Kareem Jackson, a safety for the Denver Broncos, was given a four-game, non-pay suspension by the NFL on Monday for persistently breaking the regulations set forth to safeguard players.
Jackson’s hit on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs on Sunday night, in his first game back after serving a first-time suspension for illegally hitting Packers tight end Luke Musgrave on October 22, was the reason for his most recent expulsion.
It didn’t take long for the 14-year veteran to demonstrate that he couldn’t promise he wouldn’t find himself in the NFL’s crosshairs once more for his excessively aggressive play after he returned from suspension last week.
On the third play of the game, Jackson led on a Dobbs third-and-one run by jarring the ball loose with the crown of his helmet. Nickel cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian pounced on the loose ball at the Vikings 30-yard line without a penalty being raised. Dobbs headed directly for the medical tent, but he quickly returned without missing a shot.
“It appeared to be a fairly straightforward helmet-to-helmet collision,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell remarked following the team’s 21-20 defeat. “This is the rule as it is. The flag was not thrown by them. Out there, everything occurred quickly. We’ll need to investigate it.”
Jackson also paid $279,000. The NFL, which has previously penalised him $89,670 for four illegal hits, suspended him for two games.
Jackson will lose out on $558,000 in wages as a result of his most recent suspension.
Terry McAulay, an NBC rules commentator and former NFL official, stated on the show that Jackson’s hit ought to have resulted in a 15-yard penalty, keeping Minnesota in possession.
“He lowers his head and makes forcible contact to the opponent,” said McAulay. “Look, he has his head lowered. The play should have been penalised 15 yards for needless roughness.
On appeal, Jackson’s initial exile was reduced to two games. It’s probably going to be harder for him to get this second ban lowered in a similar manner.
The most recent punishment was handed down by NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan due to a player’s infraction of the league’s policy that forbids them from lowering their heads and making forceful contact with the helmet.
“You were involved in a play that the league considers a serious violation of the playing rules” for lowering his head to hit Dobbs, Runyan wrote in a letter informing Jackson of his most recent suspension.There was no obstacle in your way.
“Illegal acts that are flagrant and jeopardise the safety of players will not be tolerated,” Runyan said.
“The league will not stop emphasising the need to follow the regulations, which forbid using your helmet to make physical contact with your opponent.
“During the play in question, you had the opportunity and space to avoid making contact with your opponent when you dipped your head and struck them hard in the shoulder, head, and neck area. You had the option to communicate with your opponent in accordance with the regulations, but you decided not to.”
In the event that his appeal is granted, Jackson will be sidelined for the Broncos’ Christmas Eve game against New England, as well as games against the Browns, Texans, Chargers, and Lions.
As they attempt to become just the fourth team to make it to the playoffs despite opening 1-5, the Broncos (5-5) have the longest winning streak in the NFL right now at four games.
Jackson may challenge the ban in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. The NFL-NFLPA hearing officers, Derrick Brooks and James Thrash, are both former players who will hear the appeal and render a decision.
After hearing Jackson’s final appeal, Brooks halved the suspension.
Before the suspension was imposed, Broncos coach Sean Payton stated that he had discussed the matter with Jackson early on Monday morning and that their only option was to wait for the league’s decision.
The Broncos’ situation is made more difficult by Jackson’s stand-in, PJ Locke, who had an ankle injury last week. Locke did not play on Sunday night, and Payton stated he will not find out until later in the week whether or not he will be available for this weekend’s game against Cleveland.
