Wilson: Pereira defends officials' penalties in Ravens-Patriots game

NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira defended the roughing the passer penalties assessed against defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.

Appearing on the NFL Network, Pereira made it clear that quarterback safety is the league's top concern.

And he said that even though the blows were glancing ones that they were in the wrong area.

"We want players in the game," Pereira said. "We are constantly trying to protect players. We're clearly going to stay with it. I'm not going to tell officials to back down. We don't want players to get it in their minds that they can go low."

Ngata was flagged for light contact to the side of Brady's helmet. And Suggs grazed Brady's knee area.

"We have set a target, and that target is below the neck and above the knees," Pereira said

Pereira dened that Brady receives special treatment even though he was shown on video coaxing referee Ron Winter to throw the flag.

"I think it's ludicrous," Pereira said. "That's not the way it's officiated. Nobody is going to officiate that way. It's an area of judgment."

Pereira stressed that officials are told to err on the side of caution.

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