The NFL suspended safety Derwin James Jr. for one game without pay due to repeated safety violations, as he leads the league in unnecessary roughness penalties for defensive players.
James was punished after a hit on Steelers' tight end Pat Freiermuth, which NFL VP Jon Runyan highlighted as avoidable due to an unobstructed path to the opponent.
''I'm playing fast and I'm not thinking about the flag,'' James explained after the game, emphasizing his focus on making plays rather than analyzing penalties.
Despite his defensive penalty leading to significant yardage for the opposing team, James defended his actions, stating, ''I'm trying to get the guy on the ground'' without aiming for the head.
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