IT WASN'T PASS INTERFERENCE IN OVERTIME

Jim Thomas interviewed Fox NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira for the Post-Dispatch yesterday. Pereira was the NFL's V-P of officiating the last nine years and is probably the world's top expert on NFL rules and officiating. Fox has him on-call to provide expert analysis any time a call is challenged during one of their games.

Asked about the pass interference call on O.J. Atogwe last Sunday that put San Francisco in position for the game-winning FG in overtime Sunday, Pereira's comments were:

"Am I the only person who thought that pass was uncatchable?" Um, no.

"Was the actual pass catchable? It's clearly thrown behind him. I think he had no shot of getting the ball."

The NFL has yet to comment on the officiating incompetence that in effect lost Sunday's game for the Rams.