NFL side judge suspended for clock error
NEW YORK -- The NFL has suspended side judge Rob Vernatchi for one game for not managing the clock properly in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's game at San Diego on Monday night.
The NFL blamed both the clock operator and the officials for the mistake, saying that the side judge should have noticed the clock was still running after the touchback, CBSports.com staff writer, Sean Wagner-McGough reported.
The clock error came after a kickoff that was not returned, 18 seconds ran off the clock. Instead of having 2:56 to score the game-winning touchdown, the Steelers were forced to do it in 2:38. The Steelers beat the Chargers 24-20.
If the clock had been properly operated, the Chargers would have had 18 more seconds to try to win the game.
Vernatchi "will not officiate in Week 6 as a result of the failure to notice that the game clock was incorrectly started," league spokesman Michael Signora said Thursday. Signora added Vernatchi is being taken off the field for one week and then will return to referee Pete Morelli's crew.
Such a move is unusual for the NFL, which rarely publicly reprimands game officials. The clock error in the Pittsburg-Chargers game follows a clock error
Signora said the status of the clock operator in San Diego, an NFL employee, is under review.