In a shocking turn of events, the NFL has thrown the book at Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James. The star player has been handed a one-game suspension without pay due to his repeated violations of playing rules meant to safeguard the health and well-being of players, the league revealed on Monday.
The penalty was imposed after James was penalized for unnecessary roughness during a recent game. This is not the first time the three-time Pro Bowler has found himself in hot water for such infractions, as he was flagged for multiple unnecessary roughness penalties last season.
In a scathing letter to James, NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan minced no words, declaring, “You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided. 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.”
Despite the suspension, James has been a standout performer this season with 21 tackles under his belt. His track record speaks for itself, having racked up at least 115 tackles in each of the past three seasons.
The good news for Chargers fans is that James will be eligible to make his comeback on Monday, Sept. 30, following the team’s Week 4 AFC West clash against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, it appears that the dynamic safety has no intention of taking his suspension lying down.
According to a source close to the situation who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity, James is planning to appeal his one-game ban. His determination to fight the penalty underscores his commitment to his team and his desire to be on the field, making this saga far from over. Fans will have to wait and see how this drama unfolds as James gears up for a battle both on and off the field.
