A routine preseason game between the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants created some chaos on Sunday night.
Bengals tight end Thaddeus Moss went low to block fifth-overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux and seemingly injured the defender.
Thibodeaux eventually ran past the cart despite appearing to be in major pain, then emerged from the blue medical tent and was declared out.
From the moment the hit happened, debate raged as to whether Moss committed a dirty play or one very much within the rules. Our experts say it’s the latter, but here’s a sampling of the unexpected outburst of drama on football social media to an occurrence in a preseason game.
For a block that happens 10x per game? Jesus Christ people calm down. It’s a routine block. Shitty result, but routine LEGAL block. https://t.co/z7H0YA6mJv
— Teej. (@TJLang70) August 22, 2022
PEOPLE. This is literally a routine play, a routine block, and a routine defensive technique happening here. Inside the tackle box, the defender is facing him, it’s just a bad looking result. https://t.co/JPlCmEeTho
— marshall newhouse (@MNewhouse73) August 22, 2022
there are 3 sides to this. one, people who know kayvon abandoned all technique and put himself in an awful spot, two, his coaches who will tell him the same thing, three, people being loud wrong because an unfortunate injury happened. https://t.co/jW5lOWlcK8
— John Sheeran (@John__Sheeran) August 22, 2022
Not dirty, just not a good block https://t.co/WZQZdmXFjL
— Duke Manyweather (@BigDuke50) August 22, 2022
I went an double checked. still a legal block below the waste by current NFL rules. It's a tool in his belt. just an unfortunate play that thankfully didn't have a catastrophic result. we don't have to turn the TE into the Joker tho
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) August 22, 2022
It’s not dirty. KT was bracing for contact up high because he recognized the play and had his feet stopped. https://t.co/nTNn43A1vh
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) August 22, 2022
Brian Daboll on the block by Thaddeus Moss vs. Kayvon Thibodeaux: That’s the rules. They allow it. We do it as well. Gotta do a good job playing it. It’s tough luck. Whatever the rules are those are the rules.”
— Big Blue View (@bigblueview) August 22, 2022
#1 I hope KT is okay! Thaddeus Moss block happens every week in the NFL. It shouldn't be allowed, but it is. And it's coached. And it's why a DE might go low on Logan Thomas. Take the block out of the game & the defender/TE are safer. Moss isn't some huge outlier. Pay attention.
— Tree Pollen Hater Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) August 22, 2022
Good news on Kayvon. Thaddeus Moss owes Thibodeaux an apology – plus at minimum a fruit basket. That block was the textbook definition of dirty https://t.co/Bx1q735KfI
— GMEN HQ (@GMENHQ) August 22, 2022
Randy Moss was filthy
Thaddeus Moss is just dirty https://t.co/RDPbXdjXqv
— Kevin Wade (@KwadeSays) August 22, 2022
Before people crush Thaddeus Moss for this block they need to realize how common it is. Every TE cut blocks and every TE coach teaches cut blocks. It’s up to the defender to know how to respond to it. W/O it defenders would just barrel downhill. #NFL pic.twitter.com/YB5k2KtTTV
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) August 22, 2022
Stop it. Hope KT is gonna be ok but this is a normal sift block by the TE cmon guy!
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 22, 2022
