NFL Chop-block injury has Bengals upset with Denver tactic

The Broncos have gained a bad reputation for the blocking technique.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Defensive tackle Tony Williams had surgery Wednesday to fix his left ankle, broken and dislocated by a low block that has his Cincinnati Bengals teammates upset.
Williams was chasing Denver quarterback Jake Plummer on Monday night when lineman George Foster dived at his lower leg. The Broncos have a reputation for such tactics, known as cut blocks.
"It was unnecessary," defensive tackle John Thornton said. "He said he didn't mean to do it, but they're coached to do it. I blame Mike Shanahan."
Denver's coach adamantly defended the play Wednesday, telling reporters in Denver that it's a common practice. Bengals players said the tactic is legal but unethical, reigniting the debate about whether it should be banned.
"They need to do something about it, either fine the guy or look into a team that does it a lot," said cornerback Deltha O'Neal, who played four years in Denver. "Denver is known for doing that. They need to police that."
What happened
Williams was chasing Plummer when Foster came in low from the side. Foster said a few words to Williams and gave him a pat before he left the field on a cart.
Doctors realigned his ankle and inserted a screw on Wednesday. He'll need six months to recover fully.
"He [Foster] put somebody out for the season," Thornton said. "He should be fined a lot. If we put two hands on the quarterback, we get fined. You should be fined for breaking somebody's ankle."
O'Neal doesn't blame Foster, who was the Broncos' top draft pick last year and apologized to Williams on the field.
"If they're teaching him to do it and he refuses to do it because he doesn't believe in it, they're probably going to release him or bench him and put somebody else in," O'Neal said. "So he feels, 'I've got to make a living, too. I've got to do my job.' They just need to do some other methods of teaching how to block."
Bad reputation
Although low blocks occur around the league, the Broncos have a reputation for emphasizing it. Jacksonville's Paul Spicer also is out for the season after taking a low block from a Broncos lineman.
Foster's block drew immediate and widespread criticism because Williams wasn't close to the quarterback, didn't see it coming and could have easily been taken out with a high hit.
"Although people may say it's not illegal, it doesn't necessarily have to be a part of the game," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "There was no reason to block a man low like that when he has his back basically turned to you. There is no reason to chop the guy like that."