Underrated Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell injured his knee Sunday in Denver during the team's loss to the Broncos. Coach Bruce Arians was seething about it after the game.
"That was the dirtiest play I've seen in 37 years," Arians said, calling it a "premeditated high-low" executed by the Broncos.
Denver tight end Julius Thomas was called for an illegal chop block on the play, a 15-yard penalty which negated a touchdown. Ryan Clady worked in tandem with Thomas on the play. But the penalty flag won't bring Campbell back. Arians said Campbell has a sprained MCL and will miss two to four weeks.
Campbell is probably the best NFL player who hasn't made a Pro Bowl. He had an insanely athletic interception of Peyton Manning on Sunday, a typical play in a standout season thus far. The chop block will make it a lot tougher for Campbell to make it to Hawaii.
UPDATE: NFL spokesman Michael Signora said Monday the penalty was correctly called as chop block, per NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. One part of the rule broken is known as a "lure" block. While Thomas chops Campbell, Clady "confronts the defensive player in a pass-blocking posture but is not physically engaged with the defensive player."
A decision on a possible fine would be made later this week.
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