On Monday, the NFL announced that they were suspending Damontae Kazee for the rest of the 2023 NFL season. That caused plenty of uproar, and while Kazee plans to appeal the ruling that he can not come back even if the team makes it to the playoffs, he will likely be suspended for several games, if not the rest of the regular season. Well, it’s not just anyone talking about the play and complaining about it. On Instagram, Tom Brady took to defending Kazee.
Weeks ago, Brady called out the NFL for protecting players too much and forcing too much of the onus on defensive players. Now, he has done so once again, defending Kazee’s hit on Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
— Zachary Smith (@ZacharySmithPGH) December 18, 2023
“Nobody likes seeing players get hurt. But hard hits happen,” Brady said. “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 needs to read coverages and throw the ball to the right places and defenders should aim for the right hitting areas. To put the blame on the defense 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!”
Kazee was specifically charged with violating NFL rule 12 which prohibits forcible contact to a player’s head or neck area with the helmet, facemark, forearm or shoulder, even if that is not the initial point of contact.
Furthermore the rule states that a “player who initiates contact against a defenseless opponent is responsible for avoiding an illegal act. A standard of strict liability applies for any contact against an opponent, even if his body position is in motion, and irrespective of any acts by him, such as ducking his head or curling up his body in anticipation of contact.”
Kazee has been fined five times this season for violating the NFL’s health and safety protocols and that history played a significant role in the steep suspension handed down by the league.