NFL fan paranoia is already in full swing this season.
With Chargers defensive captain Derwin James suspended for one game for safety violations, the NFL is once again being accused of favoring the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles’ opponents in Week 4. The Chiefs are regularly accused of being the league’s favorite franchise, and James’ suspension fit perfectly into that conspiracy theory.
“I hope (Chiefs quarterback Patrick) Mahomes’ soul was worth the hat trick,” one fan wrote on X.
“You’ll never guess who the Chargers are playing next,” another added, leading several respondents to correctly guess Kansas City.
“The commissioner is protecting Queen Mahomes and the Swifties,” one fan wrote. “Derwin James was suspended for playing well. I don’t see you throwing flags at the Steelers or Chiefs. Look out for Mahomes.”
Derwin James Jr. #3 of the Los Angeles Chargers leads a meeting before a recent game
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) stretches before the game on Sept. 15
Suspicions surrounding the NFL and the Chiefs have gained further traction as Taylor Swift’s relationship with Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce has helped the NFL draw record audiences.
However, James’ suspension may be justified.
In his last 18 games, he has received five penalties for unnecessary roughness, the most in the league by a defensive player. And all five have involved hitting an opponent’s head with a shoulder or helmet.
Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, cited the league’s ban on lowering the head and initiating helmet contact. Runyan said James’ attack on Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth during the third quarter of Sunday’s 20-10 loss at Pittsburgh was the final straw.
James lowered his head and hit Freiermuth, earning him a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.
The strong safety had an unobstructed path to Freiermuth and could have adjusted how he threw the hit.
“Your continued disregard for the rules of the NFL will not be tolerated,” Runyan wrote in a letter to James.
‘Substantial sanctions are warranted when players repeatedly violate rules intended to protect player safety, particularly when the violations carry a significant risk of injury to an opposing player.’
James said after the game that he did not ask the referee why he was penalized.
“I’m not here to referee, I play fast and I don’t think about the flags,” he said. “I’m going to watch the film and see if they give me a fine. I don’t feel like I hit him in the head or neck.”
The 2-1 Chargers will host the 3-0 Chiefs on Sunday in Los Angeles.