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Mike Pereira: The Refs are in the Chiefs' pocket is an absolute myth

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January 21, 2025 4:01 pm

Mike Pereira: The Refs are in the Chiefs' pocket is an absolute myth

The Rich Eisen Show / Rich Eisen

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January 21, 2025 4:01 pm

Chiefs DE George Karlaftis and Rich discuss KC’s latest trip to the AFC Championship Game to face Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills thanks to his 3-sack day against the Texans, says what it’s like to go up against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in practice every day, and more.  

FOX Sports NFL Rules Expert Mike Pereira joins Rich in-studio where he shoots down the latest controversy and conspiracy theories surrounding the Chiefs and NFL officiating, says if we can expect the NFL to expand ‘Replay Assist’ next season, reacts to the naming of the Super Bowl LIX officiating crew, and reveals which head coach he dreaded hearing from on Monday mornings when he was the head of all NFL officials.

Longtime fan of the show Jeff in Detroit calls in in the wake of the Lions’ early playoffs exit after earning the NFC’s top seed.

Please check out other RES productions:

Overreaction Monday: http://apple.co/overreactionmonday 

What the Football with Suzy Shuster and Amy Trask: http://apple.co/whatthefootball

The Jim Jackson Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jim-jackson-show/id1770609432

No-Contest Wrestling with O'Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-contest-wrestling/id1771450708

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Now, on with the show. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Howard out of the shotgun back to pass deep down the right side, and it is caught by Jeremiah Smith at the 30th of Notre Dame.

Howard dismissed. Live from The Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Ohio State national champions beating Notre Dame tonight.

The ninth national championship. Earlier on the show, actor Chris Sullivan. Still to come, chief's defensive end, George Koulaptis. Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira. And now it's Rich Eisen.

Our number three of The Rich Eisen Show is on the air, and I feel like this is Sesame Street. This is brought to you by the number three, our number three, Mike Pereira, the former head of NFL refs. And now of Fox Sports, Fox rules analyst, extraordinary. He's in our green room right now.

There's three people in our green room right now. He, Amy Trask, Susie Schuster, they're going to be doing What the Football as soon as this is done. Max Crosby will be joining them on What the Football. Mike Pereira will talk about the three remaining games and who is officiating them. The Super Bowl 59 referee was just named moments ago.

We'll talk about that with Mike when he joins us. And our number three kicks off for the man who just put a three piece down on CJ Stroud in the divisional round playoff victory for the Kansas City Chiefs. Eight sacks, three of them from George Koulaptis joining us here from the Kansas City Chiefs here on The Rich Eisen Show. Good to see you, George. Hey, thanks for having me.

Appreciate it. And what year are you in in the National Football League? My third year. Ah, hey! How about that? It's like Sesame Street brought to you by the number three. Did you wake up dangerous on Saturday, George? What happened? I actually woke up to a bunch of text messages on our D-line thread, you know, about how excited everybody was to play in the game.

So I guess you could call that. Okay, so who's on the D-line thread, George? I mean, you know, our coaches, Coach Cullen, Coach Braden, and then every single defensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs. And who's the leader of this text chain?

You know, obviously Coach Cullen and Chris Jones probably too, for sure. Okay. What is this text chain called? What is it entitled on the phone? What is it called?

I think it's just Chiefs D-line. Come on, man. Come on.

We've got to come up with a better one than that. Right? Maybe one day.

Maybe one day. Well, so you're waking up and you're just looking down at the phone and everybody's like, let's go get it? That's basically what it is right now? Basically, yeah.

All right. So what were you able to affect on this day, George, that you can bring to bear? What were you able to do with this three sack day that you can kind of crystallize it for everybody here, Matt? You know, really for us, it really started with our game plan. You know, we played these guys not too long ago, December 21st. And we had a good grasp. You know, we didn't sack them but once or twice the last time. And we had a really good plan. You know, Coach Spags and Coach Cullen had a great plan going into the week. Really, all of us playing together, you know, the front end, playing with the back half and everybody kind of doing their job and trusting in each other and in ourselves and really getting after it, you know. So it was really just everybody working together.

That's what I'd say on that. When sacks comes in bunches, do you know how many? Do you know that this is my third, that you knew you had a hat trick when you got them again? Did you know that? Not that you're counting, but yes, I knew.

Well, I mean, you know, but eight as well. Were you guys aware of that too? Or were you just realizing that we've been getting them a bunch today? We just know we were getting them down, you know, and when we weren't sacking them, I feel like we did a good job just affecting him in various different ways. You know, just with pressure and getting after him, blitzes, four-man rushes, three-man rushes, we'll have you. You know, you don't really count the sacks really after the game. You're like, oh wow, we had eight sacks.

That was a huge day. So, you know, I think, you know, getting after the quarterback and the back half really covering and doing their job too and just kind of all of us playing together is one of the reasons why we won the game. And in terms of, you know, you said obviously you had taken on the Texans and not to the distant past. The Bills are the only team that's beaten you this year in a game that Mahomes has started. How much does that stick in your craw going into this AFC Championship game, George?

Absolutely. I mean, they know us and we know them. You know, we've played them a good amount at least twice every year since I've been in the league. So, you know, it's really exciting. You know, it's great.

It's going to be a heavyweight battle, you know. We have a lot of respect for those guys. You know, what Josh Allen can do. They're running back, the receivers, their O-line, you know, they're great. And there's a reason why they're in the AFC Championship.

So, we're going to have to be in our A-game because this is a dangerous squad. What is the challenge in trying to rush Josh Allen, George? Really, with Josh Allen, you know, you got to start. He's got a great O-line.

You know, he gets a lot of the praise. But they got a really good O-line. We got a lot of respect for them.

We've seen them a lot. So, they got a great O-line. And, you know, obviously what Josh Allen can do, both throwing and running the ball. You know, he's a great athlete. And he's like built almost like a tight end or a defensive end. He's like 6'5", 250 or so pounds. And he can really move, too.

So, we got a lot of respect for those guys. Well, is there such a thing like you don't want to get too far upfield? You don't want him to go to a certain direction? Like, walk me through.

All of that. You want to do your best containing him. You know, and affecting him in any way you can, obviously. You know, with him and really with any quarterback in the league that's at that level. You know, just want to do as much as you can to affect him.

And each quarterback has their tendencies of what they like to do and stuff like that. So, it's on us to figure out, you know, those tendencies and do our best to try to stop them. How has the coaching staff brought the best version of you out, George Karlovtus?

What can you tell me about it? Not just in me, but in everybody. Just demanding our best every single day.

You know, starting from Coach Andy Reid, going down to Spags, Joe Cullen, Terry Breda for me, D-Line. You know, they demand your best every single day. How do they do that?

How do they do that? It's really ingrained in the culture here. You know, you kind of know what's expected. There's been a lot of continuity in the staff and the personnel here, the players. Everybody knows what's expected and there's a lot of trust in the coaches. We know that they're looking out for us and they're coaching us. We know and we've trusted that their coaching and what they're telling us is going to help us be successful both as individuals and as a team, more importantly. So it's really just that.

It's a relationship out of trust and love with everybody. When your phone rang on draft night, who was the one on the other end, George? So it was the three people I talked to. I don't remember the specific order. There was a lot of stuff going on.

I talked to Brett Veitch, I talked to Andy Reid, Spags, and I talked to Clark Hunt as well, so four. So what was the general message to you? They were just excited. They were excited. They were like, we're going to put this pick in. There's a lot of stuff going on on draft night, as you can imagine, especially when you're getting that call. But I was relieved. And there's just a lot of excitement.

I think the videotaping of the call or the audio of it is on YouTube somewhere. But yeah, it was just a lot. It was a lot of excitement from Coach Reid, just being able to hear from all those guys.

And just really was excited to get to work at that point. George Karloff is here in the Rich Eisen show-off of a three-sac game in the divisional playoff round victory for the Chiefs, getting set for the Bills in the AFC Championship game. George, this is year 22 for me in the NFL, covering it with the NFL Network.

The only reason why I bring this up is I've been around, so when I say this, it comes from experience. You know you're not supposed to make the Super Bowl every year, right, George? Well, that's the goal. The goal every single year is to do that. No, I know, but usually that doesn't happen. You come out of college, you make the Super Bowl, you win it as a rookie. And then your second year, you make the Super Bowl and you win it.

Right. I've been blessed. I've been blessed. I've been in a great situation, really, with great coaches and great teammates.

And we've been able to get it done. So it's been the honor of a lifetime to be a part of this team and this defense. What's it like going against Mahomes in practice, George?

Oh my gosh. I mean, in training camp, it's just kind of like he can do whatever. I mean, he's one of the best, if not the best, to ever do it. So we have all the respect in the world for him. And we know and we trust that he's making us better. It's one of the better offenses that we'll see all year. And Andy Reid training camps are really hard.

So going at each other every single day as hard as we possibly can makes us better. And I think that's one of the reasons why we've had the success we've had. Well, I'm sure you were watching him win championships and make championship games while you were in college in Purdue. What was your first moment where you realized, okay, the Mahomes stuff is real?

George? I think my freshman year in college, or probably my senior year in high school, really. You know, that was like 2018, 2019. They were like, all right, this guy's the truth, basically. And ever since then, I mean, he keeps on showing it and proving why he is who he is. Well, I mean, you personally witnessing it. You as a teammate, you were seeing him do his thing behind the scenes.

Oh, I see. You know, or in practice. Like, what moment was that for you? Where like, okay, this is the real thing here, you know? I think it was my rookie year in training camp. There was a specific point where I had the peel on the back, and then he kind of baited me, and I was like in the middle.

Kind of like in baseball, there's like the pickle, the guy between two baits, basically. And I was like that, and he like kind of faked me out. And I was like, I can't win here, basically. And it just, that was like my personal welcome to Patrick Mahomes, I guess. So he checkmated you right off the bat, is what you're saying, in a way? Yeah, I don't know, right off the bat.

It was probably maybe a week into training camp. How about Kelsey? When did he first take notice of you, George? Well, you know, Trav, you know, is one of my favorite guys, you know. And the great thing about Trav is that the first day I came to the locker room, he was one of the first guys like, hey, you know, I'm Travis. You know, nice to meet you. I was like, I know who you are. It was just awesome that, you know, he's such a humble dude, you know, come up and say what's up to me. But, you know, I got familiarized with Travis and, you know, his greatness.

I mean, obviously, you know it from before. But he has this, he like almost like is like shaking, you know, at all times. And he kind of messes with your eyes.

So, you know, I drop into coverage every now and then. And, you know, him being a tight end, me being a defensive end, he, you know, we have to go against each other and he's blocked me a few times and all that stuff. And he has the so-called vet tricks that he's pulled out. And one of the first time we went against each other, he pulled one of those out and I was out of my gap. And I was like, all right, now I know I got to bring my stuff when Travis is blocking me. And he'll chip you every now and then, is what you're saying?

Is that what you're saying? I mean, he'll chop. He'll mess with your eyes.

He'll change his alignments. He does a whole bunch of different stuff, yeah. And how has Chris Jones made you better? I mean, I'm with Chris every single day. You know, really, words can't describe, you know, how much he has helped me. You know, my rookie year, I was fortunate enough to have great vets, you know, and Chris and Frank Clark and Carlos Dunlap, a few other guys too.

You know, but with Chris, we've been together ever since then, you know. And that's kind of who I look to for advice on the field and off the field too. He pushes me every single day to become better, demands the best out of me. And he's still like my vet, you know, like almost like an older brother.

And I really appreciate everything he's done for me because I know that he is making me a better player every single day. It's interesting you mentioned Frank Clark's name, George, because the list of Kansas City players with three or more sacks in the playoffs are the following. Frank Clark in the divisional round against Houston in 2019 and George Karlofftas in the divisional round against Houston in 2024. That's it. That's the list in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs, brother. That's it. That's pretty cool. That is pretty cool.

It really is. Last one for you, most important question, George, of them all. Have you met? You don't know what I'm asking about. Have you met? You have no idea.

I don't know what you're about to talk about. Have you met Taylor Swift yet, George? I have met her, yes. OK. That's not the I guess I asked her yes or no question.

What were the circumstances? What do you got for me? What are you on, George? The first time I met her was after after one of the games, you know, and it was with my girlfriend and Travis, obviously. And, you know, we were just kind of blown away, you know, just because I know Travis and I've known him for some time. But just how of how much of a normal person she is, just super humble, super kind, just awesome to be around and very much like like eighty seven, you know. So when you when you meet that big of a superstar, it's not what you expect. But that's that's how she was and is. And that's how Travis do. I love it.

Yes. Superstars all over. Kate and Clark, another Big Ten finest that was hanging out in the suite with her over the weekend. I mean, you're making the Super Bowl every year. You're meeting Taylor Swift. What the hell's going on in your life, George? It's pretty amazing. Congratulations. I'm blessed. Thank you. Yeah.

Last one for you. Were you like me last night? I'm a Michigan guy. I mean, I'm sure Purdue doesn't like Notre Dame very much and definitely doesn't like Ohio State. How'd you watch that game last night, man? Watch it was watching it rooting against both teams.

I got up against both teams and I've lost them. So I don't I was rooting against both. I was I was a Purdue fan last night. You know, even though they weren't playing, I was a Purdue fan. You and I were rooting for the meteor, George. Never cared.

You know what I mean? Congrats on everything going on in your career. And I look forward to seeing what's next for you.

Good luck in the AFC Championship game. Appreciate you spending some time here. Appreciate it. Thank you. You got it.

That's George Karloff to us of the Kansas City Chiefs right here on the Rich Eisen Show, everybody. After that, three piece took care of business. That's so funny. I was a Purdue fan last night.

Yeah, man, I get it. I was a Michigan fan. You're a Penn State fan. How many people last night?

How many? You know, like last last year in Michigan's playing Washington. There were people saying I was rooting for neither.

Yeah, I'm sure most people were like rooting for Washington. I get it. I understand.

I hate your back. But last last night, maybe that's a reflection on both of those schools. I was a big Ohio State fan last night, especially that field goal at the end. I know that.

I know. What a great kick. Great team's cover. Great team's cover. He held it nice.

Went right through the uprights. Right. Jim Harbaugh covered for you every single time last year, right?

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Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states or situations. Ah yes, one of my favorites that I've gotten a chance to work with and know in my 22 plus years in international football. I'm not just saying that because he's sitting in my ride.

Let's introduce Mike Pereira, former head of NFL refs and Fox rules analyst. You know that best word of that? Former. Former. It's great being the former. Well, you're great at what you do and I just have to, again, sing your praises that way and also step in whenever I need, I think you need help. Fox Sports has got to do something a little bit better than this situation for you, Mike. To be very honest with you, I don't understand this. I took that shot off the screen.

They got Tom and they got Kevin. But I'm working. I mean, I'm working. Did you not eat your vegetables?

Kids table at Thanksgiving. I was put on recess. I was on recess.

You're like baby in a corner. Like what the hell? I know. I know.

Look at that. And didn't Brady and Kevin like call you over? Like they even turned around and they're like, come on. And you're like, no, I'm not getting out. I'm getting older. It takes a long time to move around.

So, you know, I didn't have a lot of time. More importantly, Mike, I mean, how's Tom looking person? This guy.

This guy. He's a big Brady. Is he like everything you hope and dreamed? He's so buttoned up. He's like, he's like incredible. He really is. And you know.

And you know the answer to it. He's as handsome as ever. He's as nice as ever.

Shredded. He can still play. Is he going to be quarterback for the Raiders? He's much taller than I thought he was going to be. He's tall, by the way.

You're not wrong. He's very tall. Yeah, I know. Yeah. Yeah. He's like six, four, six, five. I always often get confused.

Where did he go to college? We don't talk about that. We talk about it all the time. Oh. Talk about it all the time.

See, Mike knows. It's nice to be back here on this show. Thanks, gentlemen. It is nice to be back here. It's good to have you back, man. You're looking good. You're looking good.

And there was no controversy this past week. Oh, please. So there's no reason for me to be here.

Get out of here. You're going to hang out. I texted you. You actually texted me this week. Normally, it's me texting you. You texted me. And I'm like, let's get you on here. And you're like, here you are.

And it's fantastic. I'm very happy to have you here. Well, when do you text me? I text you all the time, Mike. During the games. During the games.

I'm like, is this right? Because I. And when do I answer Rich Eisen? Immediately. Immediately, you answer me. On the spot. And this is neat. Again, Mike Prairie here on the Rich Eisen Show. I'm back on the Rich Eisen Show radio network sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk. Furnished by Grainger with supplies and solutions for every industry. Grainger has the right product for you.

Call clickgrainger.com or just stop by. When NFL Network began in the fall of 2003, the head of NFL refs came on NFL Total Access every single week. And we chopped it up.

And I would push you and you would push back. And it was great segments. Great television, Mike Pereira.

And you are terrific at what you do and explaining rules and things of that nature. And giving the officiating point of view. How does it sit with you when you hear the national conversation that the officials are in the chief's pocket?

And that they are making calls on Mahomes or for Mahomes that they would not call for other quarterbacks? How does that sit with you when you hear that? Well, it doesn't.

It doesn't resonate with me at all. And because not only was I head of the department for 12 years, but I was actually on the field for a couple of years. And the fact that you're looking out for anyone, any team, any individual is a myth.

It is an absolute myth. You don't have time to react and say, this is golf. I'm not going to call this because it's golf. This is Mahomes. I've got to call this because it's Mahomes.

This is rice. I remember when I got hired by the NFL, my dad's first thing he said to me was, don't screw the 49ers. And I said, dad, how am I going to screw the 49ers?

He said, well, you know, if Rice kids make sure it's a catch on the sideline. And I'm like, dad, it is literally boom, boom. You don't have time. You don't have time to process.

It's like one twenty sixth of a second. You have to see a flash and then make a determination. And you don't you don't have time.

And the other thing is you don't want to get fired. You just want to be right. I mean, there's the other myth, the makeup call, a makeup call, a makeup call. So even if I knew I was wrong with the call I made, if I make up, I make another bad one to make up for the other team.

I'm done. I mean, I'm probably out of playoff contentions with two mistakes in one game. So it doesn't it doesn't bother me because those people that say that don't know a damn thing about officiating. And until you actually put the uniform on and until you have to make those quick judgments. And that includes people in the media who can be quick to criticize if you haven't done it. And you don't recognize how hard it is in real time and how easy it is in super slow motion and get out of my train, get off my train. I mean, period.

So that's why. Does it anger me? No, I don't think it really angers me.

It just kind of validates my point that people don't understand how difficult it is. Well, that's why I wanted to start with this conversation because this conversation this way, because that's the national conversation coming out of Chiefs and Texans coming off of two calls. One in which Mahomes gets to stay on the field because Will Anderson is called for roughing.

And another one where Mahomes is, as Troy Aikman described it, playing games with the defense by staying in bounds and then moving back into the field to slide. Two Texans collide with each other and they're called for colliding into each other, essentially. Should those penalties have been called in your estimation?

No, no, I don't think they should have been. I mean, I look at the game and I judge things a little bit differently and it wouldn't probably wouldn't make sense to anybody. But I used to grade officials, so I would grade them. And if they if they made a call they shouldn't have made, you get what's called an incorrect call, which is very difficult. And then, you know, I look at things and say no calls. That's when you pass on something. And if you pass on something that you should have called, then you get what's called a no call.

Either both of those, in my opinion, should have been passed on. I understand why they were called, because we are in a time of protection of quarterbacks and pretty much everybody. But when the league came out and said they defended them right, they did say they defended both calls. That doesn't mean they wanted to call. So then but so then they're defending it just because why? I mean, they defend it because, you know, you and I went through this thing.

I mean, I probably bent over backwards because they were my people that defended. And technically, technically it could be a foul. But in my opinion, and it's only my opinion, while I see it's a you know, there is some contact, you know, high contact on the the roughing the passer one. You know, was it was it you know, was it like forcible?

No, it really wasn't forcible enough. I see why it was called. It's not a it's certainly not, you know, a phantom.

And then the other one, maybe a little contact. But it's not. Listen, if you were in my opinion. Yes. If I was sitting with Walt Anderson and he and I were having a beer. No, if he and I were having a vodka.

Nice. Actually, I think he would say to me, we actually would have preferred, even though technically it's a foul that it wasn't. Well, and I understand why the league wants to, you know, make sure that their referees are defended.

I understand that. But if they don't want the penalties to be called, for them to come out and say they should have been called really undercuts the the relationship with fans to be straight up with you. And that that then calls into question the next time these calls happen again, that, oh, the league must want them called. And the league behind the scenes doesn't.

Which leads me to wonder. Why aren't we using replay assist for this sort of stuff? And I know that that is something that's stuck in your craw because you think it's used too much as a crutch.

And that actually leads to poor live officiating. I know what you've said in the past. Yes, you've listened to what I've said. I always listen to what you say, Mike.

You know, you make me smarter. But if replay assist can see it and we can see it at home. I always harken back to the first ever NFL Network owners meeting that we covered when replay was made permanent. You were in the room when the vote went down. And Charlie Casserly of the Texans, who was with the competition committee, basically told the owners, if people can see it at home, we've got to use it.

What gives here? You know, look, you know my feeling, but I don't think it's a good thing for the actual officials on the field. I've said that before. You know that.

OK. However, we're going down this road so far now that even this year, when you look at the roughing the passer, if it's called a hit to the head or neck area, if there's no contact, if there is absolutely no contact, replay can take it off. OK, that's that's now in place. Same way with hits on defenseless receivers. Same way they can take it off.

And when I've talked to them, you know, they say this is part of the thing that's we're making a move. We can if something's called, we can get involved and we can take it off. The problem is not is mostly like when we think about the face mask situation. It's what's not called that gives just as much angst as what is called.

The problem with that is you're not going to have somebody who's not on the field put a flag down. Well, why? Come on. I mean, you know, I change all the time.

I'm changing a little bit now. Look what we're doing. Look what we're doing in the spring football league.

OK, what are we doing in the spring? You tell me. OK, and I'll premise it by saying it works. So the. Call it whatever you want, call it the sky judge or whatever, the sky judge who's positioned in his own booth, who has his own equipment. When it comes to player safety, excuse me, I keep banging the microphone when it comes to player safety.

Microphone safety. What can that sky judge do or whatever you name that person? When it comes to player safety, he can put on fouls or he can take off fouls. So in the spirit of player safety, he can call him, he can pick him up, he can throw the flag. From Los Angeles, no matter where we're playing the game, but he can throw the flag. And in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, that guy who I think is probably in the United Football League, the most powerful person in the last five minutes, he can call anything. And we can even this year, we're going to give a second super challenge to a coach and he can challenge anything.

So we're taking it to the nth level. And does it slow anything down? Does it slow anything down? Hell, no. That guy that's in the studio, that's making the decision, that ref, we call him a ref. He makes the decision so quickly that it just almost like it's seamless. So why won't this be brought to the NFL? Well, it's going to be brought to the NFL because they're going to see it again this year. They're going to see it again. Who's they? Competition committee? I'm sure they are. Who's they?

No, no. Who's they? Competition committee?

Is it Troy Vincent? Sure. I mean, they even sent some people in last year, you know, to watch it, you know, to see how we do things with some of our technology and stuff. It's going to be there for everybody to see. And the notion of how is it going to be accepted or how is it accepted by the fans, very positive.

I mean, that guy, it's pretty interesting. When he's reviewing the play to make his decision, guess what? It's on the scoreboard in the stadium and it's on the and it's on the loudspeaker system.

So they not only see inside the replay booth, but they hear what's being said. You're saying that's going to happen in the national football. I'm just saying they're creeping toward that direction. Well, what?

That's the issue. It's like a tanker moving around in the NFL. You can't take that hit on Jared Goff. You can't take that hit and somehow not be able to put that on. You're talking about on the pick six where you hit him in the chops. You chimed in during the game that that should have been a 15 yarder. And you know, the thing is, it's the rule of the game on an interception. The passer gets protection all the way through the down, even if he pursues it. Same way with the kicker. Kicker gets protection. He's also, you know, considered defensive throughout the entire down.

So how does this work again? Because again, you know, this is not a slight on the spring league at all. Please don't take this as a slight, which means now I'm allowed to slight it. No, what I really, what I really, this is not a slight.

You should know if you're going to slight that guy, make him the decisions. No, I'm not. I'm not.

I'm not. I'm just saying that the ratings for that game, not even close to the NFC divisional round. And the amount of money gambled on it by sports fans.

Not even close. So the fact that fans love it, you know, that that's one thing that they buy it in this construct. I'm just saying, how does that work in the NFL where, how long does the Skydudge judge take? How long do I as a fan need to pay attention? Or how long do I need to keep my guard up that the play I've just seen that does not have a flag thrown on the field? That somebody, I don't know where this person is, who this person is.

I don't know where they are located. They've put a flag down. Now, how long till I have to get through that play? Well, I mean, the thing is, you could, certainly before the next snap, but you remember now you have, you don't even have to wait. You don't have to wait for television to show replays.

You got, you have a setup that probably has 16 different camera angles that all you do is punch a button and it takes you right to that camera angle. You can, you can, you can see things very quickly, which is what they do now on the assist. That's really what they do on the replay assist. So if they can get it done, you know, in the first essentially 20 seconds, if they can see it, then they can make a decision. That happens a lot, by the way.

You don't see it. Do you do this in the spring league for holding and defensive pass interference and OPI and you do it for everything? We could do it for anything in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter.

We can just do players safety fouls in the, in the, in the, in the rest of the game. And by the way, that, that guy, I call him, I call him the God. He's the football God in the UFL. That's either Blandino or me. Okay.

I was, I was picking up that you were referring to this person as God. It's either Dean or myself. And, but it works.

It works. And, you know, I, it's, it's going to just keep going further and further in that direction. So the Super Bowl, Super Bowl 59 referee, you will be in the booth for Fox calling this game. It's Ron Torbert. Is that right? He was just named.

Did you not notice am I breaking news to you? No, I lost. My pick was not. What do you mean your pick? I lost.

I lost. That wasn't my pick. What did you think it was going to be? A referee pool. I thought it was Sean Smith. I thought it was going to be Sean Smith. Can I see that again? Sure.

Pop it up one more time. Put that Max Causey, Mark Stewart, Merle Robinson, Jonah Moore, Kevin Brown. Boris Cheek. I hope Boris is the son. By the way, great name. I had not even heard that name. Does he turn, does he, does he turn well when he's being yelled at?

He's got solid cheeks. He's been, he's been in the league for like, he was just in our game. So does this mean Ron Torbert had the best clean sheet in the NFL?

Is that what that means? Well, that's, I can't say how they do it now. I still look at that and marvel of the fact that it doesn't seem like I've been out of the league that long, but only two of those guys I hired? Man, it's just, I've been away. Turnover, sir. Man, turnover. So what's your two cents when you, when you, when you see Ron Torbert? I love Ron Torbert. He's a, he's such a smart guy. He's a, he's out of the old attorney school, you know.

Okay. And, and we just had him. We just had him.

Hopefully in Detroit, if you heard, hopefully he gets over the frog that he had in his throat. Yeah, I heard that. Yeah, I know. Yeah. So I hope he's got a little clearer voice for the Super Bowl, but he's, he's terrific and represents the, the league really, really well.

Okay. So, but is that, he had the fewest mistakes? Is that what the, the crew, how do you? Rich, it's like there are tears set up in the rating system. So tier one, tier two, tier three, if you finish high enough where you reach the standard of tier one, then you actually do go into a rotation type system. So if you're tier one and there may be somebody in front of you that has already had the game, you could, since you've not had it, you could move to the top spot.

So I think it's fair because if you, if you reach tier one, then you should be, anybody should be able to work that game at that level. I'm a crew guy, so that's like another whole subject, but. Which is bringing together a whole new crew for the, for the biggest game that there is.

This is bringing together a bunch of different people. So what do they now get on Zooms every week now? I'm serious, by the way. Oh yeah, they'll drill them out. I mean, every day now? They'll drill them, sure. They'll be. Like what happened?

What do you mean? They'll be looking at video. They'll be looking at video, you know, of the teams, you know, after we get through this weekend and doing that. But it's still, I mean, you have a lot of new people on there. So there are people that have not worked with each other over the course of, let's say 15, 20 years.

So there's some adjustments there, but you know, they'll be, the one thing will be, they'll be prepared. It's a hard game to work. And it's not just because of the teams and the pressure. It's the fact that it's unlike any regular season or other playoff game in that your family's there. You know, this is the thing you've lived for all your life. You've worked for as an official to get the Super Bowl.

And, and so now it's a celebration too. So you bring your aunts and your uncles and your wife and your kids. And the interesting thing is, is that they don't do this for the money in the Super Bowl. I mean, they could care less how, matter of fact, they have to fly all their family. They end up costing money, but just like a player. They get a ring? They get a ring.

No, they didn't know that. They get a ring. Oh, that's cool.

And that's what everybody, you know, wants to have. You know, I knew they didn't do it for the money, but I also didn't know they do it for the Chiefs too, Mike. Bertful.

Is this thing on? I thought you'd give me a rule. That one was for you, Chris.

I don't think that whatsoever. The Chiefs are wonderful. I'm just kidding, obviously. Before I let you go, I need a name. I demand a name from you, Mike Pereira. When you were the head of NFL refs and you go to work on a Monday morning and somebody placed a call sheet in front of you. Who was the coach on that call sheet that you were just like, oh no. That I was like, oh no. I don't want to talk to this person. I know they're going to say this to me, but who was that coach on the call sheet back in the day, Mike?

There was one that had the ability to really get off quickly and loudly and was hard for me first thing Monday morning. And he, his name was John Fox actually. Really?

I wasn't going to ask that. He could go off and I shouldn't say this, but I really don't care anymore. But he had an assistant who I loved. Her name was Linda O'Hara. And I would talk with Linda and when I went to Carolina, I would stop by and talk to Linda. And I would tell her of my frustration.

So it got to the point where John would walk in on Monday morning and he would immediately yell at Linda, get Pereira on the phone now. And she would go, got it. And she would click into the phone.

But she wouldn't call my number. She'd call a phony number and then go, oh, well, he's not in yet. When do you expect him? He should be in by noon. OK, well, would you have him called by noon at noon? OK. Well, by then, John was settled down.

He wasn't. So so it was like she of all the people like Linda O'Hara love you wherever you are now. She would create a buffer zone, huh? Yeah, it was either it was either Fox or Amy Trask back in the ladies and gentlemen. Yeah, Trask Trask, who was who was standing by. She was the I will tell one quick story about Amy.

She was the queen of the text. So any time a call went against the Raiders, we had a stopwatch in the in our command center and we go click and we'd start and we'd watch the five, six, seven ping. And it was Amy. That was an awful call.

What was that? So that was the Amy. But she was obviously Amy and I. Yes. Had the true definition of a love hate relationship, right? Well, it's kind of that's right.

It's kind of crazy, though. You know, text more of an email person now. I don't know if she's graduated to a different electronic. Too long, too long. She had to get to me quicker.

Oh, my gosh. I would have thought it would be Belichick. No, Bill was not Belichick. I had really a great relationship with him and because he wasn't.

A B.S. or, you know, he told you what he thought, and if you didn't agree, if then he would just we would just agree to disagree. But I kind of lost them. I lost them, you know, over the fleet gate, actually. And and and was and really Spygate was the other one, because I think he thought I was in some way responsible, which I wasn't.

But I know that when the video came in, everybody came into my office and they looked at it in my office. And I felt like our relationship kind of dissipated after that, you know. And so I really, really didn't have much communication with him after that.

But prior to that, I really I really enjoyed the relationship. Well, you work with a guy who can maybe broker broker some peace, you know. So say hi to Tom.

Say hi to Kevin Burkhardt, to Ace's individuals. I will. Tell him to get you out of the corner, man.

I don't know what that is. I'm getting out of the corner. If I don't get out of the damn corner in the Super Bowl, I'm going to be mad.

Come on, now. I mean, if they pump you on camera and 100 million people are watching, get up out of the chair and stand next to Tom Brady. At least I'm going to turn and face the camera. I'll at least do that. And you know what I'll do?

I'll just do. Hey, this will be a cake in this industry, especially in officiating. We all have this. You know, when you were officiating as a referee, you had a signal. You give a signal. And it might be this or it might be this.

And that was like you do it so indiscreetly, but that's like to say hi to your wife. There you go. Yeah. So I'll come up with something. And with your growth, maybe I'll just do this and something. And it'll be for me. And that'll be for Rich Isaac. Hi, Rich. Ladies and gentlemen. Send me a text. Please say that out loud during the Super Bowl.

Mike Pereira, everybody, from Fox Sports. You're the best, man. Great to see you. Nice to see you.

Great to see you. We may be out of the corner next time. OK. Let's talk TurboTax people. You might be sitting there going, wait a minute, Rich.

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Right here on the Rich Eisen Show. What was that night like for you winning the first of three? You know, all the starving Cowboys fans are waiting for the return of the Lombardi Trophy. That was a special night, I tell you. It was special hearing the call right there. It's the first time I've ever heard it.

Are you serious? Yeah, no, I've never gone back and watched any of my telecast at games. And Dick Enberg is someone who is very dear to my family from the standpoint that my mom grew up an Angels fan and listened to him broadcast those games. And all of a sudden he was broadcasting my games. So to actually, I've seen the footage, but to actually hear Dick Enberg's call on that.

I don't know, it kind of gave me chills there for a minute. Yeah, that night was magical for a lot of reasons. One of which was at the Rose Bowl where I'd spend my collegiate years at UCLA and practice there at UCLA. And then as a quarterback, especially for a quarterback taking in the first round. The whole reason you're drafted there is to win a championship for your organization. And when you do it, everything gets validated.

Your career is validated and all the reasons why the organization picked you are validated. It was special and a night that will follow me the rest of my life. Now, I don't know if you're aware of this. We had Michael Irvin on Tuesday.

That's not what I'm asking if you're aware of. Michael had this to say about what happened at halftime of that game. Go ahead and play it for Troy. Herb, do you remember who was at halftime at 24 years ago?

What? Man, listen, Jimmy Johnson was trying to talk about game plan and everything. We're sitting right here. Hey, come on, coach. And then half of us sneaking out the back going to watch Michael Jackson.

I was like, what? You snuck out of a halftime adjustment. Did you know that he snuck out? No, I didn't know that he snuck out. But I knew he snuck out of a lot of hotel rooms on Saturday night before games.

That's the least of my worries. He was at the game at least, you know, and he was going to show up in the second half. Yeah, but he said that a bunch of guys snuck out to go check out. Yeah, it was.

I did not. And I didn't know that he did or some other players. But there was a real interest. I mean, Michael Jackson was the halftime act and everyone was excited about that. And our players, we were excited about it.

So that does not surprise me at all. That Michael went to go check out Michael for halftime of that game. Wow, I haven't seen that Aikman interview in quite some time, as a matter of fact.

844-204 Rich being the number to dial here on the program. So we broke news to Mike Pereira, listen, about Ron Torbert. Listen, how do you think NFL fans would like, you know, oh, that play was incomplete, whatever, it's now fourth down, you know, people are running off the field, their punt team comes on. Wait a minute, let's take the mic of the head ref who's announcing sky judges chime in. You know, how do you think that would go down? The spring league is one thing that happens in the NFL. Don't you think people just go nuts?

Like they're used to seeing that yellow flag thing and at least the announcers like flag down on the play. I don't know how that would work, to be honest with you. It takes time. Back on the rich eyes and show life insurance, you know you need it but maybe you think you can't afford it or it's too complicated or you don't want to deal with medical exams. That's all changed with Ethos. With Ethos, just go online, answer a few simple health questions and in as little as 10 minutes you can get up to $2 million in term life coverage with plans starting around $2 a day. No doctor visits, no complicated forms, all online. Don't let the unexpected leave your family without the financial security they need. Get your free quote at tryethos.com.

Try e-t-h-o-s dot com. How many of our long time listeners have said, well they were thinking of Jeff in Detroit? I know I was. Jeff is on the phone line. Jeff, how you doing brother? Pull out the couch, I need to lay on it for a minute baby.

What do you got? Oh my God, it's like that thing came to town. The kid's so young, he doesn't know he's not supposed to be this good this quick.

And the sad part about it is, I'm a fan of football, I'm just coming to grips today with my fandom. It's like somebody had you in the car and you thought you were on your way to a trip and they pull up on 75 at the Ohio board and tell you, get the hell out, you're not going to New Orleans. And it's like they pulled the power from my whole entire city. And let me tell you something, I have to command, I have to give them some respect because they took trolling to the next level. Here in Detroit, one of the mainstays are Cartier glasses known as buffs.

If you win, you get buffs. These cats went to Hutch, which is a jeweler here in Detroit, and got a gang of buff glasses, Cartier glasses. After their victory, they shot a video talking about they won Detroit doing the dance that we do all over the place. I mean, that hit home because anybody that knows Detroit knows that's how you get us. And oh my goodness, I had to take my hat off. It's funny because here in Detroit right now, you look to the side of you, you can have a conversation with the guy next to you and not have to say a word, just emojis almost, live emojis where you just shake your head and put your head down, man. Jeff in Detroit.

Didn't see that commander's train coming. Jeff, you're the man, brother. We'll chat again with you real soon. All right, brother. We'll be back on the Roku channel to wrap up this show in a sec.

Let's give him a verbal hug right now, right? Cousin. So, that girl I met on eHarmony, we're out to dinner last night and like a klutz, I tip my drink all over myself. Oh no. And it's all down my shirt, a horrible stain, so embarrassing and you'll never guess. What? She smiles, picks up her drinks, spills it all over her top. So now we're... No way.

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Whisper: medium.en / 2025-01-21 18:52:10 / 2025-01-21 19:16:02 / 24

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