This Derwin James Suspension Just Proves The NFL Has Gone Soft

Football used to be a sport where players could sprint full speed, helmet first, into the spines of a defenseless player leaping in the air with no idea they were about to lose 10 years of their life expectancy.

But because a few retired players committed murders and suicides and murder-suicides, the National Football League is a shell of its former self. We have to worry about players being safe and not brain-dead 8 years after they retire.

Los Angeles Chargers 2-time All-Pro safety, Derwin James, is trying to bring that old feeling back but of course this new, soft NFL is punishing him.

This week, the NFL announced James faces a 1-game suspension for simply playing a little football.

Here’s the hit that earned #Chargers S Derwin James a one-game suspension for repeat violations of the NFL’s safety rules.

“The video of the play shows that you lowered your head and made forcible contact. … Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated.” pic.twitter.com/2KUxc25zrm

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 23, 2024

Here’s what NFL executive, Jon Runyan, wrote to James in his suspension letter:

“Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated. 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.”

Can the Chargers beat the Kansas City Chiefs without Derwin James?

Derwin James is playing some of the best football of his life. On Sunday he recorded 8 tackles and a sack. Last season, he had a career-high 125 tackles while playing the most games since his rookie season in 2018.

It looks like the NFL is doing the Chiefs a favor here but this Derwin James suspension is the Chargers secret to winning.

Every Chiefs game always seems to go down to the final play where the opposing team gets nervous and a defensive back bodyslams a Chiefs receiver for the most egregious pass interference you’ll ever see.

Derwin James is the number one candidate for a guy to commit a week-ruining penalty like hitting Mahomes as he scrambles out of bounds or knocking Xavier Worthy’s little PF Flyers off.

The best chance the Chargers have to beat the Chiefs is with Derwin James watching the game on his couch.

Although, someone needs to hit and run Rashee Rice to the ER. Won’t be Derwin. Not this weekend anyway.

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Let me know if you this Derwin James suspension is BS and he should be allowed to paralyze receivers.  Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee.