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NFL Will Never Adapt Bruce Arians’ Punishment Idea

By @The12thDude

Bruce Arians

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The Arizona Cardinals have been dealing with the injury bug all season long, and now they will have to deal with the loss of Calais Campbell, who will miss up to three weeks with a sprained MCL. The injury came as a result of a chop block that was delivered by the Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas and aided by left tackle Ryan Clady.

After the game, a furious Bruce Arians believed the chop block to be premeditated and even called it “the dirtiest play (he’s) ever seen in 37 years.” Well, who knows if that is exactly true or not, but I can certainly understand the frustration. Campbell is an underrated defensive end for the Cardinals, and his absence will be difficult for Arizona to overcome at this point.

Arians followed that statement up by saying a fine would not be good enough, and that Thomas should be forced to miss the same amount of time as Campbell. Frankly, that isn’t going to happen, and it shouldn’t.

There is no doubt that Clady engaged Campbell just before Thomas hit him low. Had Clady not engaged Campbell, then the block by Thomas would simply be known as a cut block, which is completely legal in the NFL. The fact that Clady engaged Campbell makes it a chop block, which is obviously a dangerous play that is not allowed. But was this a premeditated block, or simply a result of miscommunication by Clady and Thomas? My guess would be the latter. After all, the chop block wiped away a 77-yard touchdown reception by Demaryius Thomas — pretty sure John Fox and the Broncos’ staff aren’t coaching that. What they are coaching, however, is how to cut block.

Another problem with Arians wanting the NFL to suspend Thomas for the same amount of time that Campbell has to miss is that it could potentially open itself up to a flood gate. What if accidental blows to the head lead the player suspensions? How about if the scenario was somehow reversed and Campbell had accidentally taken out Thomas in a play that appeared to be dirty? What if Campbell was simply just trying to get to the quarterback? I don’t think Arians would be calling for Campbell to miss the same amount of time as Thomas if that were the case.

Arians has every right to be upset, but he can’t honestly expect the NFL to punish Thomas by forcing him to miss time when there is no actual evidence that the chop block was planned. The Broncos should expect a fine to be handed down, but punishment won’t come in the form of a suspension.

Tyson Sweet is a Seattle Seahawks writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @The12thDude, like him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google!

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