Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was suspended for two games, but that wouldn’t change the way he plays. During the Sunday night game against the Minnesota Vikings, he made a play on Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs that could have gone very wrong. The big hit led to a fumble and while Dobbs went to the medical tent, he didn’t miss a play. NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay stated that it should have been a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness and possibly a penalty for an ejection.
Despite the fact that there was no penalty in the game, the NFL has stated that they will be reviewing Jackson’s hit for possible discipline. Jackson has been suspended two games and has accrued a fine of $89,670 this season alone for illegal hits. He had previously said that he would try to aim lower when going for tackles, but also stated that he wouldn’t completely change his game. In an Associated Press interview, Jackson stated that his instincts and preparation lead him to be the type of player to be in those high-impact situations, and that likely won’t change any time soon. This style of play was on display again in the recent Vikings game, and Jackson was fortunate to avoid a penalty.
