Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs should not have been penalized for tackling Philadelphia quarterback Sam Bradford by the knees during the Eagles' 40-17 preseason victory over the Ravens on Saturday, NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino told the NFL Network on Monday morning.
"We clarified this really in 2012 with the proliferation of these read-option schemes and basically because the quarterback has an option, he's considered a runner until he either clearly doesn't have the football or he reestablishes himself as a passer," Blandino said.
"So, it's not a foul by rule. It's something that we will make sure we cover with our game officials because the defensive end coming off the edge, he doesn't know if the quarterback is going to keep it, he doesn't know if he's going to take off and run or drop back, and so we treat the quarterback in that instance as a runner until he clearly reestablishes as a passer or he clearly doesn't have the football.