Former Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons of the Denver Broncos didn't hold back when it came to defending teammate Kareem Jackson.
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00:00 Before we start, I just wanted to open up and share a few thoughts.
00:05 So, talking about Kareem, I don't think,
00:09 make sure I get all my thoughts in line here.
00:13 I don't think one, we're talking about the hit itself.
00:17 I think the way I look at it was very clean.
00:22 And I'm looking at watching the film, I've obviously watched the film,
00:26 shoulder to shoulder hit.
00:27 And one of the things that I think I have a problem with,
00:31 I think a lot of guys in the league have a problem with is the clarity aspect of
00:35 what is asked upon us as players.
00:38 Anyone that has played this game or even watches the tape knows that
00:42 decisions are made within milliseconds of plays.
00:46 And once you kind of commit to a play, you commit.
00:48 Now, I'm not saying the rule itself is bad, because I love the fact that we're
00:53 implementing things league wide that are helping us, that are gonna help us after
00:58 our careers, stay healthy, be healthy and protect our brains.
01:01 So I agree with the neck or head areas, but
01:05 I think when a hit is applied and it applies to your shoulder,
01:09 I just don't think that that kind of falls into the spectrum.
01:12 And I think he's been victimized for kind of the past couple weeks.
01:19 And I just don't necessarily agree with that.
01:22 I think we see hits all around the league where there are plays that are similar and
01:28 they don't get called.
01:29 And so I think the inconsistency and the lack of clarity in those things and
01:34 even coaching afterwards, if we're not supposed to do this,
01:37 then please explain how it is supposed to be done.
01:40 I think that will help us a lot as players, especially in the back end.
01:44 When if we're not, if we're one of the advantages that we do have is if we're
01:48 not there to pick off the ball, we're there to separate the receiver from the ball.
01:52 I mean, that's one of the advantages of playing on defense and
01:55 a disadvantage from a quarterback and receiver standpoint from throwing over
01:58 the middle or kind of lofting a ball in a zoned area.
02:01 A few other thoughts I had is, I think the four game initial
02:07 ruling was a little excessive.
02:10 And I think the main reasoning is because that they knew that there was gonna be
02:15 an appeal and that you're gonna get a reduced time.
02:18 And the only reason I say that is because I'm not gonna give specifics,
02:21 but if you go back and look at our league's history,
02:25 there's been guys that have done worse and have gotten off with less.
02:28 And I'm not even talking about just in football,
02:30 I'm talking about from a domestic abuse standpoint.
02:34 I'm talking about from a DUI standpoint.
02:36 There's just been things that have been done in our league that guys have been
02:39 suspended on for way less, one or two games, sometimes a game and
02:43 then they appeal it and the game's taken away and they just get fined financially.
02:48 And so I think that was something that needed to be talked about.
02:54 And the last thing that I'll say about this is,
02:59 even referring to the letter that was sent to Kareem, and
03:03 so many words calling him a dirty player, that bothers me as a teammate.
03:10 And I'm sitting up here talking to you guys and I wouldn't be half the player I
03:14 am if it wasn't for Kareem and the knowledge, both on and
03:18 off the field that he's bestowed upon me.
03:20 And never at any point in time when I'm watching the tape from him or
03:25 when I'm watching tape with him,
03:27 does he ever come across as anything close to being a dirty player.
03:31 If anyone goes and asks people that he's played with, college, college coaches,
03:37 head coaches, defensive back coaches, teammates, even guys that he's played
03:41 against, you'll never find anywhere in the vocabulary in terms of describing him
03:46 that he's a dirty player.
03:47 Kareem has to be one of the best people I know,
03:49 one of the best teammates I've ever had.
03:51 And anything that I am as a player has been because I've gotten a chance to learn
03:56 and grow with Kareem.
03:57 And so the whole dirty player analogy that we're kind of trying to stick to his name
04:03 and his reputation is, excuse my language, absolute bullshit.
04:07 And I just, I would feel like I would be doing a disservice if I got up here and
04:12 didn't at least mention that.
04:14 And with that being said, I would really appreciate if for
04:18 the rest of this press conference, if we keep the questions and comments and
04:25 concerns to Kansas City, cuz we are playing a really great opponent at home,
04:28 a divisional opponent.
04:31 And we all know, we've talked about it multiple weeks before about Kansas City
04:36 and the losses there and so we need to be able to come at home and win this game.
04:40 And with all due respect to who we're playing, I'd like to keep the rest of
04:44 the questions, comments and concerns geared towards that.