Seahawk Sailor":3ay5bpey said:
http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p748/ECLaloosh/unger_zpse4ef495a.png
If "down field" is defined the way it is for a quarterback crossing the line of scrimmage on a play, then this play is illegal. Unger's foot is forward of the line of scrimmage when he comes in contact with the defensive player. If "down field" is defined by being more than a yard, or some other measurement beyond the line of scrimmage, then this play is legal.
You're backwards . . . the QB is not across the line of scrimmage even if only his back foot has not crossed. His torso, the ball, everything but one foot can be past, but so long as he is not completely over the line, he is ok.
I do not know if the same consideration is used for an O lineman, but if it is, then Unger's back foot was not more than a yard past the LOS. Would not matter where his hands were when he engaged, only whether he was still established as within the 1 yard when he made contact.
By my eye, it looks like he was legal . . Maybe he wasn't, but in a game where pretty much everyting is filtered through the subjectiveness of the refs eyes, it is silly to get all morally outraged over something like this.
Not saying YOU are outraged, Sailor, but the whinezoners sure seem butthurt