Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee got suspended by the NFL without pay for the rest of the season.
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The suspension is due to Kazee’s ejection during Saturday’s (16) 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, when he hit on a defenseless wide receiver, Michael Pittman. The safety launched himself at the head of Pittman, when he was diving to try to make a catch.
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The wide receiver stayed down after the hit, and was ruled out of the game with a concussion. The NFL decided for suspension for “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.
NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote a letter to Kazee, saying that the illegal contact “could have been avoided”. “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. 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”, added Runyan. The NFL also considered Kazee’s past as a factor in the suspension, as he received fines for unnecessary violence in weeks 2, 7, 8 (with two fines imposed) and 12.
The safety can appeal the suspension, which will be heard by one of two hearing officers appointed jointly by the NFL and the NFLPA. This is Kazee’s second season with the Steelers. He signed a two-year contract with the team in March, including a signing bonus of 1.75 million dollars and salaries of 1.25 million dollars in 2023 and 3 million dollars in 2024.