Steelers' Damontae Kazee's Suspension Upheld by NFL; Can Return for Playoffs | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

James Thrash, the hearing officer for Damontae Kazee's suspension appeal, upheld the season-long suspension for the Pittsburgh Steelers' safety, according to NFL senior vice president of football and international communications, Michael Signora.

Thrash, jointly appointed by the league and NFLPA, did rule that Kazee could return for the postseason should Pittsburgh qualify.

NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan initially suspended Kazee for the final three games of the season without pay for multiple violations of the player safety rules.

The final straw was a hit on Saturday against Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. that left him concussed. Kazee was flagged and ejected.

On the play in question, Pittman was diving for a ball, fully outstretched, when Kazee bent down and lowered his shoulder into the wide receiver, making contact with his helmet and neck.

Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero

Here's the hit on <a href="">#Colts</a> WR Michael Pittman Jr. on Sunday that got Kazee ejected, and now suspended for the rest of the season. <a href=""> <a href="">

Runyon ruled that Kazee violated the rule that stipulates it's an illegal hit if a player "forcibly hits the defenseless player's head or neck area with the helmet, face mask, forearm or shoulder, even if the initial contact is lower than the player's neck, and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him."

He added that the hit could have been avoided and called the contact "flagrant."

Kazee's suspension was met with a mixed response:

Mike Mitchell @iammikemitchell

I don't know what to tell my safeties anymore. I guess just let them catch it. If I were a WR I would dive for every catch. That would ensure no contact and a completed pass. Playing deep safety in today's nfl where rules are made mostly by people who've never played is tough.

James Boyd @RomeovilleKid

Tom Brady weighs in via IG on <a href="">#Steelers</a> S Damontae Kazee's suspension following his illegal hit on <a href="">#Colts</a> WR Michael Pittman Jr.<br><br>"Need better QB play!! It's not OK QBs to get your WRs hit because of your bad decisions."<br><br>More via <a href="">@TheAthleticNFL</a> —&gt; <a href=""> <a href="">

NFL Philosophy @NFLosophy

Ok… thought this was understood but Kazee has been fined 5 times this season for the same behavior and the suspension is more about that than this singular hit. However, this is also an egregious leading with the helmet on a receiver.

Mike Chappell @mchappell51

Steichen on Kazee hit on Pittman: 'Probably shouldn't happen. He led with the crown of his helmet'

Per ESPN's Brooke Pryor, the 30-year-old Kazee had already been fined five other times for unnecessary roughness penalties this season alone, totaling $59,030, which Runyon said played a factor in his suspension. Missing the remaining three games of the season will cost him in the neighborhood of $208,000.

He's appeared in 14 games for the Steelers this season (nine starts), posting 61 tackles, two interceptions, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.