On Monday, the NFL suspended Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. for one game without pay for "repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players." James was given the one-game suspension following a hit in the third quarter of Sunday's 20-10 defeat to Pittsburgh, when the safety dipped his head to initiate contact. On the catch-and-run, Freiermuth gained 15 yards and a first down, while James was penalized 15 yards for unwarranted roughness.
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The Suspension Was Handed down by League VP
Jon Runyan, the VP of football operations, reportedly wrote a letter to the Chargers safety in the league's announcement. He claims James could have avoided the hit, alleging that footage from the game shows he lowered his head on the tackle.
"Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated," Runyan wrote. "Substantial penalties are warranted when players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player."
James: "I Don't Feel Like I Hit Him"
Sources close to Derwin James reveal that he plans to appeal the suspension. If it is upheld, he would be eligible to return to the Chargers' active roster Sept. 30, after missing the team's Sept. 29 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
After the game Sunday James said he was frustrated by the call, arguing that he shouldn't have been penalized.
"Like I said, I don't want to keep the drive going," James told reporters after the game. "I'm trying to get the guy to the ground. I don't feel like I hit him in the head or neck, but we'll look at it."
Derwin James has been called for seven unnecessary roughness penalties over his six-year career, five of his penalties resulted in fines totaling $127,792.
