Terrell Suggs is being criticized for tackling Sam Bradford on his lower body on Saturday.
Suggs’ Ravens faced Bradford’s Eagles in a preseason game, and Suggs came in hard off the edge during the play in question. Bradford handed the ball off inside, but Suggs, who was coming hard, tackled the quarterback and hit him low. The timing and placement of the hit led to instant criticism because of Bradford’s history of knee trouble.
Some called it a “cheap shot,” while others described it as “dirty.”
Sam Bradford takes cheap shot by Baltimore's Terrell Suggs on twice surgically repaired left knee. Bradford hit again pic.twitter.com/etegQ69sxT
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) August 22, 2015
Suggs was penalized 15 yards for roughing the passer.
While it’s true that Suggs could have targeted Bradford somewhat higher, I thought it was a completely clean play. This is football. Guys are going to get tackled and brought down around their lower body. Just because Bradford is fragile and has a history of knee problems doesn’t mean Suggs or anyone else should take it easy on him. Don’t target his knees, but it’s okay to tackle a guy low so long as it’s not in a malicious fashion. I don’t believe this was, unlike many other plays by Suggs in the past which have led to him receiving a reputation for being dirty.
