Damontae Kazee of the Steelers will miss the rest in the season because he hit a Colts receiver.
The NFL suspended Damontae Kazee, a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, for the last three games for the regular season or any playoff games that the team might play.
The decision was made by NFL vice president in operations John Runyan on Monday, two days after Kazee was thrown out of the Steelers’ 30–13 loss against the Indianapolis Colts. Michael Pittman Jr. from Indianapolis.
After dodging for a pass, he left the game, and Kazee swooped in and drilled the helpless receiver. There were many flags all over the field, and with 8:42 left to the second quarter, he was kicked out of the game.
The league told Kazee in a letter that there is a rule that says players can’t hit an unprotected player in the head or neck area with their helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder, “even if the initial contact is lower than the player’s neck and regardless of whether the defensive player also tackles the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him.”
“The video of the play shows you had delivered a forcible blow onto the head/neck area of Colts’ wr Michael Pittman Jr., who was in a helpless posture,” Runyan said in the letter.
“There was nothing in the way of you and your opponent, and you could have avoided making illegal contact.” Because of how clearly bad your actions were, you were kicked out of the game.
Runyan also said that Kazee was suspended for the rest in the season because he had done other things that were unsafe for players. The ban also covers any playoff games that might happen.
When players break the rules meant to keep other players safe over and over again, and especially when those violations put another player at a high risk of getting hurt, Runyan wrote, it is fair to give them much harsher punishments.
The NFL announced Monday that Steelers safety Damontae Kazee will miss the last three games of the regular season without pay for breaking rules meant to protect players’ health and safety. On Saturday, he was ejected for a hard hit in Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
As a result of breaking the rule, NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan suspended the player.
The rule says that a player “forcibly hits the defenseless player’s heads or neck area with the helmet, face mask, forearm, as well as shoulder, even if the initial contact is lower than the player’s neck and regardless of whether the defensive player also tackles the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him.”
“With 8:49 remaining within the 2nd quarter, you were involved within a play that the Football League considers a serious infraction of the playing rules,” Runyan said.
“A video of the play proves that you hit Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. hard in the head or neck area while he was defenseless.”
You had a clear way to get to your opponent, so you didn’t have to make the illegal touch. Because of how clearly bad your actions were, you were kicked out of the game.
He said after the game that the decision came from “New York,” and on Monday, he said that Kazee isn’t “a dirty player.”
What does Tomlin say about teaching points? “Usually I discuss lowering the target,” he replied. He gave up his safety.
“The goal was not high, and both guys were going.” It was just bad luck. I know he’s not a shady player. Some of the incidents that came to light during that time are not things he wants to do.