© Stan Szeto | 2019 Oct 27
49ers cornerback Richard Sherman thinks there is something questionable with the way he’s being officiated. He said as much after Sunday’s 36-26 victory over the Cardinals, when he was asked about an uncalled defensive pass interference being overturned early in the first quarter, giving Arizona the ball inside San Francisco’s five yard line.
“I thought it was interesting, I thought it was really interesting,” Sherman said. “I had three penalties on the season coming into this game, and to get three in a half is really interesting, especially considering with the way the reversals have gone. I think there’s been over 100 PI challenges this year and there’s been five I think reversals and I’m two of them.
“I think being an (Executive Committee) member and part of that committee has its perks and it has its conversations where you’re the only one who gets overturned. You’ll deal with that in this league. I’ve been here long enough to understand they call the game like that sometimes and you’ve just got to overcome.”
Though his numbers are off, Sherman’s point is well taken. Heading into Sunday’s game, coaches had lost 32 of their past 33 pass interference challenges, dating back to the start of Week 4. That’s a 3.0% success rate. Since Week 3, they are 2-for-41 (4.9%), via ESPN.
Sherman’s point was not well taken according to former VP of Officiating Mike Pereira, however. Pereira made it clear he thought Sherman’s implication that he’s being targeted because of his involvement in the league is ridiculous. He also attributed Sherman being called for pass interference early in the first quarter to the cornerback being past his prime.
“I think his statistical reports — what he says over 100 replays and five have been overturned when it comes to interference — are about as accurate as his comments about how they’re picking on him,” Pereira said.
“Listen, great player, it’s great to have him on the club. Let’s face it, he’s lost a step. He’s in chase position, and for him to say, I guess he’s saying the officials are picking on him because of his role in the NFLPA (NFL Players Association). It’s insane and almost comical after a great win like that, that a comment like that…that’s a guy talking about himself and not the team.”
Here’s the play in question. You be the judge:
Listen to the full interview below.