PEREIRA RETIRING

Jay Glazer of FOX reports that NFL V.P. of officiating Mike Pereira informed Commissioner Roger Goodell earlier in the season that Pereira is retiring. Per Glazer, Pereira will spend one more year on the job to assist the transition. Pereira has held the position since 2001. Glazer reports that the decision is not the result of the perception and/or reality of increased officiating blunders in 2008. Pereira has been extremely visible and accessible, explaining NFL rules and their application via NFL Network and various radio appearances. Though there have been hints of a hard-core company man in some of his explanations, he has been willing to admit officiating mistakes from time to time. It’s easy to complain about the folks who currently hold a high-profile job that naturally attracts scrutiny and criticism, but the NFL in our view will be hard pressed to find someone better than Pereira. Our only hope is that Pereira’s successor isn’t Ed Hochuli. Though he’s capable, he’s more long winded than an alligator with gas.