Some professional athletes brush it off and play it down when their free agency plans don’t go the way they hope. If you’re on the open market until the end of the NFL draft, most of the time, it’s an indication that the interest you wanted wasn’t there.
But new Steelers defensive back Damontae Kazee doesn't mind saying why he had to wait until May to find a new team. He believes it didn’t have much to do with his performance last season with Dallas.
“It was kind of hard because of the situation I got into off the field last year,” Kazee said at his locker Tuesday, the first session of OTAs for the Steelers. “But I’m just blessed to be here now.”
Kazee, who mostly played safety through his first five seasons, signed a one-year deal for the veteran minimum salary, $1.35 million. He started 15 of 17 games for the Cowboys in 2021, with a solid stat line including 52 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
But Kazee made headlines in October for being arrested on a DWI charge, early in the team’s off week. Dash cam footage showed him telling the officer who pulled him over that he had three shots while hanging out with Dallas stars Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
“It’s out of my hands. It happened. I wish I could change it,” is what Kazee, who turns 29 next month, told teams that inquired about it. “I can’t change it, man. You just learn from it and move on. That’s the only thing I could do.”
The Steelers asked about it, too, Kazee added. But he feels “blessed” that they “took a chance on me.”
Now, when it comes to his role, Kazee claims he isn’t worrying about that. Listed at 5-foot-11, 174 pounds, his goal is to be a versatile piece of the secondary puzzle. A fifth-round pick out of San Diego State in 2017, he spent his first four years with Atlanta, where he had a league-high seven interceptions in 2018.
“I’m playing both roles, nickel and safety, right now. … Whenever I get in, I’m just going to bust my butt every play,” Kazee said. “I don’t care if I’m on special teams at the end of the day. I’m just going to bust my butt, so it doesn’t matter.”
Minkah Fitzpatrick is the unquestioned starter at free safety, but Kazee could compete with Terrell Edmunds at strong safety or Arthur Maulet in the slot. There’s also an opportunity to be the backup to all three, and coaches love players who can wear many hats.
For Kazee, he’s just happy he’s off the couch and has another shot at earning a roster spot. Life in Pittsburgh so far is just fine — and quiet.
“I go home, go to work, come back home to my kids and my girl,” Kazee said with a smile. “I’m cool with it.”
Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: May 25, 2022, 10:46 a.m.
Updated: May 25, 2022, 1:02 p.m.
