Pittsburgh Steelers Damontae Kazee has been suspended for the remainder of the regular season and any potential playoff games per a memo sent out by the NFL. Kazee was ejected for a hit on Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on Saturday.
Here is the statement from the NFL:
Damontae Kazee of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been suspended
without pay for the remainder of the regular season and any potential postseason games for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during this Saturday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts
Here is a portion of the letter sent to Kazee from NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan:
“With 8:49 remaining in the 2nd quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules. 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.”
In his Monday press conference, head coach Mike Tomlin defended Kazee noting he is not a dirty player. Kazee definitely plays in that gray area and his history of plays like this contributed to this decision.
