24 October 2023 , 02:36
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Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson is set to lose over half a million dollars after being hit with a four-game suspension.
The Broncos defensive captain has been given four fines for late hits and unnecessary roughness penalties in just seven games so far this season, and was ejected in Sunday's win over the Green Bay Packers after being adjudged to lead with his helmet on a tackle on Luke Musgrave.
In a letter sent to Jackson from vice president of football operations Jon Runyan, the safety was told: "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. You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to."
Jackson's suspension is the longest punishment for a player for unnecessary roughness or late hit's since 2019, when Cleveland Browns pass-rusher Myles Garrett was suspended for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with a helmet.
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Jackson had already being fined four times before Sunday's game, all for unnecessary roughness, losing a total of £73,000. He was also ejected in the week two win over the Washington Commanders after a hit on Logan Thomas.
Should the decision be upheld with Jackson allowed to appeal, the safety will lose around £460,000 from his salary this season.
A number of Broncos players had defended Jackson, stating that he lead with his shoulder, including Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs who tweeted: "He led with his shoulder. What's he supposed to do?"
Kareem Jackson's hit on Musgrave which saw him ejectedBroncos head coach Sean Payton said: "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. It's one of the toughest parts of our game for the officials, for the players, for all of us involved of getting that to where it's clear and easy. Sometimes, it's just not."