Tag: Kareem Jackson

The Broncos should not bench P.J. Locke when Kareem Jackson returns

Kareem Jackson can return from his suspension after the Lions game, but the Broncos should continue starting P.J. Locke at safety.

Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson has sat out three of the four games of his suspension since Week 12. After the Broncos face the Detroit Lions in Week 15, Jackson’s suspension will end.

The veteran safety will be eligible to return in Week 16 when Denver hosts the New England Patriots on Christmas Eve.

P.J. Locke has been starting in Jackson’s place and he has played exceptionally well, totaling 22 tackles (including two behind the line of scrimmage), three sacks, three quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups.

In the last three weeks alone, Locke has more sacks and more forced fumbles than Jackson totaled in eight games this season (zero for each). Locke has been a play-making safety, and it would be difficult to bench him.

It’s a good problem to have, but the Broncos will have to make a decision on who will start against the New England Patriots in Week 16.

“I think you said at the beginning, it is a good problem to have,” coach Sean Payton said during his Monday conference call with reporters. “It seems like it’s still a ways away yet. We’ll have to deal with it when it gets here, but I think you bring up a couple good points. Certainly, we’ve noticed how he’s been playing, P.J..”

It shouldn’t be a difficult decision for Payton to make. Locke should continue starting after Jackson returns, and if he continues playing at this high level, Locke will likely be a candidate to keep the starting job in 2024.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson comments on meeting with Roger Goodell

“I was told that I’m responsible for the offensive guys’ protection,” Broncos safety Kareem Jackson said after meeting with Roger Goodell.

Denver Broncos suspended safety Kareem Jackson recently met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in New York, seeking clarity on what he believes have been inconsistent punishments this season.

After that meeting, Jackson said he felt better after having an opportunity to express himself, but he is still perplexed by the NFL’s stance on tackling.

“I was told that I’m responsible for the offensive guys’ protection,” Jackson said on Sunday evening, via DenverSports.com’s Andrew Mason. “So I’m not really sure how I protect myself, make plays and protect him [the opponent] as well, but that’s what I was told. I’m not really sure what I do moving forward, as far as playing this game. So, hopefully, I’ll figure it out.”

Jackson spoke to media members on Monday night ahead of his foundation’s shopping spree with 50 kids at a local Walmart.

Jackson, 35, will be eligible to return from his four-game suspension after the Broncos face the Detroit Lions on Saturday. Following the 2023 season, Jackson is scheduled to become a free agent in the spring.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Chris Harris comments on Ja’Quan McMillian comparison

Ja’Quan McMillian doesn’t have to be “the next Chris Harris” to be an excellent cornerback. “Jmac has been Jmac,” Justin Simmons said.

Ja’Quan McMillian has emerged as an impressive play-making defensive back for the Denver Broncos this season, totaling 42 tackles (including seven behind the line), four pass breakups, three quarterback hits, two interceptions and two sacks over the last ten games.

Playing in the slot, McMillian has reminded Broncos fans and pundits of former Broncos slot cornerback Chris Harris Jr., who was a key member of the team’s famous “No Fly Zone” secondary.

Many fans think of McMillian as a rookie because he was on the practice squad for all but one game last year, but as Harris pointed out on Twitter/X, McMillian is technically a second-year player.

“He’s an Excellent player (playmaker ) but I think I finished top 3 in the league my 2nd year and I played [outside] corner,” Harris wrote on Twitter/X.

(Harris was graded as the fifth-best cornerback in the NFL by Pro Football Focus in 2012, his second season.)

It’s not an insult from Harris, who has praised McMillian this season.

Broncos safety Justin Simmons wasn’t interested in making comparisons, noting that Jmac is Jmac and CHJR is CHJR.

He doesn’t have to be “the next Chris Harris” to be an excellent slot cornerback. McMillian has been exceptional for Denver this season, and fans and pundits have taken notice.

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson flying to New York to meet with Roger Goodell

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson will travel to New York on Wednesday to meet with Roger Goodell, seeking clarity on the NFL’s inconsistencies.

Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson has been fined four times, ejected twice and suspended twice for hits that the NFL has deemed illegal this season.

As a repeat offender, Jackson’s appeal to have his latest four-game suspension reduced was declined, but the safety has received support from teammates and even from Tom Brady, albeit indirectly.

Now going on Game 2 of his four-game punishment, Jackson is set to fly to New York on Wednesday to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Speaking at Pat Surtain’s charity event on Tuesday, Jackson said he is seeking clarity from the league on what he believes are inconsistent punishments.

“I feel like its a lot of gray area,” Jackson said. “For me, I see a lot of same things happening around the league that — you, know, guys aren’t going through what I’m going through. No flags, no fines, no suspensions.

“Not really sure why I’m being treated the way I’m being treated. I’m making regular football plays — nothing malicious in my opinion. But at the same time, [I want] some clarity, I just want to know why I’m the only person that’s going through what I’m going through.”

Jackson said he felt like he’s the poster child for whatever the NFL is attempting to “get across or prove.” The safety also criticized the NFL for not allowing suspended players in team facilities despite the league’s advocacy for mental health. Jackson said being cut off from the team and not having a support system is not the way the NFL should treat players if the league truly cares about players.

“A lot of things they’re doing and saying is contradictory in my opinion, so hopefully I can get some clarity.”

Jackson, 35, has been docked $838,333 worth of game checks via suspension this season in addition to $89,670 worth of fines (he did win some appeals on those fines, but it’s unclear how much the fines were reduced).

With a base salary of $2.515 million, Jackson’s $928,003 worth of (initial) fines and docked pay represents nearly 37% of his salary in 2023. After such significant punishments, it’s no surprise that Jackson has requested a meeting with Goodell.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Zulgad: Justin Jefferson’s absence might be frustrating but it’s the smart move

It’s frustrating not having Justin Jefferson on the field, but Judd Zulgad tell us it’s the smart move

The Minnesota Vikings’ five-game winning streak might be over but their 6-4 record still puts them 2.5 games up on the four teams behind them for the seventh and final seed in the NFC playoff race.

The Vikings have six games remaining, beginning with Monday night’s meeting against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Here are four Thanksgiving Week thoughts as we await the kickoff.

Kareem Jackson’s 4-game suspension upheld after appeal

Derrick Brooks heard Kareem Jackson’s appeal on Tuesday and upheld the safety’s four-game suspension.

Kareem Jackson’s four-game suspension was upheld on Tuesday after an appeal, the NFL announced. The Denver Broncos will now be without the safety until a Week 16 showdown with the England Patriots on Dec. 24.

Derrick Brooks, jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, heard Jackson’s appeal on Tuesday before making a decision on the suspension. Last month, Brooks reduced Jackson’s previous four-game suspension to a two-game suspension earlier this season, but as a repeat offender, Jackson won’t get a reduced punishment this time.

Jackson, 35, was suspended four games after launching himself headfirst into Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs on Sunday Night Football in Week 12.

Before his latest offense in Minnesota, Jackson was previously fined four times for $89,670 for unnecessary roughness, ejected from two games and suspended for two games for prior offenses.

With Jackson suspended and P.J. Locke (ankle) injured, the Broncos might consider signing a free agent safety to add more depth at the position. If no safeties are signed, Denver will be left with Delarrin Turner-Yell and JL Skinner as the two options to replace Jackson while Locke is sidelined.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Breaking down why the Vikings called a toss sweep to Josh Dobbs

The Vikings called a trick play on the third play of the game and it didn’t work. Tyler Forness breaks down why it didn’t

On the third play of the game, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell called a unique play that didn’t end up working.

Quarterback Josh Dobbs ended up fumbling after cornerback Kareem Jackson speared him, forcing the fumble. The play itself was a gutsy call that has been criticized for not working.

That’s the frustrating thing with play calls. They get criticized when they don’t work and praised when they do. What doesn’t get dissected nearly enough is what the play was designed to do and if the execution is to blame rather than the play call itself.

That’s what we are going to do here. What was the play designed to do and how was the execution?

Justin Simmons, Pat Surtain (and Tom Brady?) come to defense of Kareem Jackson

The NFL suspended Broncos safety Kareem Jackson again. Here’s how Justin Simmons, Pat Surtain and Tom Brady reacted on social media.

Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was suspended four games on Monday after he launched himself headfirst into Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs on Sunday Night Football in Week 12.

The hit was not penalized during the game, but the NFL retroactively disciplined Jackson after reviewing the game film. Jackson was given such a harsh punishment because he is a repeat offender — the safety was previously fined four times, ejected twice and suspended for two games for prior offenses earlier this season.

Broncos safety Justin Simmons came to Jackson’s defense on Twitter/X on Monday.

“This is unbelievable,” Simmons said in response to the suspension. “Dobbs on this play was playing running back. The TE was under center, snapped the ball and tossed it back to Dobbs who isn’t defenseless. On a 3rd and 1, where you’re fighting for every yard, how are we supposed to stop a runner from falling forward?”

Simmons also pointed to a play from earlier this season that he says was a similar hit to Jackson’s. Simmons was not penalized for fined for his hit.

4-Down Territory: Best/worst coaches, Ohio teams without QBs, Worst of the Week

Next coach fired? Coach of the Year so far? Browns and Bengals without QBs? Worst of the Week? Doug Farrar and Kyle Madson get into it in “4-Down Territory.”

With 11 weeks of actual football in the books for the 2023 NFL season, it’s time for Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, and Kyle Madson of Niners Wire, to come to the table with their own unique brand of analysis in “4-Down Territory.”

This week, the guys have some serious questions to answer:

  1. Will there be another head coach fired in-season this year?
  2. Who’s the Coach of the Year so far?
  3. Can the Browns or Bengals make it to the postseason without their franchise quarterbacks?
  4. And, what was our Worst of the Week?

You can watch this week’s “4-Down Territory” right here:

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/wwE08IsBIyWJbpfqopUh/1700542961211_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0ibzUzdWttYnlqZnp1ZXNsems1ZmdlNGRnb2Z4eGF2bGkiIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMyNSI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]

You can listen and subscribe to the “4-Down Territory” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Here is the NFL’s full statement and explanation for Kareem Jackson’s suspension

“Illegal acts that are flagrant and jeopardize the safety of players will not be tolerated,” Jon Runyan said in a letter to Kareem Jackson.

The NFL announced a four-game suspension for Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson on Monday following his headfirst tackle on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs on Sunday Night Football in Week 11.

See the NFL’s full statement on Jackson’s suspension below.

Kareem Jackson of the Denver Broncos has been suspended without pay for four games for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during this Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.

NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Section 2, Article 10 (a) which states that “it is a foul if a player lowers his head and makes forcible c​​ontact with his helmet against an opponent.”​

In a letter to Jackson, Runyan wrote:

“With 13:38 remaining in the first quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules. The video of the play shows that you lowered your head and made forcible contact to Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs.  You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided.

“Illegal acts that are flagrant and jeopardize the safety of players will not be tolerated. The League will continue to​ stress enforcement of the rules that prohibit using your helmet to make forcible contact with your ​opponent.  On the play in question, you lowered your head and delivered a forceful blow to the shoulder and head/neck area of an opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact.  You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to.​

Following the Broncos’ Week 7 game against Green Bay, Jackson was suspended for four games for violations of unnecessary roughness rules. That suspension was subsequently reduced to two games by hearing officer Derrick Brooks, jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA.  Jackson was also disqualified from a Week 2 game against Washington for a similarly flagrant hit, and subsequently fined.

Jackson will be eligible to return to the Broncos’ active roster following the team’s Week 15 game against Detroit.

Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Jackson may appeal the suspension. Any appeal will be heard and decided by the NFL-NFLPA hearing officers, Derrick Brooks or James Thrash.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]