The NFL has upheld the regular-season suspension of Steelers safety Damontae Kazee following an appeal hearing with officer James Thrash, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, as announced by the league on Wednesday night. In the event that the Steelers (7-7) qualify for the playoffs, Kazee would become eligible to rejoin the active roster.
Kazee received the suspension without pay for the last three regular-season games after delivering a hard hit on Michael Pittman Jr., leading the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver to enter the concussion protocol. The incident occurred during Saturday’s matchup, resulting in Kazee being flagged and ejected. On Monday, the NFL declared the suspension due to repeated violations of rules designed to safeguard the health and safety of players.
The decision to impose this stringent penalty took into account Kazee’s prior five fines this season for unnecessary roughness, marking him as a repeat offender. Consequently, he stands to lose approximately $208,000 in salary. NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan explained the rationale behind the severe penalty in a letter to Kazee, emphasizing the importance of addressing repeated violations that pose a significant risk of injury.
Despite the suspension, if the Steelers advance to the playoffs, Kazee could rejoin the active roster. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin defended Kazee on Monday, asserting that he is not a “dirty player” and attributing the unfortunate incident to the challenges of professional football. Tomlin emphasized the league’s emphasis on placing responsibility on the defender in such circumstances.
In addition to the suspension of Kazee, the Steelers face the absence of their other starting safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was sidelined due to a knee injury sustained against the Colts. With a depleted safety group, cornerback Patrick Peterson is set to transition to the safety position.
