According to a report, Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair will plead his case before the NFL on Wednesday.
Al-Shaair caused major controversy in the Texans’ 23-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars after flying elbow first into Lawrence, despite the rival quarterback sliding to give himself up on the play.
The linebacker was hit with a three-game suspension – without pay – from the league on Tuesday, but will appeal the punishment at a hearing today, Josina Anderson reported.
Al-Shaair was ejected from Houston’s 23-20 win over Jacksonville for the incident, which left Jaguars players and coaches seething and sparked a brawl.
After Lawrence suffered a concussion from the dangerous tackle, the NFL imposed the three-game penalty after also taking into account his role in the massive brawl and some of his previous violations.
In a letter to Al-Shaair, NFL chief Jon Runyan told him that the league considered the tackle an “unacceptable and serious violation of the laws of the game.”
However, Al-Shaair will seek to have the suspension overturned at Wednesday’s hearing, which will be held remotely rather than in person at the NFL’s headquarters in New York.
The Texans’ front office fired back at the league on Tuesday when general manager Nick Caserio unleashed a fiery tirade.
More to follow.