of a lifetime where he was on Top of the World and a start of a new Season where the possibilites are unlimited, now reality has hit him and the team and his playing out his frustrations like any of us would.. He will be fine and will learn to keep his mouth shut and just play ball
Vick’s tap dancing days are over.
And I for one am glad for it.
He had to kiss the league and managements rear…
Now he has to kiss the refs..
In the words of Cee Lo Green…
Had enough of it.
THEY SHOULD BE APOLIGIZING TO HIM.
Rasheed – There’s nothing to buy or sell on this point. He IS a mobile QB and far more so than your examples of Manning & Brady. Who, by the way, rarely leave the pocket and typically have the ball out of their hand waaaaay before Vick does which usually means the defender is further away from him when released. You see both of those QBs throw the ball away, how often do you see Vick throw a ball away? Almost never. He leaves the pocket and runs around like a jack rabbit and usually burns the defense. How often to you see Brady or Manning do that? Nearly never. Like an RB, which is precisely what VIck is once he leaves the pocket and doesn’t reestablish himself as a passer, will always sustain extra licks from the D. When running around there is no 2 step rule, no special protect the QB rules, no more protection than a RB which is basically facemask, spearing etc. Compare the rushing stats of Manning, Brady and Vick and you’ll find your answer. It’s part of Vick’s game and he’s gonna have to take all the risks along with all the rushing yards. Ain’t nothing for free.
The whole Mobile Qb excuse doesnt float…..
either the QB is IN the pocket or he is OUT of the pocket… he gets hit and taken down late INSIDE THE POCKET? PENALTY… the excuses about his mobility are just excuses…
like I already said… You take down Manning after he throws the ball and you will see a flag… its really simple… you cannot slam the QB on his back after the ball is out…
Whether or not Vick is mobile means nothing after the ball is out and he is slammed to the ground… We should see a penalty flag just like we would if you did to one of the ‘golden boy’ QBs
If he is outside the pocket running around? fine…
if he standing in the pocket, he should get the same protection other QBs get…
he took a few late hits while standing in the pocket and they werent called..
I dont wanna hear the excuses from refs about how they have trouble.. get some new refs who can see clearly if these refs are having soo much trouble figuring out what is going on.. People watching on television can tell the difference and so should a umpire standing right there watching in the flesh
I know where the pocket begins and ends… so should they… this isnt rocket science…
the guy is standing stationary taking late shots… throw a flag and stop telling me how much the Eagles complain as compared to other teams…
stop the excuses
you are 1-2, the reasons you have a losing record have nothing to do with the refs, a winner never blames other people for his shotcomings, this is the type of talk that was common in his Atlanta days, if he legitimately feels he’s not getting calls he should handle it directly with the refs instead of whining like a little girl on television, sunken shoulders, man up, do your job
I agree with jakedog that Vick needs to just focus on executing the plays and staying healthy…
Dont worry about the refs…. let someone else do that
also, it isnt the refs fault we lost the game… the team played terrible on many levels..
but me as a fan? I dont wanna hear this BS excuses from the referees that have a hard time mobile QBs…
just like I dont wanna hear whining from the players, I dont wanna hear these lame excuses from the refs
these players need to execute the plays and the refs need to do their jobs and make the call and GTFO with the excuses
“GTFO with the excuses”, amen Rasheed1
Also fellas I think these defensive players know that they can get away with a borderline hit after Mike releases the ball..they don’t even pull up…i see players all the time pull up on other QB’s …just watch
Vick was speaking out of frustration and emotion..cant hold that against him
Awww man, you guys have found me out. I’m Mike Pereiera.
Today he said:
“And he comes out and kind of does the mea culpa yesterday but at the same time what did he say? ‘I was being too candid.’ Well, that doesn’t sound to me like much of an apology.”
And A couple of days ago I wrote:
“I should approach it in a different fashion….I was kind of out of character for being too candid….” Translation…I made a mistake for speaking my mind. Its been slapped back in my face and the team and I are now in damage control (nothing new) From now on I’ll keep my thoughs to myself, even though I still believe the refs aren’t giving me a fair shake.”
My analysis….Vick’s never been “too candid” before…ever….not when he gave the finger to ATL fans, or pointed to the scoreboard this year, or when he blames the refs because he doesn’t throw the ball away when he’s supposed to.
There was a bit of backtracking, but no apology. Its not in his nature. The idea of a “New and Improved” humble Vick (wasn’t I told that’s who he was now?) is a complete myth. His comments the other day were full of a “How dare they not make a call – I’m Mike Vick – They’re out to get me.”
Rasheed……I would agree with your comments if Vick was getting hit late. He’s getting hit. ANd hit more than the other QBs you mention, but that doesn;t mean the hits are late or illegal. The guys you mention release the ball when the DL are not close. Vick, as I’ve stated before, is 2nd worse in the league holding on to the ball too long. He often releases the ball as the DL is comitted to the hit. Too late to stop then…not illegal.
The guy is a divisive figure…..by the time this is done he will have divided both fanbase (probably already has) and teammates. I’m sure his O-line loved the “I’m on the ground coooooooonnnnnnnnnnstantly.”
Gotta Luv. Did the Indy safety pull up when he balsted Rothless 5 yards out of bounds Sunday night…Saints pull up burying Cutler 20+ times last week?
If they pull up its because they have time to….Mike “5t steamboat” Vick doesn’t provide that…he keeps that ball till the last second and pays the price…I admire the toughness, but if he’re going to hold the ball that long, hen tlive with the consequences.
“Right before the snap you would hear Here Comes Jesus” Late Great Reggie White……..
BEST QUOTE EVER from a fotball play… IMO
Can’t wait for that special tonight. I was at the 1992 opening game vs Saints when they honoured Brown, who had died earlier in the year. No way they were going to lose that game.
But now….back to bashing Vick!
Lets take an honest look at Mike Vick. A real honest look. Because there’s a huge discrepancy between the Mythical Vick that many of you believe in and the Real Vick
Mythical Vick Real Vick
Is a top 5 QB QB rating of 87.7, 15th in NFL
has learned to be an accurate passer 59% completions, 23rd in NFL
really evolved as a passer 202 yrds/game, 24th in league
is a “big play QB” (that’s why low %) 7.42 yards/att, 19th in league
no really, he’s a big play guy longest 41yrds, 27th in league
makes quick decisions 24 scrambles, most in league
really quick decisions!! he’s learned!!! 2nd worst taking 3 second sacs
is more careful with the ball 7 fumbles, worst in league
(on pace for 37 fumbles!!!)
Eagle’s need him for O 4 tds, 17th in league
Prison made him humble, no longer “no d-coord can stop me”
immature pointed to scoreboard
“refs out to get me”
Just who is this Mythical Vick that many of you guys think is the only way the Birds can succeed?? Real Vick is in the bottom half of EVERY statistical QB category
Neither is Reid’s play calling helping Vick either…FIRE HIM NOW!!!!!!!!!!
i really thought Vick and Reid were going to come out guns blazing, throwing slants,quick outs,curls to our amazing WRs against the Giants. knowing Vick is getting hit alot cause of weak O-line constantly, why hold on to the ball with so many weapons?
a Big reason that Vick is not adept at the Slants,quick outs and other 3 or even 5 Step drops is his lack of height and his throwing motion ( More 3/4-Arm than throwing up over his shoulder like most QB) So when Vick has to drop back further (7 to 9 Steps) to be able to see over the Line of Scrimmage, this of course takes an extra second or 2 which means the quick slants are now not open and the receive cannot get separation..
I think the signing of Vick to a long term Deal at $100 will come back to haunt this Franchise if he is going to just drop back and scramble around half th etime.. He needs to throw to a spot and demand that the Receivers do their job and get there and catch the ball. Vick has thrown way behind receivers on many of his throws thus far.. the Deep routes are not going to be there sinec teams are doubling D-Jax so the Offense and play-calling needs to be adjusted to what will work and take advantage of other match-ups.. Everyone has always said that D-Jax presence alone opens things up for other Receivers.. I am not seeing many open Recivers and either is Vick if he can’t even complete 50% of his passes, this Season is a train wreck if you ask me and it looks like we are stuck with it for the foreseeable future…
There are just as many or more who disagree with this idiot NFL retiree, who needs to feel relevant again.
Superbad, your a racist!
What the hell do white people have to do with this. Warren Sapp said the same thing! Is he white, you @$$#ole!?!?
I think he was just venting and speaking out of fustration and anger. Therefore, I don’t think what he said was necessarily wrong. The problem is the outlet he used to voice his fustrations. I also agree with what G said too that by voicing his complaints publicly this does not help his case any with the Refs.
(sigh) I also don’t think color has anything to do with it and from listening to what he said I doubt that he believes that either. I think he feels that it has more to do with his mobility, and his ability to be elusive, and make big plays as was also mentioned by the Referee as well. By the way you do realize that there are black referees in the nfl as well.