NFL Suspensions Pittsburgh Steelers DB DAMONTOE KAZEE for the remainder of the season following an illegal hit against the Colts.
The National Football League (NFL) has announced the indefinite suspension of the Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh) safety Damontay Kazee for repeated violations of the league’s policy on protecting players’ health and safety.
Kazee will be out for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ final three games and any possible playoff games if the team makes it to the playoffs, according to a decision released by NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan Monday.
Kazee was penalized in the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 30-13 defeat to Indianapolis after colliding with Colts wideout Michael Pittman Jr., who was diving for a pass. The impact knocked Pittman to the ground and he was placed in the league’s concussion protocol.
In a letter sent to Kazee, Runyan wrote that “illegal contact” with Pittman “could have been prevented.” Runyan cited Kazee’s numerous safety infractions as a reason for the suspension. The seven-year vet has been fined by the league nearly half a dozen times this season and will lose approximately three hundred thousand dollars in game checks if he is suspended for the final three games of the season.
Pittsburgh will be without its two starting safeties on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, with Minkah
Kazee was suspended after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a letter that illegal contact between Kazee and Pittman “could have been prevented.” Runyan cited repeated safety violations as a reason for the suspension. The seven-year vet has been fined by the league nearly half a dozen times this season and will lose approximately $208,00 in game checks if he is unable to play in Pittsburgh’s last three games. On Monday before the suspension was announced, Tomlin said he wouldn’t comment on potential discipline, calling it “not helpful to me, not helpful to Kazee, not helpful to football.” The suspension means the Steelers will have to play without both of their starting safeties on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are already without second-year safety Minkah
