Steelers’ Kazee suspended leisure of season for hit

PITTSBURGH — After an ejection for a exhausting hit on Colts extensive receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on Saturday, Steelers security Damontae Kazee has been suspended for the excellent three video games of the common season with out pay for repeated violation of principles supposed to present protection to the health and security of avid gamers, the NFL launched Monday.

The suspension moreover includes any possible playoff video games.

NFL vp of soccer operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension for a violation of the guideline that states it is a infamous if a player “forcibly hits the defenseless player’s head or neck space with the helmet, face veil, forearm or shoulder, despite the truth that the initial contact is decrease than the player’s neck, and no matter whether the defensive player moreover makes exhaust of his palms to kind out the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him.”

In a letter to Kazee, Runyan stated the Steelers security had an “unobstructed path” to Pittman and that “illegal contact would per chance well even earn been evaded.”

“With 8:49 excellent within the 2nd quarter, you earn been thinking just a few play that the League considers a critical violation of the having fun with principles,” Runyan wrote. “The video of the play reveals that you just delivered a forcible blow to the pinnacle/neck space of Colts’ receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who used to be in a defenseless posture. You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact would per chance well even earn been evaded. Your actions earn been flagrant, and which potential that, you earn been disqualified from the game.”

Coach Mike Tomlin stated after the game the ejection came from “Original York,” and on Monday he stated Kazee is no longer any longer “a filthy player.”

“Usually I focus on lowering the target,” Tomlin stated when asked about coaching facets he provides his safeties. “The target used to be low and both guys earn been going. It used to be appropriate glum. I do know he is no longer any longer a filthy player. He doesn’t aspire to assemble among the issues that came to light below these cases.

“Usually it is appropriate legitimate soccer today, and the device in which sophisticated it is to characteristic, however the Nationwide Football League is totally particular, man. They build one hundred percent of the onus on the defender in these cases. Or no longer it is glum, but we comprehend it.”

Kazee has been previously fined 5 times for reasonably just a few pointless roughness violations for a total of $59,030 this season.

Runyan’s letter moreover notes Kazee’s space as a repeat offender as a contributing part to the suspension, which can mark him roughly $208,000 in wage.

“When avid gamers violate the foundations supposed to present protection to player security on a repeated basis, and critically when the violations raise with them a predominant risk of harm to an opposing player, it is acceptable to impose critically greater penalties,” Runyan wrote.

Retired quarterback Tom Brady, who has been outspoken about his displeasure with the NFL’s rule changes made within the title of player security, reacted to Kazee’s suspension in a comment below a SportsCenter put up on Instagram.

“No person likes seeing avid gamers harm. But exhausting hits happen. QBs must peaceable no longer be throwing the ball in areas where they’re exposing their very secure teammates to those forms of hits,” he wrote. “Coaches must mutter better, QBs must read coverages and throw the ball to the ethical areas and defenders must peaceable goal for the ethical hitting areas. To construct the blame on the protection player the final time is acceptable flat out tainted. Need better QB play!! Or no longer it is not any longer OK QBs to salvage your WRs hit thanks to your noxious selections!”

Colts assistant secondary coach and old Steelers defensive reduction Mike Mitchell tweeted Monday“I do no longer know what to whine my safeties anymore.

“I explain appropriate allow them to fetch it. If I earn been a WR I would dive for every and each fetch. That would per chance well well execute particular no contact and a done slither. Playing deep security in today’s nfl where principles are made mostly by folks that’ve never played is no longer any longer easy.”

Underneath the collective bargaining agreement, Kazee is allowed to charm the suspension. If he does, either Derrick Brooks or James Thrash, the hearing officers collectively appointed by the NFL and the avid gamers’ affiliation, would hear the charm.

Pittman entered the concussion protocol after the hit and did no longer return to the game.

The Steelers misplaced security Minkah Fitzpatrick to a knee harm the subsequent play, and he has been dominated out for Saturday’s game in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.