Steelers safety Damontae Kazee is suspended for the rest of the season after a violent hit on Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

The NFL cracks down and suspends Damontae Kazee for the rest of the season!

After being sent off for a hard hit on wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in Saturday’s Week 15 game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Steelers safety has been suspended without pay for the final three games of the regular season. Reason: According to the league, Kazee repeatedly violated player health and safety rules.

: Steelers Safety Damontae Kazeee is suspended the rest of the season, per @RapSheetpic.twitter.com/tZbV8yZdZihttps://t.co/ZW1m3gm3v1 pic. twitter.com/z2NkUwwIhd

– Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 18, 2023

The suspension also includes potential playoff games for the Steelers.

NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan handed down the suspension for a violation of the rule, which states that it is a foul for a player to “forcibly strike the head or neck area of a defenseless player with the helmet, face mask, forearm or shoulder, even if the initial contact is lower than the player’s neck area and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to engage the defenseless player by clutching or holding. “

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin criticizes interpretation of rules in Kazee case

Runyan made it clear in this letter to the Steelers safety that the 30-year-old had acted intentionally and had accepted a possible injury to his opponent: “The illegal hit could have been avoided”.

“With 8:49 left in the second quarter, you were involved in a play that the league considers a serious violation of the rules of the game. The video of the play shows that you delivered a violent blow to the head/neck area of Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. who was in a defenseless position,” the NFL official elaborated.

“You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided. Your behavior was blatant and therefore you were disqualified from the game,” Runyan continued.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin explained after the game that the ejection would have come from “New York”. On Monday, Tomlin followed up and emphasized that Kazee was not a “dirty player.”

“I usually talk about lowering the target,” Tomlin said when asked about coaching instructions he gives his safeties, “The target was low and both guys were moving. It was just unfortunate. I know he’s not an unfair player. He doesn’t strive to do things that came to light under those circumstances.

The 51-year-old made his discomfort with the interpretation of the rules clear: “Sometimes it’s just the nature of professional football today and how difficult it is to officiate, but the National Football League is really clear. It puts one hundred percent of the responsibility on the defender in cases like this. It’s unfortunate, but we understand it. “

Damontae Kazee already penalized multiple times for unnecessary roughness

Kazee has been fined five times previously this season for various unnecessary-hardship violations totaling $59,030.

The NFL statement also cites Kazee’s status as a repeat offender as a factor in the suspension, which will cost him approximately $208,000 in salary.

“When players repeatedly violate the rules designed to protect player safety, and especially when those violations create a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties,” Runyan wrote.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, Kazee can appeal the suspension. Should he do so, either Derrick Brooks or James Thrash, the hearing officers jointly appointed by the NFL and the players’ association, would decide the appeal.

Kazee’s victim, Pittman, ended up in Concussion Protocol after the hit and did not return to the game.

Double whammy: On the next play of the game, the Steelers also lost their star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to a knee injury. According to the report, the 27-year-old will also be out for Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.