Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee has been suspended for the rest of the season, including potential postseason games, due to repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect player health and safety.
The suspension was a result of a helmet-first hit on Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., causing a concussion.
The NFL deemed Kazee’s actions as a serious violation and stated that when players repeatedly violate safety rules with a significant risk of injury, substantial penalties are appropriate. (Trending: Bud Light Gets Bad News Ahead of Christmas)
.@RobGronkowski emphatically agrees with @TomBrady that @DamontaeKazee should not have been suspended for his hit on Michael Pittman Jr. @heykayadams @steelers pic.twitter.com/VKujbmPEmS
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 20, 2023
The hit sparked mixed opinions, with some defending Kazee’s actions while others criticized the hit and the NFL’s ruling.
The NFL noted that the decision is a result of his “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.’’
“With 8:49 remaining in the 2nd quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules. The video of the play shows that you delivered a forcible blow to the head/neck area of Colts’ receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who was in a defenseless posture,” the NFL’s vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote.
“You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided. Your actions were flagrant, and as a result, you were disqualified from the game,” the letter added.
“When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties,” the letter said.
“Nobody likes seeing players get hurt. But hard hits happen. QBs should not be throwing the ball in areas where they are exposing their own teammates to these types of hits. Coaches need to coach better, QBs needs to read coverages and throw the ball to the right places and defenders should aim for the right hitting areas,” Tom Brady wrote online.
“To put the blame on the defense player all the time is just flat out wrong. Need better QB play!! It’s not OK QBs to get your WRs hit because of your bad decisions!” he added.
This is what I believe to be every Damontae Kazee hit that resulted in a fine. The only one that was a penalty was the Michael Pittman one. Kazee should not have been ejected nor suspended pic.twitter.com/PsNoNXkkw9
— Steven (@Elspedd) December 18, 2023
“I don’t know what to tell my safeties anymore. I guess just let them catch it. If I were a WR I would dive for every catch. That would ensure no contact and a completed pass. Playing deep safety in today’s nfl where rules are made mostly by people who’ve never played is tough,” the Colts’ assistant secondary coach Mike Mitchell wrote.
“Usually I talk about lowering the target,” Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said.
“The target was low and both guys were going. It was just unfortunate. I know he is not a dirty player. He doesn’t aspire to do some of the things that came to light under those circumstances.”
“Sometimes it’s just professional football today, and how difficult it is to operate, but the National Football League is really clear, man. They put a hundred percent of the onus on the defender in those circumstances. It’s unfortunate, but we understand it,” he said.
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