Current FOX Sports analyst and former VP of NFL Officiating Mike Pereira spoke Wednesday with Toucher & Rich about the stubbornness of commissioner Roger Goodell, including the story of when the commissioner pushed him.
“I’ve certainly had my run-ins with him, because I think we had one trait in common and that was stubbornness,” Pereira said. “He’s a stubborn guy and I’m a stubborn person. When I feel like I have the right to defend my people, my officials, then I’m going to stand up to him at all costs. I think they know that feeling in your area there; if you stand up for your people, even against the commissioner, you’ve got to do that. I understand his notions and his position, but I also understand mine, too.
"The incident that I described in the book was clearly not assault, but he did give me a pretty good shove out of frustration when he didn’t get his way. Ultimately, I guess in that situation he didn’t get his way, but nevertheless it was just one of the many incidents that come up during the year when you talk about officiating because it’s just so frustrating to everybody. "