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He got knocked out when one of the Giants players hit him in the back while going after a blocked punt. Bernie left the game.

(12-28) 15:39 PST EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) --

Referee Bernie Kukar was forced to leave the Panthers-Giants game after being drilled in the back by Giants safety Clarence LeBlanc trying to recover a blocked punt.

Kukar hurt his ankle and shoulder after being hit square in his back by LeBlanc with 10:51 left in the third quarter. Kukar was watching the ball rolling out of bounds at the Panthers 1-yard line after New York blocked its second punt of the game when LeBlanc caught him totally off-guard.

Kukar stayed on the ground flat on his back for about five minutes. He got up and hopped to a golf cart and was taken off the field.

Field Judge Gene Steratore took over as the referee.

That's too bad, I really like Bernie too, his name is fun to say. Kukar! Get better soon!

Holy smokes I just saw this hit on highlights. That looked brutal, I wouldn't have gotten up. I would have sat there and moaned. lol. wow, right in the lower back too. :(

DId they finish the game with 6?

Yeah Mike, they did. The FJ moved to R.

I thought they had an alternate? weird.

By no means was this Bernie's fault......however don't a lot of people use the mechanic to turn in toward the field at an out of bounds situation? I personally use the mechanic that Bernie used but I have been warned about it.
I use it to make sure nothing crazy happens out of bounds. What do others think?


Get well soon Bernie!!!!!!

That's how I was taught and exactly what I do. That's a good point though. He was just unlucky I guess.

I thought it was entirely Kukar's fault. If you have a situation where you are between players and a loose ball it is your fault. I think I would have turned 90 degrees and gone backwards towards the goaline, to keep the play in my view. I know he was worried about stuff out of bounds, but what was he seeing by turning away from the players like that? I thought it was an awful move on his part.

However, no one deserves the hit he took! I hope he is back for next week, he is a good Ref.

I was watching NFL Total Access, they said that he is doing fine, he actually wanted to come back and finish the game up, but the Mike Pierra didn't want him to because he said they really needed him for playoffs. :D

REPLY: To comment on a prior post, the NFL does <u>not</u> assign an alternate to regular season games. They do, however, assign alternates for playoff games.

Ahhh, okay thanks Bob, that makes sense.

So does the alternate during the playoffs stand on the sideline......dress and stay in the lockerroom or what? I don't know about everyone else but it takes me a little time to get the gear on but I would also feel funny dressed pretty mucj knowing I was not going to work. Please advise.

He is dressed and at the ready on the sidelines. I'm not sure if he goes up and down the field with them or stands in one location.

As a guy who's been an alternate for a game, it is pretty wierd. I found myself doing little things to be 'in the game' in case anybody went down. I would say the down and distance to myself before each play, as well as the time on the clock. I would look at tendencies by each team based on down and distance and would watch what the officials were doing as far as initial position and how they covered the play as it unfolded to see if there was something they did that I could pick up.

The only spot I knew I wouldn't be going in as was the R, so I kept my eyes on everyone except him.

REPLY: As far as I know, he's dressed in uniform, wearing a jacket, and standing along the sidelines.

. [/B][/QUOTE]

I would also feel funny dressed pretty much knowing I was not going to work. Please advise. [/B][/QUOTE]

Heck, I’m dressed in my uniform as we speak. I mean come on. You have to be ready in case you get the call. The only hassle is changeing out of my Batman costume :D

I would also feel funny dressed pretty much knowing I was not going to work. Please advise. [/B][/QUOTE]

Heck, I’m dressed in my uniform as we speak. I mean come on. You have to be ready in case you get the call. The only hassle is changeing out of my Batman costume :D

[/B][/QUOTE]

LOL that is funny, but honestly we have a guy in our BBall association, that goes to games (that he isn't working) dressed in his uniform. He is a little beyond his glory days, still wears the byron collar,(for non BBall guys that is a no no) but he goes a lot of places looking like he works at foot locker LOL

I would also feel funny dressed pretty much knowing I was not going to work. Please advise. [/B][/QUOTE]

Heck, I’m dressed in my uniform as we speak. I mean come on. You have to be ready in case you get the call. The only hassle is changeing out of my Batman costume :D

[/B][/QUOTE]

In my college years, I had my gear packed and ready to go in my car. Both of my assignors (I was a dual member with another association) knew my cell phone number and e-mail address. I literally would sit in a 9am computer progrmaming class and receive an e-mail if I could do a 3pm double header. It was great! I was rewarded for my dedication.

Bernie/Camp Easton
 

Best wishes to my old friend Bernie for a speedy recovery. He used to own a summer camp in far northern Minnesota, where I attended for five magical summers. He came to our house in Kansas City to show camp movies in our basement, drumming up business. Back then he was officiating high school games. After losing track of him, I saw him on Monday Night Football about ten years ago and contacted him. He has since sold the camp but, as we know, continues as a top NFL official.

Get well soon, Bernie!

was it last year or the year before he worked the Super Bowl? Anyways I hear he rated 100 for the entire season. That is impressive.

REPLY: Kukar worked the 2002 Super Bowl. I <u>think</u> that last year's referee was Bill Carollo.

And Gerry Austin in 2001.

The alternate is dressed on the sideline, near the chain crew, wearing a jacket. While you might feel a little funny standing there, dressed, and knowing you probably won't get to work, it beats watching the game from your own couch!

I agree. I'd take standing on the sidelines, dressed in uniform, and getting payed like $6,500 to watch the superbowl any day.

A bit of trivia.

Former NFL Director or Officials, Jerry Seeman, was the alternate in a Superbowl and did come in and work when one of the on-field officials was injured. It was Jerry's last game on the field.

REPLY: Ed, I'm sure you're correct about Jerry having to step in as an alternate on one of the Super Bowls, but I'm pretty sure that his last game on the field was as the <u>assigned</u> referee in the NYG--Buffalo Bills Super Bowl...1991, I believe.

I want a job going to the Superbowl free of charge and having the NFL pick up all my tabs and pay me to watch from the best seat in the house on the sidelines. Where do I sign up?

You can sign up once you have 10 years HS, 5 years college and I think three years NFL. GOod luck! :)

I believe they have two alternates -- one "referee" who can work any position except umpire, and one umpire. They may have changed this OR I may be delusional and they've NEVER done this.

In regard to Seeman, I THINK you're thinking of the AFC Championship Game (1987?) Denver-Cleveland. Tunney was the Ref, and I think back judge Dick Dolack pulled a hamstring and Seeman was the field judge for the rest of the game. He called Ernest Byner's fumble.

Everyone knows...
 

Everyone already knows...

Bernie worked this past weekend and therefore is all better to ref.