Poor Devin Thomas

[GoSkins!]

Originally Posted by skinsnut

Keep in mind, this was a passing play....if Heyer was too far from the play, he'd be downfield....which is a penalty anyways.
Anyone behind of the line of scrimmage will be blocked...period....you do not penalize the offense for doing their job by blocking multiple people during a passing play...the only reason he should be penalized is if it was an illegal block

Heyer was definitely not downfield. The replay of the hit was shown from the camera angle used to show Jason throwing the ball. As Jason's throwing, you see Heyer hit the guy in the background. To me, it looked like he hit him in the chest. I just don't see the rule against that. Saying "the ref's were watching" doesn't give them a right to call a foul against a player clocking a guy when he isn't paying attention. If it did, just think of some of the fouls you would see on special teams. If Campbell had to turn around and scramble back, would a pancake block to the chest have been legal? The ref's made up a foul to protect a guy who made a dirty play against Portis and then got clocked, legally, when he didn't play to the whistle.

[Skinny Tee]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

Heyer was definitely not downfield. The replay of the hit was shown from the camera angle used to show Jason throwing the ball. As Jason's throwing, you see Heyer hit the guy in the background. To me, it looked like he hit him in the chest. I just don't see the rule against that. Saying "the ref's were watching" doesn't give them a right to call a foul against a player clocking a guy when he isn't paying attention. If it did, just think of some of the fouls you would see on special teams. If Campbell had to turn around and scramble back, would a pancake block to the chest have been legal? The ref's made up a foul to protect a guy who made a dirty play against Portis and then got clocked, legally, when he didn't play to the whistle.

I completely agree with this. Campbell still had the ball in his hands AND let's say that Campbell throws the ball across the hashmarks, that block would be instrumental in the play's potential.

It shouldn't matter whether he is actively rushing the passer or not, he should be allowed to be blocked until the play is finished.

The play wasn't even halfway over when Heyer made that block. It was a hard block but that's about it. Completely dumb call.