Former VP Of Officiating Mike Pereira Says Eagles Were In Illegal Formation During ‘Philly Special’ Play

The greatest play in Philadelphia Eagles’ history shouldn’t have counted according to former Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira.

In an interview with Clark Judge of Talk of Fake Network, Pereira said this on the play:

“I know the league came out and said that it’s a judgment call, which it is, the down judge, who was the one that [the play] was on his side of the field, they felt that it was his judgment, and [receiver Alshon Jeffrey] was close enough. Well, he wasn’t. They lined up wrong.

“Not only that, it’s a trick play. And if you’re going to run a trick-type play, then you have to be lined up properly. You could either have six men on the line, or you could have an ineligible number lined up at the end of the line, which was the case. I know what the league has said, but they would have been a lot more comfortable if they would have called an illegal formation.

“We always use a yard [within the line of scrimmage], maybe a yard-and-a-half. But that’s two [yards], and even a little bit beyond two. It’s kind of one of those that has no effect on the play. I get it. But they didn’t line up properly. And it really should’ve been called.”