Running for a first down or not blocking for the first down happens in games. The other team has to play too.
Vacating your responsibilities as a blocker on the hands team for an onside kick in an attempt to be the hero that took the team to the Super Bowl? That was the biggest error. Had he kept his head down looking to block someone, no one would care about the play calling. In fact, everyone would be heralding it as the right decisions.