Pereira: “a pretty well-officiated Sunday”

Week 2 of the 2013 NFL season is in the books and, as usual, former NFL vice president for officiating and current FOX Sports officiating analyst Mike Pereira had many calls to break down.

Pereira said that Bill Leavy’s crew was correct is calling the Buccaneers’ Adrian Clayborn and Dashon Goldson for unnecessary roughness fouls against the Saints.  While Pereira says the calls were correct, he doesn’t like the rule.  “Like it or not, these kinds of calls are here to stay. Remember, they are trying to protect the players,” Pereira writes.

There was a strange illegal touching call on a punt in the Eagles-Chiefs game (image).  While strange, Pereira says the illegal touching violation on Marcus Cooper was correct.  The former officials’ boss says when a member of the kicking team steps out-of-bounds and downs the ball inside the five yard line, it is a touchback for the receiving team.

In the Packers-Redskins game, Pereira says the hit DeAngelo Hall put on Packers’ receiver James Jones was not targeting and thus not a foul.  He also adds that Tony Corrente’s crew properly ruled a touchback when Jones lost control of the ball and the loose ball hit the pylon (video).

And finally, Pereira had to shrug the shoulders on whether the Redskins’ Brandon Meriweather should have been called for a helmet hit on the Packers’ Eddie Lacy.  Lacy had to leave the game with concussion-like symptoms.  “At first glance, I wasn’t sure if was not the new crown of the helmet rule, and after watching the replays, I’m still not sure,” Pereira says.  But, he says the intent of the rule regarding player safety makes it seem like a foul the NFL wants called.  (Update: ESPN is reporting the NFL will fine Meriweather) 

On we go to Week 3!

Image:  Side judge Ronald Torbert calls a touchback after Packers’ receives James Jones fumbles the ball at the goal line.  (Image: CBS Sports/NFL/@WorldofIsaac)