Vikings quarterback Brett Favre and Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez both took hits during Sunday’s conference championship games that should have resulted in penalties but were not flagged, NFL V.P. of officiating Mike Pereira says.
“They’re missed calls,” Pereira said during his “Official Review” segment on NFL Total Access.
On a Favre interception against the Saints, Remi Ayodele hit Favre high while Bobby McCray hit him low, and Pereira said McCary should have been flagged for getting Favre in the lower leg.
“It is the kind of hit that we want called because, clearly, we’re trying to protect the knees,” Pereira said.
Pereira also said Colts defensive back Melvin Bullitt should have been flagged for drilling Sanchez well after Sanchez had handed the ball off.
Jets coach Rex Ryan referred to Bullitt’s hit as a “cheap shot,” while Clark Judge of CBS Sports has referred to the failure to flag McCray as the game’s “low moment.” It probably isn’t much consolation to Jets and Vikings fans now, but Pereira admits the flags should have been thrown.