Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was ejected for a violent hit for the second time this year on Sunday. Now, the NFL has decided to give him the next four games to ponder his choices.
The NFL has suspended Jackson for four games for unnecessary roughness violations following his hit Week 7 hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave.
“On the play in question, you delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of a defenseless receiver, when you had the time and space to avoid such contact,” NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan wrote to Jackson in a letter. “You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to.”
As mentioned, Jackson has been involved in multiple targeting/unnecessary roughness incidents this year. In his letter to Jackson, Runyan also mentioned Jackson’s vicious Week 2 hit on Washington’s Logan Thomas.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke about the punishment the NFL meted out to his starting safety and defended his character.
“In regard to Kareem’s hit, it’s — I’ve sat on this committee, the Competition Committee — for a number of years,” Payton explained. “We’re constantly trying to work with and educate the players. There are times when pad levels drop. I know Kareem, I know his heart, and I know the way he’s played. I think it’s an easy narrative to say, ‘Well, he’s just an old-timer playing in a new-timer’s game.’ When you see the play, his head is removed from the forceable contact. Defenseless is a little bit more of an issue relative to the position the receiver’s in. I just know where he’s at as a player. We’ll keep working on that. I know he’ll keep working on it. He’s someone that’s smart and really wants to do the right thing.”
The Broncos currently sit at 2-5 and will be without Jackson until they face the Texans on December 3.