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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
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