The Dave Thomas Penalty

First, I love that the guy is named Dave Thomas, which is an exceedingly Canadian name. Even though the Dave Thomas in question is actually from Texas.

Last week against Indy, there was the infamous Dave Thomas penalty for a hit after the play that cost the Patriots 15 yards, putting them out of field goal range. Most from the Patriots organization seem to feel that this was an unintentional mishap (and these things happen) that we should just let go. Thomas claims that he did not hear the whistle. Additionally, it wasn't a particularly cruel or unusual hit, just a pretty generic tackle that was late. I don't think anyone has questioned the lateness of it, or that the penalty occurred (in fact, Belichick came out and said that he felt the call was justified). And yeah, I would have much preferred for him to not get the penalty, but then again, I also really wanted Gaffney to catch the ball, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

[As an aside, the Gaffney drop still pains me, much like the Grothe lob to the back of the end zone in the Cincinnati game with no one standing there]

So as a follow-up, Thomas was fined $7500 by the NFL for the late hit. This seems gratuitous and in fact unnecessary. The team was punished, he was punished in the game, and it was not a rancorous play. Irksome.

Maybe we should take up a collection to give him back that money...