Darian Stewart fined for illegal block, Terrence Brooks not fined for hit on Delanie Walker

The NFL ruled that Brooks' crushing blow, which he delivered primarily with his right shoulder within the strike zone as his helmet made slight incidental contact with Walker's helmet, was legal.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh defended the tackle by the third-round draft pick from Florida State earlier week.

"I thought the hit was just a great example of a young guy who's really paying attention to technique, paying attention to the rules, trying to do things the right way," Harbaugh said. "The game can be played in a very physical way still and still adhere to principles of player safety. He did a great job of that."

Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt disagreed, saying that Brooks had made contact with the helmet.

Former NFL vice president of officiating Miker Pereira, a rules analyst for Fox Sports, immediately defended the hit on Twitter.

"This is not an illegal hit on a defenseless receiver," Pereira wrote. "It's shoulder to shoulder, the head is in front. It does lead to a concussion, maybe when he hits the ground, maybe when his head snaps, but this is a legal hit."

awilson@baltsun.com

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