“You start wondering what is going on.” Those words from Pat McAfee hit home as he dives into the curious case of Derwin James and the latest NFL drama. Just when you thought the league couldn’t get any wilder, they pull a fast one that leaves everyone gasping. 

On The Pat McAfee Show, the former punter turned detective took us through this helluva ride surrounding James. The Chargers’ safety’s now facing a one-game suspension for a hit against the Chiefs. McAfee took us back to the glory days of football—when hits like this were as common as tailgating—saying, “When you see the hit that Derwin James has been suspended for, obviously, peers say that if it was tackled like it was football ten or fifteen years ago. He clearly hits him with a helmet on the jaw in the middle of the field. He makes contact—clear contact—which is one of the things.” Oh, how the times have changed!

As the buzz surrounding the three-time Pro Bowl safety cranked up, McAfee dropped a juicy tidbit about the NFL’s approach to player safety. “We reached out to our NFL sources, obviously,” he teased, hinting at the layers of bureaucracy behind this suspension. It turns out that James and the Chargers got hit with a warning letter before the season, laying it all out: any future violations could lead to a suspension. With a rap sheet of player safety fouls from the last two seasons, James was already under the microscope. “Per source(s): James and other similar players who’ve been disciplined for one or more player safety fouls in the last two seasons received this letter. While any player can face suspension for a first-time violation, these players are put under greater scrutiny. So, this is a ‘hey, we’ve talked about this’,” the media mogul pointed out, capturing the league’s serious vibe.

But McAfee wasn’t done; he unleashed his thoughts on the NFL’s handling of these situations, saying he doesn’t like the carryover from one season to another. It’s as if the league’s throwing a “habitual offenders” label on players. It’s a tough break, especially for someone like Derwin James, who’s a beast on-field. The message from the NFL? It doesn’t matter who you are; break the rules, and you’ll pay the price. 

James’ suspension was doled out on Monday night and was confirmed the next day by hearing officer Derrick Brooks. With a league-leading five unnecessary roughness penalties since last season, the safety’s also seen his wallet take a hit—$91,027 in fines for hits on defenseless receivers. And let’s not forget, this one-game ban will cost him $708,333 in base salary. Ouch!

To up the ante, NFL VP of Football Operations Jon Runyan called out a past incident where James targeted Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth. Runyan said the Seminoles standout could’ve sidestepped the helmet-to-helmet contact, making it clear that the league was done with his reckless antics. 

As Pat McAfee wrapped up his hot take, he couldn’t help but point out the larger implications of James’ suspension. This ain’t just about one player getting a timeout; it’s about tackling player safety head-on.

With Jim Harbaugh openly disappointed by James’ suspension, the fallout promises to stir up serious discussions across the league. 

Jim Harbaugh defends Derwin James suspension 

Coach Jim Harbaugh’s feeling the sting after safety James was handed a one-game suspension. The Chargers are sitting at 2-1 and about face-off against the undefeated Chiefs (3-0). 

Harbaugh’s clearly irked and jumped to his star’s defense. “The tape is Exhibit A. Watch his tackles,” he declared. He believes James is making a genuine effort to play by the NFL’s evolving safety rules. “You can’t take the head out of the game because it is between the two shoulders,” he explained. And let’s face it: trying to tackle safely can sometimes feel like trying to steer through a minefield.

As for the play that got the Chargers’ gem in trouble, Harbaugh pointed out some “mitigating circumstances.” He claimed that Pat Freiermuth stiff-armed James’ helmet. “He’s going out of his way to not injure anyone. There’s no one I respect more, but I’m disappointed,” the HC said.

Now, Derwin James is sidelined, and Elijah Molden’s expected to step up. Los Angeles is about to face a fierce Chiefs squad, and fans are left wondering: can they hold the line without their star safety? It’s a high-stakes game, and the pressure’s on!