After the Pittsburgh Steelers-San Diego Chargers game the NFL announced that it will suspend NFL official Rob Vernatchi. Vernachi is a side judge who officiated the Monday night showdown between the Chargers and Steelers. He will be suspended in week 6 without pay after failing to notice the game clock was incorrectly started and running during the game.
The NFL may also be penalize the rest of the officiating crew from Monday night however those penalties have yet to be announced. The error itself in the end may have meant more if the Steelers had not scored a touchdown and won the game.
The Steelers also could have scored and the Chargers may have had some time left on the clock if the officiating crew noticed the mistake. This is the second week officials have made a blunder that could have changed the course of the game. In week 4 the Seahawks defense committed an illegal bat in the end zone that should have cost them the game. Instead the Lions lost the game pretty much ending their season.
Officials have been in the news more frequently for making extraordinary blunders that often have a tremendous impact on NFL teams. The NFL also went through a period where it utilized replacement refs, who let's face it, were just as effective as these referees. Blown calls are going to happen but affecting the course of an NFL game will likely come with consequences.
