Micah Parsons on Steelers safety Damontae Kazee's suspension: 'Almost impossible to play defense'
In the wake of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Damontae Kazee being suspended for the remainder of the regular season without pay, Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons shared his thoughts on the suspension. In particular, he voiced frustration with how difficult the league is making things for defenses.
As Parsons explained on The Edge, it’s become incredibly frustrating when this type of hit leads to an extreme punishment.
“What is the point of playing defense anymore in the NFL if you cannot make hits?” Micah Parsons said. “Damontae Kazee just lost money and just got suspended for the rest of the season for making a legal hit. They are making it almost impossible to play defense in the NFL.”
Kazee was penalized during the game for the hit, earning an ejection. Michael Pittman Jr, the player who he hit, left the game with a concussion.
“Football will be flag football in about 5-10 years,” Parsons said. “If you can’t handle this sport, don’t play it. Where is the space for defense? We’re penalizing and taking money from people’s families for playing the way the game should be played. It’s just ridiculous.”
Even as NFL players voice their frustrations with these decisions, the league is unlikely to change its approach. Player safety has become a vital emphasis for the league. More often than not, that means safety for the offense where teams have premier stars. On top of that, head injuries are particularly important to the NFL with its $1.2 billion concussion settlement.
The NFL explained Damontae Kazee’s suspensions as being 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.”
Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Kazee has been fined five times by the NFL for a total of $59,000, prior to Saturday’s game against the Colts for unnecessary roughness.
Tom Brady takes issue with NFL suspension for Steelers’ Damontae Kazee
Micah Parsons isn’t the only one who took issue with the NFL suspending Damontae Kazee. Legendary quarterback Tom Brady also called out the league over the decision.
“Nobody likes seeing players get hurt. But hard hits happen. QBs should not be throwing the ball in areas where they are exposing their own teammates to these types of hits. Coaches need to coach better, QBs need to read coverages and throw the ball to the right places and defenders should aim for the right hitting areas,” Brady wrote.
“To put the blame on the (defensive) player all the time is just flat-out wrong. Need better QB play!! It’s not OK QBs to get your WRs hit because of your bad decisions!”