Eagles fans collectively held their breath Saturday night when Sam Bradford took a low hit from Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Terrell Suggs.
Bradford was able to get up from the hit and lead the Eagles' offense on a 12-play drive that ended with a 14-yard touchdown-run from Ryan Mathews.
Suggs was penalized for the hit, which came on a read-option play where Bradford handed the ball off to Darren Sproles. However, the NFL's vice president of officiating, Dean Blandino, stated that the hit was legal and that no flag should've been thrown.
"It's not a foul by rule because the defender coming off the edge doesn't know if the quarterback is going to keep it, take off and run, or drop back, so we treat the quarterback in that instance as a runner until he clearly reestablishes that he is a passer," Blandino told Preseason HQ Monday morning.
Of course, many still believe that Suggs' hit was a "dirty play," and that the 32-year-old should not have went for Bradford's knees.
NFL's head of officiating Dean Blandino says Terrell Suggs hit on Sam Bradford was LEGAL. Still cheap by Suggs tho pic.twitter.com/a3VdcoToVM
— John Clark CSN (@JClarkCSN) August 24, 2015
Suggs defended himself in a post-game interview with The Baltimore Sun.
"When you run the read option, you have to know the rules," Suggs said. "If you want to run the read option with your starting quarterback that's had two knee surgeries, that's on you. That's not my responsibility to update you on the rule."
Left tackle Jason Peters believes that Suggs was intentionally targeting Bradford's surgically repaired right knee.
"It was a cheap shot at the quarterback," Peters said following Saturday's game. "I'm pretty sure he planned it. We practiced against them all week, and I'm pretty sure he was thinking about it."
The man who took the hit also believes there was some intent behind the tackle.
"I think that was what he was trying to do," Bradford said. " I was a little upset. I'm not sure I can repeat what I said to him."
In addition to the Suggs hit, Bradford took a big hit from Ravens defensive lineman, Brandon Williams.
For Bradford and the Eagles, the fact that the 27-year-old was able to shake off these hits is an encouraging sign moving forward. Bradford should see extended playing time in this Saturday's "dress rehearsal" preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.
