Former VP of officiating Blandino says league didn't properly value role

Former NFL senior vice president of officiating Dean Blandino hasn't been pleased with how Al Riveron has handled the job as his successor in 2018.

Blandino, who now works as an analyst for FOX, faults the league.

"I think that there was a sense of, around the league office and some of the people in leadership positions, they didn’t value that position the way it should have been valued, and how important it is,” Blandino said, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “During the season, other than the commissioner, the head of officiating is probably the most public-facing person in the office. And those decisions that are made, I mean, these affect the outcome of games, and that’s your product on the field."

While Roger Goodell recently signed a massive contract to remain as the league's commissioner, Blandino says his former position isn't regarded with the importance it requires.

"I do feel that the position was not valued to where it should have been. And, look, you always like to feel that you provided value, and I would never want someone to fail to make myself look better, but I do believe that they never valued that position where it should have been, and maybe it’s a wake-up call for some people around the league,” he said.