National Football League

Cam Heyward upset over Joe Thomas' 'cowardly' blocking

Published Oct. 13, 2014 2:25 p.m. ET

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Former Buckeye and current Pittsburgh Steeler Cameron Heyward spoke out following Cleveland's 31-10 win over the Steelers on Sunday complaining about the techniques used by the Browns offensive line.

Specifically, Heyward was upset during the game at Pro-Bowl tackle Joe Thomas.

Heyward told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Thomas and other Browns were guilty of illegal chop blocks during the game.

After a play in the fourth quarter, with the Browns leading 31-3 Heyward stayed on the ground after being taken down by Thomas. The trainers came out to attend to Heyward who popped up to shout something at Cleveland's left tackle. Heyward was not seriously hurt and came back to the game.

"I don't approve of that," Heyward said. "Go after someone when they can see you. If you can't see them, then it shouldn't be legal. We talk so much about safety. We don't do a good job of keeping it safe for everybody. I'm not going to speak anymore of it, but it's a dirty play."

According to the Post-Gazette, Heyward said he was illegally chop-blocked on more than one occasion.

"There were a couple of them, let's put it like that," he said. "I think it's a cowardly thing, but if they're going to coach it like that, that's their call."

The Browns were not penalized during the game for chop blocking. According to NFL rules, a lineman may cut an oppoment's feet from under them as long as they are engaged one-on-one with the defender and visible from the front so the defensive player has a chance to defend themselves from injury.

Joe Thomas said in the locker room that he believes the real reason Heyward complained was because the Browns were up big and still cut-blocking.

"I think he was upset they were losing and he got cut," Thomas said. "Defensive linemen just don't like to get cut. Emotions are high. I've been in that situation when you're down big. Everything irritates you."

Cut blocks are part of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's scheme. Every offense he has run has had it's share of complaints about the aggressive blocking technique, from Denver to Houston to Washington and now in Cleveland.