49ers' chop block not deemed fine-worthy

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SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers' chop block that resulted in a penalty that called back a 75-yard touchdown was punishment enough, the NFL determined.Chop block is one of the player safety rules that is subject to a fine. The NFL's 2011 schedule of fines calls for the infraction to carry a possible 7,500 penalty.But neither 49ers running back Frank Gore nor guard Chilo Rachal were fined for the low-high block on blitzing Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard on Thanksgiving that negated Alex Smith's 75-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn, a league spokesman confirmed.
Smith, who wore a microphone during the game for NFL Films, told referee John Parry, "He (Pollard) wasn't even blocked by the lineman, yet."
Parry responded, "Oh, no. When you watch it, it's big. It's a good call."But, clearly, it wasn't so big that the NFL levied a fine. Most chop blocks occur when an offensive lineman is already engaged with a defender and another offensive player hits the defender low.On the play in which Gore was called for a chop block, he made the low block on Pollard first, and Rachal got his hands on Pollard to push him over the top.Penalties that fall under player safety rules or a flagrant personal foul do not automatically warrant fines. Discipline in each case is evaluated on its own facts and circumstances, according to the NFL's process for on-field rules violations.

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