Several NFL players have expressed dismay this season that the league’s emphasis on player safety has gone too far, and that the officials are calling too many personal foul penalties. NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira does not agree. In fact, Pereira says that if anything, the officials aren’t calling enough penalties on roughing the passer, late hits, unnecessary roughness and other such infractions. “If you have any doubt, throw [the flag],” Pereira said of the league’s overall philosophy, per Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com. “I’m encouraging our guys to do that. That’s where we need to be in terms of player safety.” But a number of NFL players, including Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter and Broncos cornerback Dre Bly, have said that the officials are going way too far as it is. Pereira says players who criticize the officials should not be tolerated. “It’s not acceptable,” Pereira tells Marvez. “We have 120 of the most professional people in the world working their tails off. To openly criticize this group — which I think has the toughest job of anybody on the field — I don’t like it.” But while Pereira doesn’t like the criticism, that doesn’t make the criticism invalid. And the criticism is going to continue as long as the officials keep flagging -- and the league keeps fining -- plays like Justin Tuck’s hit on Brooks Bollinger:
[yt]0GnOWxHveMw[/yt]
