Steelers Damontae Kazee Suspended for Season: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee has been hit with a suspension that will last for the remainder of the regular season and could extend into any potential postseason games. The NFL announced this disciplinary action citing repeated violations of rules designed to safeguard the health and safety of players.
The suspension stems from an incident in Week 15 where Kazee launched himself at the head of Michael Pittman Jr. during a game against the Indianapolis Colts. The hit resulted in Kazee being ejected from the match.
Jon Runyan, NFL VP of Football Operations, suspended him for violating a rule protecting vulnerable players. A player who hits the vulnerable player’s head or neck with a helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder commits a foul.
In his letter to Kazee, Runyan stressed the severity of punishments for recurrent safety violations, especially when they put opposition players at risk of injury.
Kazee’s ban includes the Steelers’ final regular season games against the Bengals, Seahawks, and Ravens. He can challenge the suspension under the collective bargaining agreement.
Notably, seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady weighed in on the suspension, suggesting that blame shouldn’t be solely placed on Kazee. Brady implied that quarterbacks, in this case, Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew, also share responsibility, stating that quarterbacks should avoid throwing the ball in areas that expose their teammates to potentially dangerous hits.
The incident had implications beyond the suspension, as the Steelers went on to lose the game 30-13 to the Colts. The Colts’ strong defensive effort, which included two interceptions of Mitch Trubisky, and Gardner Minshew’s effective play at quarterback, contributed to shutting down the Steelers after an initial 0-13 lead.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Why was Kazee suspended from Steelers?
Following an illegal hit to the head of Michael Pittman in Week 15 against the Colts, Kazee was suspended for three games. However, since the Steelers qualified for the postseason, Kazee will be able to play in the team’s playoff game against the Bills on Sunday.
Who got suspended on the Steelers?
The NFL has taken action against Steelers safety Damontae Kazee for an illegal hit during their recent game against the Colts. Kazee has been suspended for the remainder of the season following his ejection from the game after hitting Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in the second quarter. This decision serves as a reminder of the league’s commitment to player safety and the consequences of violating the rules.