Former NFL officiating chief Mike Pereira 'disenchanted' by controversial calls

Mike Pereira is essentially holding his breath that the NFL divisional playoffs this weekend won’t be marred by controversy involving the officials. 

After the opening round of the playoffs last weekend included questionable calls in three games, and with the league nearing the end of its first season using a “replay assist” measure as an additional officiating tool, there are no guarantees.

Pereira, who served as the NFL’s Director of Officiating for a decade before joining FOX Sports in 2010 for his current roles as a rules analyst, pulls no punches in expressing his concerns.

“I can’t say I’m confident,” Pereira told USA TODAY Sports. “I can say I’m hopeful. But I could say the same thing in my day. I was hopeful. You know mistakes will be made. You hope you don’t turn the mistakes into a mess.”

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