As expected, the NFL fined Baltimore Ravens for his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph last week. Thomas went high on Rudolph, knocking him unconscious with a helmet-to-helmet hit that sent Rudolph into concussion protocol and will keep him out of Sunday’s game with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Thomas plans to appeal the $21,000 fine and has made it public he had no ill intent with the hit. While I agree I don’t believe it was Thomas’ goal to hurt Rudolph, it’s hard to watch the play and not assume Thomas did intend to go high on Rudolph.
Hits like this bring up a larger debate about dirty hits compared to illegal hits. For fans, the two terms often get lumped together but they are not mutually exclusive. Thomas’ hit was 100 percent illegal based on the rules of the NFL. But it also wasn’t a dirty hit. Both can be true.
Any Steelers’ fan who wants to argue the hit was dirty need look no further than the hit Bud Dupree was fined for on his hit of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. You cannot argue Thomas’ hit was dirty but Dupree’s was not. Until the league changes the rule on the offense — and they never will — fans are going to be upset about plays like this and want to call the league soft.
