Tag: Kazee

Dec 10, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) gets set to take the field prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

Colts WR Michael Pittman cleared, can’t remember hit

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. cleared concussion protocol on Friday but said he doesn’t remember the hit that put him there.

“I honestly never saw him coming,” Pittman said of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee, who was ejected from the game and later suspended by the NFL for the rest of the season for the hit.

Kazee lowered his head and slammed into the head and neck area of Pittman as he stretched for a pass during the Colts’ 30-13 win on Saturday. Pittman’s head snapped backward violently and he was motionless on the turf for a few seconds.

“I was diving, I caught it and then all of a sudden, I woke up and there’s people looking down at me,” Pittman told reporters Friday. “I was like, ‘Oh, (expletive), what just happened?’”

Pittman, who has 99 catches for 1,062 yards this season, will be able to suit up Sunday when the Colts (8-6) visit the Atlanta Falcons (6-8).

Pittman, 26, said he had mixed feelings about Kazee and the unpaid suspension he received.

“I do think that they were head-hunting, but I don’t think he meant to try to impose a life-changing injury,” Pittman said. “I don’t think any player has that in them. And you never want to see guys lose games and lose that much money. … He has a family, too, and I know that’s a hefty fine.”

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) collides with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee (23) on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Pittman Jr. left the field after the play.

Arbitrator upholds 3-game ban for Steelers S Damontae Kazee

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee will miss the rest of the regular season after the appeal of his suspension was denied on Wednesday.

James Thrash, appointed to hear the appeal by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, ruled that Kazee would have to miss the last three regular-season games for his hit on Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on Saturday.

While the NFL’s initial punishment would have banned Kazee from the rest of the regular season and any possible Pittsburgh playoff games, Thrash decided that Kazee could return to action if the Steelers make the postseason.

The league’s sanction took into account both the nature of the hit and the fact that Kazee is a repeat offender, having been fined for illegal hits this season ahead of the latest incident.

Kazee’s hit on Saturday gave Pittman a concussion.

In announcing the initial suspension, NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote to Kazee, “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.”

Kazee, 30, also served a three-game suspension in September 2022 for a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

Kazee has 16 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 92 career games (62 starts) with the Atlanta Falcons (2017-20), Dallas Cowboys (2021) and Steelers. This season, he produced two interceptions and two fumble recoveries through 14 games (nine starts).

–Field Level Media

Dec 16, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) collides with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee (23) during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Scheer-USA TODAY Sports

NFL suspends Steelers S Damontae Kazee for rest of season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL suspended Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee 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,” the league said in a statement Monday.

The suspension comes after Kazee was ejected from Saturday’s 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts after a hit on a defenseless wide receiver, Michael Pittman, who stayed down after the violent hit and was ultimately ruled out of the game with a concussion.

“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,” NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote to Kazee. “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.”

The league also cited Kazee’s past history as a factor in the suspension.

“When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties,” Runyan wrote.

Under league rules, Kazee can appeal the suspension, which would be heard by one of two hearing officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA to hear such appeals.

Kazee is in his second season with the Steelers. In March, he signed a two-year deal that included a signing bonus of $1.75 million and salaries of $1.25 million in 2023 and $3 million in 2024.

Kazee, 30, was also suspended last September for three games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Kazee has 16 interceptions in 92 career games (62 starts) with the Atlanta Falcons (2017-20), Dallas Cowboys (2021) and Steelers.

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Keanu Neal (22) tackles Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers sign S Keanu Neal, NT Breiden Fehoko

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced the signings of safety Keanu Neal and three other players on Tuesday.

Neal inked a two-year contract and nose tackle Breiden Fehoko landed a one-year deal.

The team also re-signed safety Damontae Kazee for two years and tight end Zach Gentry for one year.

Neal, 27, recorded 63 tackles and one interception in 17 games (eight starts) with Tampa Bay last season.

A first-round pick by Atlanta in 2016 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2017, Neal has 473 tackles, three interceptions and eight forced fumbles in 80 games (61 starts) with the Falcons (2016-20), Dallas Cowboys (2021) and Buccaneers.

Fehoko, 26, appeared in 19 games (four starts) with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2020-22 and made 36 tackles.

Kazee, 29, has 271 tackles, 14 picks and seven forced fumbles in 78 games (53 starts) with the Falcons (2017-20), Cowboys (2021) and Steelers.

Gentry, 26, has 39 catches for 303 yards in 40 games (26 starts) since being drafted in the fifth round by Pittsburgh in 2019.

–Field Level Media

Oct 3, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) celebrates with safety Damontae Kazee (18) after making an interception against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Cowboys S Damontae Kazee arrested for drunk driving

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys free safety Damontae Kazee was arrested early Tuesday morning and charged with driving while intoxicated, according to multiple reports.

Kazee was arrested in The Colony, a suburb that is about 30 miles north of Dallas. The Colony is located just southwest of the team facility in Frisco.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Kazee was pulled over shortly after 3 a.m. CT due to a traffic violation. The officer felt Kazee had been drinking and the 28-year-old confirmed he had consumed alcohol.

Kazee failed a field sobriety test and was detained, according to the Dallas Morning News. He later posted $2,500 bond and was released from The Colony Municipal Jail at 12:34 p.m. CT.

The arrest came during the Cowboys’ bye week. It also came one day after coach Mike McCarthy discussed the importance of being smart during the break.

“Talked about the distractions and what we don’t want,” McCarthy told reporters on Monday. “We have an outstanding season — 5-1, where we are — make sure that everybody is taking care of themselves and spend as much time as they can with family and friends. They deserve it. They deserve this break, the length of it. I have a lot of confidence and a lot of trust in those guys.”

Kazee had 17 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble while starting all six games for the Cowboys. He signed with Dallas as a free agent in March.

Kazee spent his first four NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He had seven of his 11 career interceptions in 2018 and has played in 58 NFL games (40 starts).

Kazee was a college standout at San Diego State and had a school-record 17 interceptions for the Aztecs. He was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in each of his final two seasons (2015, 2016).

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2020; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan (85) dives for a first down reception against Atlanta Falcons strong safety Damontae Kazee (27) and Jaylinn Hawkins (32) in the first quarter during their football game Monday, October 5, 2020, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY NETWORK

Falcons S Kazee carted off with Achilles injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Atlanta safety Damontae Kazee was carted off the field after sustaining a left Achilles injury during the second quarter of the Falcons’ Monday night game against the host Green Bay Packers.

Kazee was back in coverage when he got hurt. As he was falling, he reached for the back of his lower leg. Kazee was on the field in pain while being attended to before being removed by the cart with 5:18 left in the first half.

The loss of Kazee represents a major blow for the Falcons, who were already without fellow starting safeties Keanu Neal (hamstring) and Ricardo Allen (elbow) in their three-safety alignment. Kazee had five tackles before exiting.

Kazee, a fourth-year pro from San Diego State, has 10 interceptions and five forced fumbles in 52 NFL games.

Later in the second quarter, Atlanta backup safety Jaylinn Hawkins went to the locker room to be evaluated for a possible head injury.

–Field Level Media