Long gone are the days when NFL players were allowed to play what John Madden termed “smashmouth” or “slobber knockin’” football; but that hasnot stopped a few players from engaging in some very hard hits that will inevitably get them penalized and sometimes fined or suspended.

Such was the case for Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee when he put an unusually brutal hit on Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

Immediately after the hit, several of the officials threw their flags and charged the Steelers with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and immediately ejected Kazee from the game.  Pittman was diagnosed with a concussion during the game and did not return to the game.

The hit came during the second quarter of the game that eventually saw the Colts win 30-13.

On December 18, the NFL has suspended Kazee for the remainder of the 2023/24 NFL season (including playoff games if the Steelers make it in the playoffs) without pay.  The NFL noted that Kazee is a “repeat” offender for violating the “playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.”

NFL vice president of health and safety Jon Runyan – who is also a former player – was responsible for issuing the suspension, “citing rule 12, section 2, article 9, which determines that it is a foul if a defender uses his helmet or facemask to hit the head or neck area of a defenseless player, and defines that a player in a defenseless posture includes a player attempting to catch a pass who hasn’t had time to clearly become a runner.”

Kazee has stated that he will appeal the ruling.