Calais Campbell on Julius Thomas' block: 'It's ended careers before'
Calais Campbell didn't sound too happy about the low block from Broncos tight end Julius Thomas.
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Ever since Broncos tight end Julius Thomas went low on Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell last Sunday, forcing an MCL injury that will keep Campbell out 3-4 weeks, Arizona coach Bruce Arians and his players have been livid about the nature of Thomas' block.
Said Arians after the Broncos victory: "It was a flat chop block that put him out of the game. I've never seen anything like it. I know (Broncos coach) John Fox, and he's a great coach and a great guy. Somebody has got to answer to that. A fine isn't going to do it when he's going to miss three to four weeks on a blatant chop block.”
On Tuesday, Campbell said the situation could have been avoided.
"I’ll let everyone else debate whether it was illegal or not,” Campbell told the team's official website. “That’s not a situation where you typically cut. If it was, I would’ve been better prepared for it and protecting myself. The cut block is usually on a zone read or zone blocks or screens or even quick slants where they want to get your hands down. I feel like if my foot had got stuck in the ground, it could have been a lot worse. It’s ended careers before. If my foot was stuck in the ground it could have put me out for a couple of years and this game is not about that kind of stuff. It’s not about getting injured. You want the best players on the field so we can perform, and play the game we love at a high level for the fans who pay their hard-earned money to watch.
“It kind of sucks I get taken off the field and have to miss a couple weeks on a play that could have been easily avoided. If I get chipped on that play, he still does a good job limiting my ability to rush the passer. We come back the next play and compete again.”
Here's what it looked like Sunday with Thomas diving at Campbell's legs before he could even engage with Denver tackle Ryan Clady.
Thomas said he didn't mean to injure Campbell and that he used Arizona cornerback Antonio Cromartie as an intermediary to send Campbell his apologies after the game.
As for whether the hit was actually illegal, Mike Periera weighed in on Fox.
Said Periera: “It's called a ‘lure block.' Chop blocks are usually the high-low combination blocks, except for this one exception. If an offensive player assumes a pass-blocking posture across from a defensive player, the defensive player is going to assume he's pass-blocking him. Then it's illegal for another blocker to hit him low. It's illegal and probably will result in a big fine, I would think.”
We shall wait and see.
